Overview
Brain cancer is an overgrowth of cells in your brain that forms masses called tumors. Cancerous, or malignant, brain tumors tend to grow very quickly. They disrupt the way your body works, and this can be life-threatening. However, brain cancer is quite uncommon.
Cause
Causes and Risk Factors for Brain Cancer
The exact cause of brain cancer is unknown. However, factors that can increase your risk of brain cancer include exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation and a family history of brain cancer.
Cancer in another part of your body is also a risk factor. Cancers that commonly spread, or metastasize, to the brain include:
• melanoma, which is a type of skin cancer
Other factors that might be related to developing brain cancer include:
• increased age
• long-term smoking
• exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer
• working with elements that can cause cancer, such as lead, plastic, rubber, petroleum, and some textiles
• having an Epstein-Barr virus infection, or mononucleosis
Symptoms
Symptoms of brain cancer are influenced by which part of the brain is involved and the functional system it affects (e.g., motor, sensory, language, etc.). For example, vision problems may result from a tumor near the optic nerve. A tumor in the front part of the brain may affect the ability to concentrate and think. A tumor located in an area that controls motor function may cause weakness, numbness, or difficulty with speech. Any significantly large tumor may cause multiple symptoms because of the pressure created by the mass.
Brain cancer symptoms vary depending on the type, extent, Self-care, and location of the tumor, as well as the patient’s age and health history, and often mimic those caused by other medical conditions, so it’s important to consult a medical professional for an accurate diagnosis.
Early signs of brain cancer may include:
•A headache that changes depending on the time of day and position of the head and gets worse over time
•Seizures
•Numbness
Common symptoms of brain cancer may also include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Memory loss,
- Muscle weakness
- Speech difficulty
- Mood or personality changes
- Unexplained tiredness
- Changes in the menstrual cycle
- Impotence or infertility
- Overproduction or underproduction of breast milk
- Cushing’s syndrome (a condition marked by weight gain)
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Bruising
Some patients may not feel right cognitively or have visual, speech, or coordination problems. The symptoms may be subtle or develop gradually.
Treatment
There are several treatments for brain cancer. Treatment for primary brain cancer will be different than treatment for metastatic brain tumors. Treatment for metastatic cancer will be more focused on the original cancer site.
You may receive one or more treatments depending on the type, size, and location of your brain tumor. Your age and general health are also factors.
Treatments include:
Surgery
Surgery is the removal of the tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue during an operation. It is usually the first treatment used for a brain tumor. It is often the only treatment needed for a low-grade brain tumor. Removing the tumor can improve neurological symptoms, provide tissue for diagnosis and genetic analysis, help make other brain tumor treatments more effective, and, in many instances, improve the prognosis of a person with a brain tumor.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to destroy tumor cells. Doctors may use radiation therapy to slow or stop the growth of a brain tumor. It is typically given after surgery and possibly along with chemotherapy. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat a tumor is called a radiation oncologist. The most common type of radiation treatment is called external-beam radiation therapy, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body. When radiation treatment is given using implants, it is called internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy. A radiation therapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set period.
Therapies using medication
Systemic therapy is the use of medication to destroy tumor cells. This type of medication is given through the bloodstream to reach tumor cells throughout the body. Systemic therapies are generally prescribed by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating a tumor with medication. Systemic therapies may also be given by a neuro-oncologist
Common ways to give systemic therapies include an intravenous (IV) tube placed into a vein using a needle or in a pill or capsule that is swallowed (orally). It may also be given through a catheter or port, which is used to make IV injections easier.
The types of systemic therapies used for a brain tumor include:
•Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy tumor cells, usually by keeping the tumor cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. Chemotherapy to treat a brain tumor is typically given after surgery and possibly with or after radiation therapy, particularly if the tumor has come back after initial treatment.
•Targeted therapy – In addition to standard chemotherapy, targeted therapy is a treatment that targets the tumor’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to a tumor’s growth and survival. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of tumor cells and limits the damage to healthy cells.
Not all tumors have the same targets, and some tumors may have more than 1 target.
- Remission and the chance of recurrence
A remission is when the tumor cannot be detected in the body. A remission can be temporary or permanent. For most primary brain tumors, despite imaging tests showing that the tumor growth is controlled or there are no visible signs of a tumor, it is common for a brain tumor to recur. Patients will often continue to receive MRI scans to watch for a recurrence.
Surgery
Surgery is the removal of the tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue during an operation. It is usually the first treatment used for a brain tumor. It is often the only treatment needed for a low-grade brain tumor. Removing the tumor can improve neurological symptoms, provide tissue for diagnosis and genetic analysis, help make other brain tumor treatments more effective, and, in many instances, improve the prognosis of a person with a brain tumor.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to destroy tumor cells. Doctors may use radiation therapy to slow or stop the growth of a brain tumor. It is typically given after surgery and possibly along with chemotherapy. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat a tumor is called a radiation oncologist. The most common type of radiation treatment is called external-beam radiation therapy, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body. When radiation treatment is given using implants, it is called internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy. A radiation therapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set period.
Therapies using medication
Systemic therapy is the use of medication to destroy tumor cells. This type of medication is given through the bloodstream to reach tumor cells throughout the body. Systemic therapies are generally prescribed by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating a tumor with medication. Systemic therapies may also be given by a neuro-oncologist
Common ways to give systemic therapies include an intravenous (IV) tube placed into a vein using a needle or in a pill or capsule that is swallowed (orally). It may also be given through a catheter or port, which is used to make IV injections easier.
The types of systemic therapies used for a brain tumor include:
•Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy tumor cells, usually by keeping the tumor cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. Chemotherapy to treat a brain tumor is typically given after surgery and possibly with or after radiation therapy, particularly if the tumor has come back after initial treatment.
•Targeted therapy – In addition to standard chemotherapy, targeted therapy is a treatment that targets the tumor’s specific genes, proteins, or tissue environment that contributes to a tumor’s growth and survival. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of tumor cells and limits the damage to healthy cells.
Not all tumors have the same targets, and some tumors may have more than 1 target.
- Remission and the chance of recurrence
A remission is when the tumor cannot be detected in the body. A remission can be temporary or permanent. For most primary brain tumors, despite imaging tests showing that the tumor growth is controlled or there are no visible signs of a tumor, it is common for a brain tumor to recur. Patients will often continue to receive MRI scans to watch for a recurrence.
Other
How Is Brain Cancer Diagnosed?
If you have symptoms of a brain tumor, your doctor may perform one of the following to make a diagnosis:
• a neurological examination to determine if a tumor is affecting your brain
• imaging tests, such as CT, MRI, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, to locate the tumor
• a lumbar puncture, which is a procedure that collects a small sample of the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord, to check for cancer cells
• a brain biopsy, which is a surgical procedure in which a small amount of the tumor is removed for diagnostic testing and to determine if your tumor is malignant
SPECIFIC TUMOR TYPES
Brain tumors are classified depending on:
• Location of the tumor
• Type of tissue involved
• Whether they are noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant)
• Other factors
Sometimes, tumors that start out less aggressive can change their biologic behavior and become more aggressive.
Tumors can occur at any age, but many types are most common in a certain age group. In adults, gliomas and meningiomas are the most common.
Gliomas come from glial cells such as astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and ependymal cells. Gliomas are divided into three types:
• Astrocytic tumors include astrocytomas (can be noncancerous), anaplastic astrocytomas, and glioblastomas.
• Oligodendroglial tumors. Some primary brain tumors are made up of both astrocytic and oligodendrocytic tumors. These are called mixed gliomas.
• Glioblastomas are the most aggressive type of primary brain tumor.
Meningiomas and schwannomas are two other types of brain tumors. These tumors:
• Occur most often between ages 40 and 70.
• Are usually noncancerous, but can still cause serious complications and death from their size or location. Some are cancerous and aggressive.
Other primary brain tumors in adults are rare. These include:
• Ependymomas
• Craniopharyngiomas
• Pituitary tumors
• Primary (central nervous system – CNS) lymphoma
• Pineal gland tumors
• Primary germ cell tumors of the brain
Source
https://www.medicinenet.com/brain_cancer_symptoms_and_signs/symptoms.htm https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/brain-cancer/symptoms https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/brain-tumor/types-treatment
