Brain Cancer - Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Although lay people typically use the term "brain cancer' to refer to any malignancy in the brain, in truth, there are many different kinds of brain cancer.  There are brain tumors that occur in the brain itself (called "primary brain cancer"), and there are also brain metastases.  This refers to cancers that start elsewhere in the body but which spread to the brain.

To understand brain cancer, let's try to understand the brain.  The brain is the human or animal organ which controls how all other organs function.  The brain and spine together comprise the central nervous system.  It's through the brain that we experience the sensation of the five senses:  touch, taste, sight, smell and hearing.  IN addition, the brain is the body's headquarters for thought, personality, language, memory and creativity.  It controls bodily movement, balance, sensation and coordination.  To function correctly, the brain needs a lot of oxygen and nutrients--which a person takes in on a regular basis.  The brain is made of neurons (or nerve cells) and glial cells (which help support nerve cells).

Whenever brain cells start dividing out of control and displacing or invading nearby tissue, brain tumors occur.  These tumors can sometimes then spread into other parts of the body.  If a tumor has the potential of spreading to other parts of the body or brain, they are called malignant--or cancer.  It's important to note that even a benign (non-cancerous) tumor can be harmful, as it causes pressure on the brain. 

If a tumor starts in the brain, it's called a primary brain tumor.  Beyond this kind of tumor are metastases--tumors which have started elsewhere in the body but spread to the brain. 

Doctors classify brain tumors by two ways: by the particular brain cells that make them up, and the appearance of the tumor under microscope.  Primary tumors will arise from any brain cells: from neurons, glial cells, the brain lining, or specific brain structures.  On top of that, metastases might travel from any number of cancer types. 

In 2007, an estimated 20,000 new cases of brain tumors were diagnosed.  There were 14,000 deaths resulting from primary tumors.  Approximately 85 percent of primary tumors in the brain come from the brain's glial cells.  Unfortunately, 35 to 45 percent of these are considered the most aggressive form ("Glioblastoma Multiforme").  The average age to be diagnosed with a brain tumor is 50 years, although, as with most cancers, the age differs widely.  Of all newly-discovered brain tumors, brain tumors account for about 2 percent of them.

All of the causes of brain tumors are not known.  Radiation exposure is one suspected linked, especially if this childhood occurred during childhood. In some cases, tumors that result from radiation could take anywhere from ten to 30 years to manifest.

Some chemicals have been linked to brain tumors in laboratory animals, however, there's never been a direct link established between those chemicals and tumors inhuman brains. There has been some theorizing lately that perhaps over-use of cell phones might put some people at risk, for developing a brain tumor.  However, there has never been any strong evidence supporting this idea.  In fact, there has been no dramatic increase in the occurrence of brain tumors since cell phones became popular.

It is strongly believed that some hereditary disorders will predispose a person to a higher likelihood of developing a brain tumor.  For instance, genetic diseases such as neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, von Hippel-Lindau disease, as well as tuberous sclerosis are associated with an increased risk.

No strategy has been proven to prevent a primary brain tumor from developing.  However, a person can reduce the likelihood of mestastases tumors (i.e., those that travel from other parts in the body) by working to prevent cancer in those other areas.  For instance, you reduce your chance for lung cancer by not smoking...which reduces the chance of a lung tumor spreading to the brain.

In the early stages, brain tumors often cause no noticeable symptoms. As it grows, it might produce symptoms that include nausea, headaches, loss of appetite, vomiting, seizures, weakness, memory loss, visual changes, personality changes, problems with language and speech, problems with processing thought.  However, please note that most of these could also be symptoms of something else, less serious.  But if you experience several of these symptoms in combination, it's never a bad idea to consult a doctor.  Worst case scenario by visiting the doctor is he helps get rid of a tension headache.

If a brain tumor is diagnosed, there are a few treatment options.  Most treatments will involve more than one of these.  In the majority of cases, surgical resection is suggested.  Without this, it's unlikely the brain tumor can be cured.  However, in a few cases, the tumor could be located in an area where it's too dangerous to operate.

Besides surgery, chemotherapy is often recommended for those with a brain tumor.  This is the use of cancer fighting drugs that travel throughout the whole body.  They are sometimes given through a pill or intravenously.  Also, a new method for delivering the chemotherapy medication is by implanting a biodegradable wafer in the space that the surgery leaves behind (the "tumor bed").  This allows a high dose of medication to be delivered to the tumor area.

Another treatment option is radiation therapy, which uses energy rays to kill the cancer cells.  In this method, a patient goes to a radiation therapy center for five consecutive days, for six or eight weeks.  This treatment is painless and takes only a few minutes.  This can be used either as a primary treatment option or in conjunction with surgery.

As with any cancer, the earlier a brain tumor is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin--and the better the patient's prospects of recovery.