We Know: All About Brain Tumors What are brain tumors? A brain tumor occurs when cells in brain tissue grow out of control, forming a mass. Brain tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A benign brain tumor does not spread beyond the tissues from which it originates. Malignant brain tumors are often life-threatening and are either confined to the tissue of origin (encapsulated) or may spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Brain tumors that start in the brain are known as primary tumors. Tumors that spread to the brain from other tissues are known as secondary tumors. Children mostly have primary brain tumors while adults usually end up with secondary brain tumors. What symptoms are associated with brain tumors? Symptoms commonly associated with brain tumors include Headache Nausea Changes in hearing, speaking, or with vision Mood or personality changes Seizures or convulsions Difficulty with memory Numbness or a tingling feeling in the limbs What is meant by tumor grading? Tumors are classified by the way the cells appear to a pathologist under a microscope. The higher the staging or grade of the tumor, the faster growing it is. What risk factors contribute to the growth of brain tumors? While the causes of brain tumors remain a mystery, several factors contribute to the development of this tumor. They include: Gender - brain tumors are more commonly found in males than females. Race - tumors have a higher likelihood of developing in Caucasians than in other races. Age - brain tumors are likely to develop in individuals over the age of 70 or in children. Heredity - those who have histories of glioma in the family have a higher likelihood of developing the disease. Exposure to environmental factors, such as radiation or chemicals like formaldehyde, vinyl chloride, or acrylonitrile. It's important to know that sometimes people develop brain tumors outside of these risks and that being in one of these categories doesn't predispose an individual to developing the disease. How are brain tumors diagnosed? If a person experiences any of the symptoms commonly associated with a brain tumor, the person is advised to seek medical attention. The medical professional will conduct a physical and neurological examination to check for muscle and brain responses to various tests. In addition, a doctor may put the person through a battery of tests. How are brain tumors treated? When a physician first diagnoses a brain tumor, the patient should seek out a second opinion before making any treatment decisions. Once the confirmation of the tumor is made, it is best to ask questions and take notes before deciding on a course of action Treatment options depend on where the brain tumor is located. Surgery is the most common form of treatment. A neurosurgeon makes an incision in the scalp, removes a piece of the skull, and removes the tumor, replacing the skull when complete. Tumors that are located in the brain stem cannot be surgically removed without risking permanent damage. When tumors are diagnosed in the brain stem, radiation is used instead. The types of radiation treatment include: Fractionation - patients are treated five days a week for several weeks. Hyperfractionation - patients receive radiation two to three times a day in smaller doses. Stereotactic radiation therapy - patients receive focused doses of radiation to the tumor at different angles over one visit or several visits. 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy - radiation is applied to a tumor as determined by a 3-D computer image of the tumor. Proton beam radiation therapy - radiation uses proton beams on a tumor without damaging healthy tissue. Chemotherapy is used to treat brain tumors that cannot be surgically removed, or may be used in conjunction with radiation after surgery to remove any traces of the tumor. Chemotherapy is most often used with children.
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