Brain cancer is the abnormal growth that originates in the brain or it can also be a metastatic tumor that has spread to the brain from distant parts of the body. Brain cancer can occur in any tissue in the skull – the brain, cranial nerves, pituitary gland, meninges or the pineal gland.
Causes of Brain Cancer
- Ionization Radiation – High doses of rays that cause cell damage leading to a brain tumor
- Family History – Certain genetic syndromes can put you at a higher risk of brain tumors
- Long term smoking
- Prolonged exposure to pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides
- Working with elements like lead, plastic, rubber, and petroleum
Symptoms of Brain Cancer
- Lack of coordination
- Lack of balance
- Speech issues
- Vision problems
- Abnormal movement of the eyes
- Muscle twitching and jerking
- Nausea
- Severe headaches that worsen in the morning
- Seizures
- Numbness in the arms or legs
Prevention of Brain Cancer
- Avoid radiation therapies
- Get enough sound sleep – long term disruptions in sleep can increase the risk of brain cancer
- Avoid tobacco
- Eat right
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Avid long exposure in the sun
- Know your family history
- Get regular health check ups
Diagnosis of Brain Cancer
Some screening tests and procedures might include;
- Physical exam
- Eye test
- Hearing test
- Checking the balance or coordination
- Checking the sensations your skin
- Testing the gag reflexes
Further, imaging for the brain tumour might include the following tests:
- CT Scan – It creates a 3D picture of the insides of the body using X-Rays
- MRI – It uses magnetic waves to give a detailed image of the body’s internal parts
- Biopsy – In this, a sample tissue is removed and is examined under a microscope to see if it is cancerous in nature
- PET Scan – In this, the patient is injected with a mildly radioactive substance that collects mainly in tumor cells. Then a camera helps to build further information
Treatment of Brain Cancer
- Surgery – After diagnosis, the surgeon tries to remove the entire tumor during the surgery. If it isn’t possible to remove the tumor, they’ll take a sample of the tumor to identify its type
- Chemotherapy – It is used to treat high-grade brain cancer in combination with other treatments like surgery or radiation therapy
- Neurosurgery – It is a specialized type of surgery that is performed on the nervous system particularly the spinal cord and the brain. It aims at removing the entire tumor
- Radiation therapy – It is the use of high-power beams used to destroy brain tumor cells and relieve the symptoms
- Targeted Therapy – It is the use of specific drugs that are designed specifically to target the brain tumor cells