Brain cancer is the abnormal growth that originates in the brain, or it can also be a metastatic tumour 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.
Tumours are not always cancerous. They can be benign but the growth of them can lead to problems.
Causes of Brain Cancer
- Ionization Radiation – High doses of rays that cause cell damage.
- Family History – Certain genetic syndromes are at higher risk of brain tumours.
- Long term smoking
- Prolonged exposure to pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides.
- Working with elements like lead, plastic, rubber, and petroleum.
Symptoms of Brain Cancer
The signs and symptoms of brain tumours depend on the size and location. It may also depend on the aggressiveness of the tumour. Here are some common symptoms of brain tumour:
- 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
Types of Brain Cancer
- Gliomas and other brain tumours: Gliomas are the growth of cells that look like glial cells. Glial cells surround and support the nerve cells in the brain tissue. Though gliomas can be benign, most are malignant. Types of gliomas and related brain tumours include astrocytoma, glioblastoma, oligodendroglioma and ependymoma.
- Choroid plexus tumours: They start in the cells that make the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. These kinds of tumours are more common in children.
- Embryonal Tumours: They begin in the cells that start in the leftover cells from fetal development. Embryonal tumours mostly occur in babies and young children.
- Nerve Tumours: It is the growth that happens in and around the nerves. This is the most common type of brain tumour.
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
There are a number of tests and procedures that are required to confirm the presence of tumour:
- 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