What
everyone should know about brain cancer.
A collection of improperly growing cells in your brain is known as brain cancer. Brain cancer can strike people of any age, and according to John Hopkins Medicine, "all brain malignancies are tumors, but not all brain tumors are cancerous." In addition, the website notes, "Based on the brain tissues they impact, there are over 120 different forms of brain tumors. Cancer.net cites brain and nervous system cancer as the 10th leading cause of death for men and women. Even benign brain tumors might be harmful due to size or location. Malignant brain and CNS tumors are anticipated to kill 18,280 Americans this year (10,710 males and 7,570 women). In 2020, it was anticipated that 251,329 people would die from primary malignant brain and CNS tumors worldwide." Most tumors aren't identified until symptoms occur, and then it's too late. Dr. Rupesh Kotecha, Chief of Radiosurgery, highlighted brain cancer symptoms.
1. Facts About Brain Cancer Symptoms
"There are two symptoms associated with primary brain tumors: broad and localized," says Dr. Kotecha. Common symptoms include headaches, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and seizures. Seizures, weakness, loss of sensation, trouble speaking, and visual loss are all focal symptoms, depending on the tumor's location."
2. Morning Headaches or Headaches That Disappear After Vomiting
"Nausea, seizures, memory problems, vision, hearing, or speech disorders, loss of appetite, walking and balance difficulty, and muscle weakness" are all symptoms of primary brain tumors. The brain is where primary brain tumors start. They can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous), as well as high-grade (rapidly growing) or low-grade (slow-growing) (slow-growing). Primary brain tumors come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Common symptoms include headaches, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and seizures. Seizures, weakness, loss of sensation, trouble speaking, and visual loss are all focal symptoms, depending on the tumor's location.
Gliomas are the most common brain tumor, affecting any portion of the brain or spinal cord. They grow in glial cells, which are a group of cells that covers neurons and supports their function. Glioblastoma, a fast-growing, malignant tumor that mainly affects adults, is one variety of glioma.
Primary brain tumor risk factors include immune system disorders like Epstein-Barr virus or AIDS, immunosuppressants after an organ transplant, genetic syndromes like neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, von Hippel-Lindau disease, tuberous sclerosis, and Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and exposure to vinyl chloride.
These could also be signs of a metastatic brain tumor. Metastatic brain tumors are more common than primary ones. The cerebral cortex is where most brain metastases develop.
3. Cerebrospinal Fluid
Dr. Kotecha claims that "A pituitary tumor can cause this symptom and a headache, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Pituitary tumors are primary brain tumors that start in the epithelial cells that border the pituitary gland, which governs growth and metabolism and encourages hormone production by other glands. Pituitary tumors might be difficult to detect because they don't always create symptoms. Even when they generate symptoms, they can be misdiagnosed as something else. When doctors undertake MRI examinations for another reason, they may unintentionally discover pituitary tumors."
4. Vertigo; Hearing Loss in One Ear, Ringing in One Ear, Numbness or Weakness of Facial Muscles, Double Vision
"These could all be symptoms of a primary brain tumor such as an auditory neuroma or vestibular schwannoma," Dr. Kotecha explains." An acoustic neuroma is a benign (noncancerous) tumor that forms on the vestibulocochlear nerve, which runs from the inner ear to the brainstem and includes the vestibular and cochlear nerves. This nerve is in charge of transmitting sound and balancing information from your ear to your brain. Acoustic neuroma tumors grow slowly and seldom spread to the surrounding tissue. They start in Schwann cells, which produce myelin, a material that insulates nerve fibers and speeds up nerve signal transmission.
Acoustic neuroma symptoms appear when tumors grow large enough to press against nearby nerves, blood vessels, and brain tissue."
5. How Is Today's Brain Cancer More Treatable?
Dr. Kotecha claims that "The breakthroughs in our understanding of tumor biology and molecular profile benefit patients with primary brain tumors and brain metastases the most. We can provide more precise information regarding prognosis and treatment approaches based on these, including identifying patients who may benefit from targeted treatments or immunotherapy. Advanced technologies, such as particle therapy (protons or carbon ions) or high-precision stereotactic radiosurgery, have proven critical in maximizing tumor control while avoiding acute and late treatment-related toxicities for radiation therapy patients."
6. Who Has the Highest Risk for Brain Cancer?
"Unfortunately, there are no recognized risk factors for most patients with primary brain tumors," explains Dr. Kotecha. "Only a small percentage of people have known genetic disorders that predispose them to cancer development. Aside from that, ionizing radiation exposure is the only recognized risk factor. Lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, and renal cell cancer are the most prevalent main histologies in patients with brain metastases."
7. How Can You Help in the Prevention of Brain Cancer?
"Unfortunately, unlike other malignancies, we don't have treatments for preventing primary brain tumors," adds Dr. Kotecha, "since there are no significant risk factors."
8. More Clinical Trials Are Required
According to Dr. Kotecha, "The National Comprehensive Cancer Network's category one recommendation is to provide patients with brain tumors with access to clinical trials, and as a principal investigator on several studies, I truly believe that to continue to advance science and improve patient outcomes, we must make an effort to provide patients with access to novel trials. At the same time, I value patients' trust in their investigators and research teams to participate in trials."