What is a brain tumor?
A brain tumor is a collection of abnormal cells in your brain. Your skull is very rigid, which encloses your brain. Any growth inside such a restricted space can cause problems. Brain tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). When benign or malignant tumors grow, they can cause the pressure inside your skull to increase. This can cause brain damage which is also life-threatening.
There are two major types of brain tumor which are primary and secondary brain tumors.
• Primary Brain Tumors
Primary brain tumor originates in your brain. Many primary brain tumors are benign or cancerous,which can develop from brain cells, glands,nerve cells etc
There are also other types of primary brain tumors such as pituitary tumors,pineal gland tumors
• Secondary Brain Tumors
It is also known as a metastatic brain tumor which occurs when cancer cells spread from another organ to your brain which later develop into breast cancer,lung cancer, kidney cancer,skin cancer.
• Age
• Too much of exposure to radiation
• Chemical Exposure
Symptoms of brain tumors depend on the location and size of the tumor. Headache is a common symptom of brain tumor which can also be worsened by coughing,exercise and sneezing. Others include:
• Memory loss
• Confusion
• Eye problems
• Dizziness
• Hand tremors
Diagnosis of brain tumor begins with physical exams which includes a very detailed neurological examinations and a look at ones medical history. One's doctor will conduct a test if the cranial nerves which originated from the brain is intact. With the aid of ophthalmoscope, the pupils reaction to light are checked. The doctor may also evaluate:
• Muscle strength
• Coordination
• Memory
CT scans are ways for your doctor get a more detailed scan of your body than they could with an X-ray machine. This can be done with or without contrast.
A special dye can be used to help your doctor detect tumors. An MRI is different from a CT scan because it doesn’t use radiation, and it generally provides much more detailed pictures of the structures of the brain itself.
Brain tumors can cause breaks or fractures in the bones of the skull, and specific X-rays can show if this has occurred. These X-rays can also pick up calcium deposits, which are sometimes contained within a tumor.
A small piece of the tumor is obtained during a biopsy. The biopsy will identify if the tumor cells are benign or malignant. It will also determine whether the cancer originated in your brain or another part of your body.
The treatment of a brain tumor depends on:
• The type of tumor
• The size of the tumor
• The location of the tumor
• Your general health
The most common treatment for malignant brain tumors is through SURGERY. The goal is to remove as much of the cancer as possible without causing damage to the healthy parts of the brain.
Treatment on time can prevent occurence a tumor growth and puts pressure on the skull and brain tissue. Consult your doctor if you notice any symptoms
Thanks for reading.
