In the United States, almost every year close to 35,000 people were told to process tumor which started from the brain. Am will love to talk about the primary brain tumors, those cancers which do spread to the brain from another body part is not the same to a primary brain tumor. The spreading of lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma and other different types of cancer which usually extend to the brain is known as metastatic brain tumors. There are lots of treatment options for people with metastatic brain tumors but the treatment is depending on the origin of the cancer.
I will love to let us know about the treatment, knowing more about the diagnosis and also the supportive care. Getting enlighten on brain tumors medical care will aid you in taking positive part in choosing on how to take care of yourself. There are lots of questions you may wish to ask medical professionals (doctors) because many find it very helpful taking list containing questions with them on a visit to the doctors.
Now let discuss about the brain.
The brain is a spongy mass of soft tissue, it is been secured by
The skull bones
Thin tissues which are of three layers and known as the meninges
We have the watery fluid known as the cerebrospinal fluid which flow through the spaces within the meninges and through the spaces known as ventricles which is within the brain.
What we are determined to do such as talking and those things that is been done by our body even without us thinking about it is been controlled by the brain. Our senses is also been taken controlled of by the brain. Messages is been carried back and forth within the other part of the body and the brain by a nerves network, so are in direct contact (the brain to places like eyes, noses etc) while some nerves passes between the spinal cords in order for it to connect the brain with the other body parts. The nerves cells is been surrounded and hold in place by the glial cells.
Different activities of the brain are been controlled by three major parts which are the
Cerebellum which is in charge of balancing walking, standing and some other complex actions.
cerebrum which make use of the information from our senses so as to make us know what is happening around us and making our body know how it can respond to it.
It is in charge of thinking and our emotions. The cerebrum is of two parts which are the right and left cerebral hemispheres. The muscles of the body which is at the left side is been controlled by the right hemisphere which the muscles at the right side is controlled by the left hemisphere.
- The brain stem which is connecting the brain with the spinal cord. It is in charge of controlling the temperature of the body, breathing, and some other basic functions of the body.
Tumor Grades and The Types
New cells always take the place of old cells when they grow old and die or get damaged. But at times, things are not as we expected them to be. The new cells developed even when the body do not need them and this old or damage cells will not die as expected, this now form the accumulation of extra cells which at times create a mass of tissue known as a growth or tumor.
The brain tumor maybe benign or malignant
Benign on is own part does not contain cells cancer
most at times, after the removal of the benign tumors, they grow back
they may become malignant (develop cancer cells)
benign brain tumor maybe life threatening at times
Malignant brain tumor constitute cancer cells
they are often life threatening
they grow fast and affect other healthy tissues of the brain
The Tumor Grade
The grade are been separated by the doctors. When we mention grade here, it means the way it looks under the microscope
In Grade I the cells resemble normal cells and develop slowly which make the tissue a benign
In Grade II it is malignant because the look of the cells is less than the normal cell in the Grade I
In Grade III they look very different from the normal cells. They are actively developing
In Grade IV the cells look abnormal and develop rapidly
The Risk Factors
It is normal in wondering what may have cause the disease when you were told to have developed it, but not everyone know what actually causes the brain tumors. Researchers are trying to detect if people with some risk factors are more prone to develop the brain tumor than others that are not.
The following factors were been detected to increase the risk factors of brain tumor:
The Family history
Ionizing radiation which may cause damage of cells when expose to high x-rays dose may turn out to be a tumor.
It is been studied if cell phone usage, exposure to some certain chemicals or developing a head injury are vital risk factors. But yet to be linked if this can possibly cause it.
Symptoms
The brain tumor symptoms is depending on the actual tumor size, the type and the specific location. The most common symptoms include
memory problems
walking or balancing problems
headaches which is usually worse in the morning
Numbness
Nausea and also vomiting
Kindly note that other health problems may cause these symptoms above and may not be due to brain tumor. If any of these symptoms is been detected, please kindly notify you doctors.
Diagnosis
Physical examination and questions about personal an our family health history are always been asked by doctor which symptoms of brain tumor are detected. One or more of the following tests may be conducted.
Neurologic exam where the doctor make some vision, the muscle strength, alertness checkup. The eyes are also looked into by the doctors to detect swelling which may be caused by pressing of the tumor to the nerve which is connecting the eyes to the brain.
Angiogram which is the injection of dye to the bloodstream thereby making blood vessels which is in the brain visible on an x-ray. If tumor detected, the tumor or the blood vessels that fed into the tumor are shown.
CT scan which include the use of x-ray machine in taking detailed pictures of the head.
More diagnosis such as biopsy, spinal tap, MRI can be made more enlighten through researches.
Treatment
There are lots of treatment options for people with brain tumors. The option may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. But the treatment depend on the following
The size of the tumor
Age and general health
The brain tumor types and grade
Surgery
The first brain tumors treatment is usually the surgery, but before it start, anesthesia is been administer and shaving of the scalp is been shaved. Might not be the entire head.
Radiation Therapy
This is use in killing the tumor of the brain cells using high energy rays such as the x-rays, gamma rays or protons. This therapy does follow surgery which is used in killing the left over tumor cells remaining in the area. It comprises of external radiation therapy and internal radiation therapy
You detecting you have brain tumor may make changes in the life of the victim or of those closer to the victim. The changes can be difficult to handle, which is quite normal for such individuals in seeking help in coping with feelings which can be brought by the diagnosis. You can contact doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors for support.