When a huge number of abnormal cells grow in your brain, it results in a brain tumor. There are different types of tumors, some being benign or noncancerous, and some malignant or cancerous. Brain tumors may begin inside your brain, or the cancer could start in other portions in your body and gradually spread to the brain - what is termed as secondary or metastatic tumors of the brain.
The growth rate of tumors may vary to a great extent. The rate of growth along with the location of the tumor determines how the nervous system function will be affected. Depending on the type of brain tumor, it location and size the physician decides what kind of treatment options should be used in an individual.
Symptoms
Depending on the rate of growth, size and location of the brain tumor, there can be various types of signs and symptoms of this condition. General signs and symptoms this condition causes may include:
- Fresh onset or even change in the headache patterns
- Headaches that slowly turn out to be more frequent and highly severe
- Nausea or puking that cannot be explained
- Problems in vision like double vision, blurred vision or losing peripheral vision
- Gradually losing sensation or complete movement in a leg or an arm
- Balancing difficulty
- Speech abnormalities
- Confusion in daily matters or activities
- Changes in personality or behaviours
- Hearing issues
- Seizures, specifically in those who do not have any history of seizures
Causes
Primary tumors of the brain originate within the brain or in the close by tissues, like in the meninges (membranes covering the brain), in the pituitary gland, cranial nerves, or pineal gland. Primary tumors of the brain happen when mutations are acquired in the DNA of normal cells. The mutations enable and allow cells to keep growing and dividing at a real fast pace and breed continuously when healthy cells are dying. This ends up in a huge pile of abnormal cells that form tumor.
There are several types of primary brain tumors, where each one gets the name from the kinds of cells that are involved. Some examples are:
Gilomas: The tumors actually begin in your spinal cord or brain and include oligpdendrogliomas, oligoastrocytomas, glioblastomas, ependymomas, and astrocytomas.
Meningiomas: This condition is a tumor that surfaces from those membranes that surround your spinal cord and brain, and most of them are non-cancerous.
Acoustic neuromas: They are benign tumors that grow in the pituitary gland situated at the brain’s base. These tumors have the power to affect the pituitary hormones, which in turn affects the entire body.
Germ cell tumors: In the early childhood days where formation of ovaries and testicles happen, germ cell tumors may develop. However, at other times these tumors affect other portions of the body like the brain.
Craniopharyngiomas: These are noncancerous, rare tumors that start near the pituitary gland’s of the brain, the organ that secretes hormones to control many types of body functions. With the gradual growth of the condition, it could affect the pituitary gland and several other structures near the brain.
Different other cancers that begins in other parts an gradually spreads to brain:
Metastic or secondary tumors of the brain are tumors that end up due to cancer starting elsewhere in the body and then spreading in and around the brain. Secondary brain tumors mostly occur n people with history of cancer, in rare cases it is the first sign that began somewhere else and then developed in the brain. In adults, brain tumors of secondary kinds are way more common than primary tumors are.
Risks and Treatment
In maximum number of people with primary brain tumors, why the tumor surfaced isn’t clear. However, doctors have said that certain factors could increase this risk. These risk factors could be radiation exposure and having family history with brain tumors.
Several kinds of treatments are available. For instance, neurological examination, imaging tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scan, chemotherapy, and surgery are some of the common procedures deployed. Post treatment consultations are also highly diligent and detailed to enable complete cure of the patient and to ensure the patient is able to cope both medically and emotionally.