Brain Cancer

What is Brain Cancer?

An occurrence of cancer tumours in the brain cells leads to brain cancer. Primary brain tumours are named after the brain tissue type from where cancer develops. Different names and types of brain cancers reflect the different cells in the brain that can become cancerous. Although benign or non-cancerous, tumours can affect the brain functioning, and the grade of cancer determines the severity. Any abnormal growth of cells in the brain is called a brain tumour. It is important to understand that not all brain tumours are cancerous.

A benign tumour does not invade the surrounding tissues or spread to other areas. It is the cancerous or malignant tumours that take the nutrients, blood, and space of the healthy cells, and can also spread to other parts of the body. Common brain tumours are gliomas, meningiomas, pituitary adenomas, vestibular schwannomas, and primitive neuroectodermal tumours (medulloblastomas).

Symptoms

Some common symptoms of brain cancer are:

Vertigo or dizziness.
Seizures.
Weakening of muscles.
Persistent or severe headaches.
Nausea and vomiting.
Lethargy and change in alertness.
Blurry vision.
Problems with memory.
Impaired speech or voice or the complete inability to speak.
Hallucinations and fatigue.
Problems with coordination.

Causes

brain cancer. However, some recurrent patterns show that the following factors can lead to the disease:

Genetics.
Age.
Exposure to radiation.
Turcot syndrome.
Neurofibromatosis.

Risks

Some common risks of brain cancer are:

A cerebral hernia.
Blockage in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid which causes sudden death.
Hemorrhagic strokes which lead to loss of vision/ speech, paralysis, and unconsciousness.

Prevention

Following are some methods that aid in preventing and/or spreading of brain cancer:

Ketogenic diet.
Restriction of calories.
Stress reduction techniques such as yoga, meditation, and breathing exercise.

How is it diagnosed?

The initial diagnosis is done by a general medical practitioner through physical examinations, and understanding the medical history, family history, lifestyle habits, and medicines used by the pat...

CT scans
X-rays
MRI scan
Biopsy
Complete Blood Count (CBC)

How is it treated?

Depending upon the patient’s case, one or multiple treatments may be required to completely remove the cancer, and also minimise the risk of spreading or returning of cancer.