Description

Brain metastases occur when cancer cells spread from their original site to the brain. Any type of cancer can spread to the brain. But the most common types that spread are the lung, breast, colon, kidney and melanoma.

Brain metastases can form one or more tumors in the brain. As they grow, they put pressure on the surrounding brain tissue. This can cause symptoms such as headache, personality changes, confusion, seizures, changes in vision, difficulty speaking, numbness, weakness or loss of balance.

The treatment for people whose cancer has spread to the brain may include surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or chemotherapy. Other treatments may be used to reduce the pain and symptoms caused by the cancer.

Symptoms

The symptoms caused by brain metastases may vary. They depend on the location, the size and the speed at which it grows.

The symptoms of brain metastases include:

  • Headache, sometimes with vomiting or nausea.
  • Mental changes, such as increasing memory problems.
  • Seizures.
  • Weakness or numbness on one side of the body.
  • Changes in vision.
  • Difficulty speaking or understanding the language.
  • The loss of balance.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your health care professional if you have persistent signs and symptoms that worry you. If you've been treated for cancer in the past, tell your doctor about your medical history.

Causes

Brain metastases occur when cancer cells break away from their original location. The cells can travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system and spread to the brain.

Cancer that spreads from its original location is known by the name of the primary cancer. For example, cancer that has spread from the breast to the brain is called metastatic breast cancer, not brain cancer.

Risk factors

Any type of cancer can spread to the brain. Some of the types that are more likely to spread include:

  • The lung cancer.
  • Breast cancer.
  • The Colon cancer.
  • Kidney cancer.
  • The Melanoma.

Diagnosis

Tests and procedures of diagnosis of brain metastases include:

  • Neurological examination. Your health care professional check your cognition, speech, vision, hearing, balance, coordination, strength, sensation and reflexes.
  • Imaging tests.These tests make pictures of the body. Magnetic resonance imaging, also calledMRI, is the main test that is used to help show the location and size of brain metastases. A dye may be injected through a vein in your arm during this test. Other imaging tests may include computerized tomography, also calledCT, and positron emission tomography, also calledPET.
  • The biopsy. Your health care professional may recommend a procedure to remove a sample of tissue for testing in a lab. Can be done with a needle or during surgery to remove a tumor in the brain.

Imaging tests. These tests make pictures of the body. Magnetic resonance imaging, also called magnetic resonance imaging , is the main test that is used to help show the location and size of brain metastases. A dye may be injected through a vein in your arm during this test.

Other imaging tests may include computerized tomography, also called computed tomography, and positron emission tomography, also called PET .

Treatment

The treatment for brain metastases may help to relieve symptoms, slow the growth of the tumor and prolong life. Even with the success of the treatment, which can return. That is why your healthcare provider will closely follow.

The treatments depend on the type, size, number and location of the tumors. The health professionals also take into account the symptoms, the health and treatment goals.

Medications to control the symptoms

Medications can help control the symptoms of brain metastases, and make you feel more comfortable. The options may include:

  • Steroids. These high doses of the drugs are also called corticosteroids. They may decrease the inflammation in the brain caused by brain metastases, helping to relieve the symptoms.
  • Anti-seizure drugs. These medications can help control seizures if you have any.

Surgery

Surgery may be an option if the tumor is easily accessible and adjusts to your overall cancer care plan. The surgeon will remove as much tumor as possible. Surgery may help to improve symptoms and help with the diagnosis. Combined with other treatments.

Brain risks of surgery have improved significantly over the years. But the risks can include problems with thinking, movement, and speech, as well as numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs. Infection and bleeding are other possible risks. Risks will depend on where the tumors in the brain.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy treats cancer with powerful rays of energy. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources. During radiation therapy, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you. The machine directs radiation to precise points on your brain.

The treatment may include one or both of the following:

  • Whole-brain radiation.Whole-brain radiation aims beams throughout the brain in order to kill the tumor cells. People who have whole-brain radiation usually need 10 to 15 treatments of more than 2 to 3 weeks. Side effects may include fatigue, nausea, skin reaction, headache, and hair loss. Long-term, whole-brain radiation may cause decline in thinking and memory.
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery.Stereotactic radiosurgery is a focused radiation treatment. It is also called SRS or stereotactic body radiation therapy.SRSaims beams of radiation from many angles in cancer. Health professionals that the use of 3D planning for the treatment to be as accurate as possible and limit the damage to the healthy parts of the brain. Stereotactic radiosurgery may take one or a few treatments. The side effects can include nausea, headache, convulsions, and dizziness. The risk of thinking and memory decline afterSRSis thought to be less than with whole-brain radiation.

Whole-brain radiation. Whole-brain radiation aims beams throughout the brain in order to kill the tumor cells. People who have whole-brain radiation usually need 10 to 15 treatments of more than 2 to 3 weeks.

Side effects may include fatigue, nausea, skin reaction, headache, and hair loss. Long-term, whole-brain radiation may cause decline in thinking and memory.

Stereotactic radiosurgery. Stereotactic radiosurgery is a focused radiation treatment. It is also called SRS or stereotactic body radiation therapy. SRS aims beams of radiation from many angles in cancer.

Health professionals that the use of 3D planning for the treatment to be as accurate as possible and limit the damage to the healthy parts of the brain. Stereotactic radiosurgery may take one or a few treatments.

The side effects can include nausea, headache, convulsions, and dizziness. The risk of thinking and memory decline after surgery is thought to be less than with whole-brain radiation.

Health professionals have made significant progress in the understanding of whole-brain radiation therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery. They have learned how these therapies affect survival, brain function and quality of life. In the decision of that radiation therapy to be, you and your healthcare professional will take into account many factors. These include the number of brain metastases present, other treatments you are receiving and the probability that their cancer will recur.

Medications

Sometimes, your health care team may recommend medications to control your brain metastases. If you can help, depends on where the cancer started and your own situation. The options may include:

  • Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy treats the cancer with strong medications. Many chemotherapy drugs exist. The majority of chemotherapy drugs are given through a vein. Some come in the form of a pill.
  • The targeted therapy. Targeted therapy for cancer is a treatment that uses drugs that attack specific chemicals in cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, the treatment can cause cancer cells to die.
  • Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy for cancer is a treatment with a medication that helps the body's immune system destroys the cancer cells. The immune system fights diseases by attacking the germs and other cells that should not be in the body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system.

Rehabilitation after treatment

Brain tumors can form in parts of the brain that control movement, speech, vision and thinking. That is why the rehabilitation may need to be part of the recovery. Your health care professional can refer you to the following services:

  • The physical therapy. Physical therapists can help you regain strength, coordination, and the ability of movement and balance.
  • Occupational therapy. Occupational therapists can help you return to your normal daily activities, such as work.
  • Speech therapy. Speech pathologists can work with you if you have problems to talk about.
  • Cognitive rehabilitation therapy. Health professionals can help if you are having difficulty with the loss of memory, word recall, mood problems, and attention.

Palliative care

Palliative care is a special type of health care that helps people with serious illnesses feel better. He has also called the attention of support. If you have cancer, palliative care can help relieve the pain and other symptoms.

Palliative care is performed by a team of health professionals. This may include doctors, nurses and other specially trained professionals. Your goal is to improve the quality of life for you and your family during the treatment of cancer.

Palliative care can occur at the same time as treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Alternative medicine

There are alternative medicines that have been found for the treatment of brain metastases. But the integrative medicine can help you deal with the stress of cancer and the side effects of cancer treatment.

Talk with your health care professional about your options, such as:

  • Acupuncture.
  • Art therapy.
  • The massage.
  • Meditation.
  • Music therapy.
  • The physical activity.
  • The relaxation exercises.
  • Yoga.
  • Nutrition.

Coping and support

Coping with brain metastases implies acceptance of the news that his cancer has spread beyond its original site.

Cancer that has spread can be difficult to cure. People with a single brain metastasis have a better chance of long-term survival of persons with multiple metastatic tumors. Your care team will work to reduce the pain and help you to continue with your daily activities.

With the time you're going to find ways to cope with stress and uncertainty of cancer. Until then, you may find that it helps to:

  • Learn about the brain metastases. Ask your health professional for the details of your cancer. Ask about the types, treatment options and prognosis. Ask for good sources of up-to-date information.
  • Be aware of the possible limits on driving. Ask your health care professional if you are okay to drive. The answer may depend on whether the neurological examination shows that your judgment and reflexes have not been affected, and if you have seizures.
  • Express your feelings. Find an activity that allows you to write or talk about their emotions. That may include writing in a journal, talking with a friend, a counselor, or a chaplain, or join a support group. Ask your healthcare provider about support groups in your area.
  • Come to terms with his illness. If the treatment is not helping, you and your family may want to talk with your health care team about the end-of-life care options, such as hospice.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with your health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you. Tell your doctor if you have been treated for cancer before, even if it was many years ago.

If you are diagnosed with brain metastases, you will be referred to one or more of the following health professionals:

  • A neuro-oncologist, who specializes in brain metastases.
  • A neurologist, who treats disorders of the nervous system.
  • A radiation oncologist, who treats brain tumors with radiation.
  • A neurosurgeon, performed the surgery on brain tumors.

Appointments can be brief, and there is much to discuss. It is a good idea to be prepared. I have here how to help you to prepare and what to expect:

What you can do

  • Be aware of the pre-appointment rules. When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do in advance, such as changing your diet.
  • Write down your symptoms, even those that do not seem to be related to why you scheduled the appointment. Take note of how much time you have had these symptoms and what makes them better or worse.
  • The list of personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking. Include the dose.
  • Consider the possibility of a family member or friend. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who comes with, you can remember the details that you missed or forgot.
  • Write questions to ask their health professional.

Write a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your health care professional. For brain metastases, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • There are other possible causes of the symptoms?
  • What kinds of tests do I need?
  • What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
  • What are the possible side effects of each treatment?
  • How will the treatment affect my daily life?
  • How long is the treatment?
  • What is my prognosis?
  • What experimental treatments or clinical trials are available to me?
  • I have these other health conditions. How are they going to affect my treatment?
  • Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
  • Do you have any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?
  • If you have a friend or loved one in my situation, what advice would you give?

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask several questions, including:

  • When was the first experience of the symptoms?
  • Your symptoms are continuous or come and go?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, in any case, help to improve the symptoms?
  • Does anything make your symptoms worse?
Symptoms and treatment of Brain metastases