Description

A brain tumor is a growth of cells in the brain, or close to it. Brain tumors can occur in the brain tissue. Brain tumors can also occur near the brain tissue. Other places nearby include the nerves, the pituitary gland, the pineal gland, and the membranes that cover the surface of the brain.

Brain tumors can begin in the brain. These are called primary brain tumors. Sometimes, the cancer spreads to the brain from other parts of the body. These tumors are secondary brain tumors, also called metastatic brain tumors.

Many different types of primary brain tumors exist. Some brain tumors are not cancerous. These are the so-called non-cancerous, tumors of the brain or of the benign tumors. Non-cancerous brain tumors can grow over time and of the press in the brain tissue. Other brain tumors are cancers of the brain, also called malignant brain tumors. Brain cancers can grow quickly. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy the tissue of the brain.

Brain tumors vary in size from very small to very large. Some brain tumors are found when they are very young, since that causes the symptoms that you notice right away. Other brain tumors grow very large before being found. Some parts of the brain are less active than others. If a brain tumor starts in one part of the brain is less active, which may not cause symptoms right away. The brain of the size of the tumor may become very large before the tumor is detected.

Brain Tumor treatment options depend on the type of brain tumor you have, as well as its size and location. Common treatments include surgery and radiotherapy.

Types of

There are many types of brain tumors. The type of brain tumor is based on the type of cells that comprise the tumor. Special laboratory tests in tumor cells can give information about the cells. Your health care team uses this information to determine the type of brain tumor.

Some types of brain tumors are usually not cancerous. These are the so-called non-cancerous, tumors of the brain or of the benign tumors. Some types of brain tumors are usually noncancerous. These types are referred to as brain cancers or malignant brain tumors. Some brain types of tumors can be benign or malignant.

Benign brain tumors are usually slow-growing brain tumors. Malignant brain tumors tend to be rapid growth of brain tumors.

Types of brain tumors include:

  • Gliomas and associated with brain tumors. Gliomas are tumors of cells that resemble glial cells. The glial cells surround and support nerve cells in the brain tissue. Types of gliomas and associated with brain tumors include astrocytoma , glioblastoma , oligodendroglioma , and ependymoma . Gliomas can be classified as benign, but the majority are malignant. Glioblastoma is the most common type of malignant brain tumor.
  • Tumors of the choroid plexus. Choroid plexus tumors start in the cells that produce the fluid that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. This fluid is called the cerebrospinal fluid. The choroid plexus of the tumors are found in the fluid that fills the cavities of the brain, called ventricles. The choroid plexus tumors can be benign or malignant. Choroid plexus carcinoma is the malignant form of this type of tumor in the brain. It is more common in children.
  • Embryonal tumors. Embryonal tumors start in the cells that are to the left from the fetal development. The cells, called embryonic stem cells, the stay in the brain after birth. Embryonal tumors are malignant brain tumors that occur most often in infants and young children. The most common type of tumor embryonic is the medulloblastoma . It is typically located in the lower part of the brain, called the cerebellum.
  • Germ cell tumors. Germ cell tumors start in the reproduction of cells, called germ cells, which are going to become the sperm and eggs. Germ cells are mostly in the ovaries and testes. But sometimes they are in other parts of the body, including the brain. When tumors of germ cells occur in the brain, it is often found near the pineal gland or the pituitary gland. Germ cell tumors are mostly benign. They are more common in children.
  • Pineal region tumors. Tumors of the Pineal gland begins in and around the brain in the pineal gland. The pineal gland is located in the center of the brain. It produces a hormone called melatonin that helps with sleep. Pineal tumors can be benign or malignant. Pineoblastoma is a malignant pineal gland tumor that is more common in children.
  • Meningiomas. Meningiomas are brain tumors that start in the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Meningiomas are usually benign, but can sometimes be malignant. Meningiomas are the most common type of benign brain tumor.
  • Tumors of the nerve. Nerve tumors are tumors that occur in and around the nerves. The most common type of what happens in the head is acoustic neuroma , also called a schwannoma. This benign tumor that is found in the main nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain.
  • Pituitary tumors. Brain tumors can begin in and around the pituitary gland. This small gland located near the base of the brain. Most of the tumors that occur in and around the pituitary gland are benign. Pituitary tumors occur in the pituitary gland. Craniopharyngioma is a type of brain tumor that occurs near the pituitary gland.
  • Other brain tumors. Many other types of rare tumors can occur in and around the brain. Tumors can start in the muscles, blood vessels and connective tissue that surrounds the brain. Tumors can form in the bones of the skull. Malignant brain tumors can start from the germ of the struggle against the cells of the immune system in the brain. This type of cancer in the brain called primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor depend on the brain tumor's size and location. The symptoms also might depend on how fast the brain tumor is growing, which is also called the grade of the tumor.

General signs and symptoms caused by brain tumors may include:

  • Headache or pressure in the head that is worse in the morning.
  • Headaches that occur more frequently and seem more serious.
  • The headaches that sometimes are described as headaches or migraines.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Vision problems, such as blurred vision, double vision or lose sight of the sides of your vision.
  • You lose sensation or movement in an arm or a leg.
  • Problems with balance.
  • Problems with speech.
  • Feeling very tired.
  • Confusion in everyday matters.
  • Memory problems.
  • Having difficulty to follow simple commands.
  • Personality or behavior changes.
  • Seizures, especially if there is no history of seizures.
  • Problems of the hearing.
  • Dizziness or a feeling that the world is spinning, also called vertigo.
  • The sensation of hunger and weight gain.

Brain tumors that are not cancerous tend to cause symptoms that develop slowly. Non-cancerous brain tumors are also called benign brain tumors. May cause subtle symptoms that you do not realize at the beginning. Symptoms can worsen over months or years.

Cancerous brain tumors cause symptoms that worsen rapidly. Cancerous brain tumors are also called brain cancers or malignant brain tumors. It causes symptoms that appear suddenly. They get worse in a matter of days or weeks.

Brain Tumor headaches

Headaches are the most common symptom of brain tumors. The headaches occur in approximately half of people with brain tumors. The headaches that can occur if a growing brain tumor presses on the healthy cells around it. Or a tumor in the brain can cause inflammation in the brain that increases the pressure in the head and leads to a headache.

The headache caused by brain tumors is often worse when you wake up in the morning. But it can happen at any time. Some people have headaches that awaken them from their sleep. Brain Tumor headaches tend to cause pain that gets worse when you cough or bear down. People with brain tumors more often reported that the headache feels like a tension headache. Some people say that the headache feels like a migraine.

Brain tumors in the posterior part of the head can cause a headache with neck pain. If the brain tumor that occurs in the front of the head, the headache pain may be felt in the eye, or pain in the sinuses.

Tumor in the brain, the symptoms of the location

The main part of the brain called the brain. Brain tumors in different parts of the brain can cause different symptoms.

  • Brain tumors in the frontal part of the brain. The frontal lobes are the frontal part of the brain. They control the thought and movement. The Frontal lobe of the brain tumors can cause balance problems and difficulty walking. There could be personality changes, such as forgetfulness and lack of interest in usual activities. Sometimes family members notice that the person with the tumor in the brain, it seems different.
  • Brain tumours in the middle of the brain. The parietal lobes are at the top middle part of the brain. They help to process information about touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing. The Parietal lobe of the brain tumors can cause problems related to the senses. Examples include vision problems, and hearing problems.
  • Brain tumors in the posterior part of the brain. The occipital lobe in the back of the brain. The control of the vision. Occipital lobe, brain tumors can cause loss of vision.
  • Brain tumors in the lower part of the brain. The temporal lobes are on the sides of the brain. The process of memories and senses. Temporal lobe of the brain tumors can cause memory problems. It could make someone see, taste or smell of something that is not there. Sometimes, the taste, or the smell is unpleasant or unusual.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your health care provider if you have persistent signs and symptoms that worry you.

Causes

Brain tumors that begin in the brain

The brain tumor that begins as a growth of the cells in the brain are called primary brain tumors. You can start right in the brain or in the surrounding tissues. The nearby tissue may include the membranes that cover the brain, called the meninges. Brain tumors can also occur in the nerves, the pituitary gland and the pineal gland.

Brain tumors occur when cells in or near the brain to achieve changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do. The changes that tell the cells to grow rapidly and to continue living when healthy cells would die as part of their natural life cycle. This causes a great amount of cells in the brain. The cells may form a growth called a tumor.

It is not clear what causes the changes in the DNA that lead to brain tumors. For many people with brain tumors, the cause is not known. Sometimes parents are changes in the DNA to their children. The changes may increase the risk of having a brain tumor. These hereditary brain tumors are rare. If you have a family history of brain tumors, talk with your health care provider. You might consider meeting with a health care professional with training in genetics to understand if the story of your family increases your risk of having a brain tumor.

When brain tumors occur in children, it is likely to be the primary brain tumors. In adults, brain tumors are more likely to be the cancer that started somewhere else and spread to the brain.

Cancer that spreads to the brain

Secondary brain tumors happen when the cancer starts somewhere else and spreads to the brain. When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic cancer.

Any type of cancer can spread to the brain, but common types include:

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

It is not clear why some types of cancer spread to the brain, and others are more likely to spread to other places.

Secondary brain tumors most often occur in people who have a history of cancer. Rarely, a brain tumor may be the first sign of cancer that began somewhere else in the body.

In adults, secondary brain tumors are much more common than are primary brain tumors.

Risk factors

In most people with primary brain tumors, the cause is not clear. But doctors have identified some risk factors that can increase the risk.

The risk factors include:

  • Age. Brain tumors can occur at any age, but occur with greater frequency in older adults. Some brain tumors mostly affect adults. Some brain tumors occur most often in children.
  • Of the race. Anybody can have a brain tumor. But some types of brain tumors are more common in people of certain races. For example, gliomas are more common in white people. Meningiomas are more common in Black people.
  • The exposure to radiation.The people who have been exposed to a strong radiation have an increased risk of brain tumor. This strong radiation is called ionizing radiation. The radiation is strong enough to cause changes in the DNA in the cells of the body. Changes in DNA can lead to the development of tumors and cancers. Examples of ionizing radiation include radiation therapy to treat cancer and the exposure to the radiation caused by the atomic bomb. The low-level radiation of objects of daily life, it is not linked to brain tumors. The low levels of radiation are the energy that comes from cell phones and radio waves. There is No convincing evidence that the use of mobile phones causes brain tumors. But more studies are going on to make sure.
  • Inherited syndromes that increase the risk of brain tumor. Some changes in the DNA that increase the risk of brain tumor in families. Examples include changes in DNA that cause neurofibromatosis 1 and 2, tuberous sclerosis, Lynch syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Von Hippel-Lindau disease, familial adenomatous polyposis, Cowden's syndrome, and the syndrome Gorlin.

The exposure to radiation. The people who have been exposed to a strong radiation have an increased risk of brain tumor. This strong radiation is called ionizing radiation. The radiation is strong enough to cause changes in the DNA in the cells of the body. Changes in DNA can lead to the development of tumors and cancers. Examples of ionizing radiation include radiation therapy to treat cancer and the exposure to the radiation caused by the atomic bomb.

The low-level radiation of objects of daily life, it is not linked to brain tumors. The low levels of radiation are the energy that comes from cell phones and radio waves. There is No convincing evidence that the use of mobile phones causes brain tumors. But more studies are going on to make sure.

Prevention

There is no way to prevent brain tumors. If you receive a brain tumor, not to do anything because of it.

People with a higher risk of brain tumor could consider the possibility of screening tests. The detection is not the brain of the prevention of the tumor. But screening may help in finding a tumor in the brain when it is small and the treatment is more likely to be successful.

If you have a family history of brain tumor or inherited syndromes that increase the risk of brain tumor, talk with your health care provider. You might consider meeting with a genetic counselor or other health care professional trained in genetics. This person can help you understand your risk and ways to manage it. For example, you might consider the possibility of brain tumor detection tests. The tests may include an imaging test or a neurological exam to test your vision, hearing, balance, coordination, and reflexes.

Diagnosis

If your doctor thinks you might have a tumor in the brain, requires a number of procedures and tests to be sure. These may include:

  • A neurological exam. A neurological examination tests of the different parts of his brain to see how it is working. This examination may include checking your vision, hearing, balance, coordination, strength, and reflexes. If you have problems in one or more areas, this is an indication of your health care provider. A neurological examination does not detect a tumor in the brain. But it helps your doctor to understand what part of your brain, you might have a problem.
  • Ct scan of the head. A computed tomography scan, also called a computerized axial tomography, uses X-rays to create images. It is widely available, and the results quickly. So that the CT scan may be the first imaging test that you do if you have headaches, or other symptoms that has many possible causes. A ct scan can detect problems in and around your brain. The results give your health care provider clues to decide what to do next. If your doctor believes that your CT scan shows a tumor in the brain, you might need an mri of the brain.
  • A magnetic resonance imaging of the brain.Magnetic resonance imaging, also called magnetic resonance imaging, uses powerful magnets to create images of the inside of the body.MRIis is often used to detect brain tumors, because it shows that the brain more clearly than other imaging tests. Often a dye is injected into a vein in the arm before anMRI. The dye makes the images more clear. This makes it easier to see the smaller tumors. This can help your health care team to see the difference between a brain tumor and healthy brain tissue. Sometimes you need a special type ofMRIto create more detailed images. An example is functionalMRI. This specialMRIshows what parts of the brain control speech, movement, and other important tasks. This helps your health care provider to plan for the surgery and other treatments. Another specialMRItest is magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This test usesMRIto measure the levels of certain chemicals in the tumor cells. Having too much or too little of the chemicals could tell your health care team about the type of brain tumor you have. Magnetic resonance imaging of perfusion is another special type ofMRI. This test usesMRIto measure the amount of blood in different parts of the brain tumor. The parts of the tumors that have an increased amount of blood may be the most active parts of the tumor. Your health care team uses this information to plan your treatment.
  • PET scan of the brain.A positron emission tomography scan, also called a PET scan, it can detect some brain tumors. APETscan uses a radioactive tracer is injected into a vein. The travels through the blood and binds to brain tumor cells. The bookmark makes the tumor cells are highlighted in the images taken by thePETmachine. The cells that are dividing and multiplying quickly deal with most of the tracers. APETscan may be more useful for the detection of brain tumors that are rapidly growing. Examples include glioblastomas and some of oligodendrogliomas. Brain tumors that grow slowly, could not be detected in aPETscan. Brain tumors that are not cancerous tend to grow more slowly, soPETscans are less useful for benign brain tumors. Not all people with a tumor in the brain needs aPETscan. Ask your health care provider if you need atPETscan.
  • The collection of a sample of tissue.A brain biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of brain tumor tissue for analysis in the laboratory. Often, a surgeon takes the sample during the surgery to remove the tumor in the brain. If surgery is not possible, a sample can be removed with a needle. The removal of a sample of brain tumor tissue with a needle is done with a procedure called stereotactic needle biopsy. During this procedure, a small hole is drilled in the skull. A thin needle is inserted through the hole. The needle is used to take a tissue sample. Imaging tests asCTandMRIare used to plan the trajectory of the needle. You will not feel anything during the biopsy, because the medicine is used to numb the area. Often, you will also receive a medication that puts you in a sleep-like state so that you're not conscious. You could have a needle biopsy instead of surgery if your health care team is concerned that an operation can hurt an important part of your brain. A needle may be necessary to remove the tissue of a brain tumor, if the tumor is in a place that's difficult to achieve with the surgery. Brain biopsy carries a risk of complications. The risks include bleeding in the brain and damage to the brain tissue.
  • Proof of the tissue sample in the laboratory. The biopsy sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis. The tests can see if the cells are cancerous or non-cancerous. The appearance of the cells under a microscope can tell your health care team how to fast-growing cells. This is called the brain tumor grade. Other tests can find out what the changes in the DNA are present in the cells. This helps your health care team to create your treatment plan.

A magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Magnetic resonance imaging, also called magnetic resonance imaging, uses powerful magnets to create images of the inside of the body. Magnetic resonance imaging is often used to detect brain tumors, because it shows that the brain more clearly than other imaging tests.

Often a dye is injected into a vein in the arm before an mri . The dye makes the images more clear. This makes it easier to see the smaller tumors. This can help your health care team to see the difference between a brain tumor and healthy brain tissue.

Sometimes you need a special type of magnetic resonance imaging to create more detailed images. An example is the functional magnetic resonance imaging . This special magnetic resonance imaging shows what parts of the brain control speech, movement, and other important tasks. This helps your health care provider to plan for the surgery and other treatments.

Another special of the MRI test is magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This test uses magnetic resonance imaging to measure the levels of certain chemicals in the tumor cells. Having too much or too little of the chemicals could tell your health care team about the type of brain tumor you have.

Magnetic resonance imaging of perfusion is another special type of magnetic resonance imaging . This test uses magnetic resonance imaging to measure the amount of blood in different parts of the brain tumor. The parts of the tumors that have an increased amount of blood may be the most active parts of the tumor. Your health care team uses this information to plan your treatment.

PET scan of the brain. A positron emission tomography scan, also called a PET scan, it can detect some brain tumors. A PET scan uses a radioactive tracer is injected into a vein. The travels through the blood and binds to brain tumor cells. The bookmark makes the tumor cells are highlighted in the photographs taken by the PET machine. The cells that are dividing and multiplying quickly deal with most of the tracers.

A pet scan may be more useful for the detection of brain tumors that are rapidly growing. Examples include glioblastomas and some of oligodendrogliomas. Brain tumors that grow slowly, could not be detected in a study of PET. Brain tumors that are not cancerous tend to grow more slowly, so that the PET are less useful for benign brain tumors. Not all people with a tumor in the brain needs a PET scan. Ask your health care provider if you need to PET.

The collection of a sample of tissue. A brain biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of brain tumor tissue for analysis in the laboratory. Often, a surgeon takes the sample during the surgery to remove the tumor in the brain.

If surgery is not possible, a sample can be removed with a needle. The removal of a sample of brain tumor tissue with a needle is done with a procedure called stereotactic needle biopsy.

During this procedure, a small hole is drilled in the skull. A thin needle is inserted through the hole. The needle is used to take a tissue sample. Imaging tests such as CT and MR imaging is used to plan the trajectory of the needle. You will not feel anything during the biopsy, because the medicine is used to numb the area. Often, you will also receive a medication that puts you in a sleep-like state so that you're not conscious.

You could have a needle biopsy instead of surgery if your health care team is concerned that an operation can hurt an important part of your brain. A needle may be necessary to remove the tissue of a brain tumor, if the tumor is in a place that's difficult to achieve with the surgery.

Brain biopsy carries a risk of complications. The risks include bleeding in the brain and damage to the brain tissue.

Brain Tumor grade

A brain tumor grade is assigned when the tumor cells are examined in a lab. The grade tells your health care team how quickly the cells to grow and multiply. The score is based on how the cells look under a microscope. Scores in the range of 1 to 4.

Grade 1 brain tumor grows slowly. The cells are not very different from healthy cells nearby. As the level is increased, the cells undergo changes so that they begin to look very different. A grade 4 brain tumor grows very fast. The cells do not look anything like the healthy cells.

There are stages to brain tumors. Other types of cancer have stages. For these other types of cancer, the stage describes how advanced the cancer is and whether it has spread. Brain tumors and brain cancers are not likely to spread, so you do not have stages.

Prognosis

Your health care team uses all of the information of the diagnostic tests to understand your prognosis. The prognosis is the chance that the tumor in the brain can be healed. Things that can influence the prognosis for people with brain tumors include:

  • The type of brain tumor.
  • How quickly the brain tumor is growing.
  • Where the brain tumor in the brain.
  • The changes in the DNA are present in the cells of brain tumors.
  • If the brain tumor can be removed completely with surgery.
  • Your overall health and well-being.

If you want to know more about his prognosis, talk with your health care team.

Treatment

The treatment for a brain tumor depends on whether the tumor is a cancer of the brain or if it is not cancer, also called a benign brain tumor. Treatment options also depend on the type, size, grade and location of the tumor in the brain. The options may include surgery, radiation therapy, radiosurgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. When considering your treatment options, your health care team also considers your overall health and your preferences.

The treatment may not be needed immediately. You may not need treatment right away if your brain tumour is small, it is not cancerous and does not cause symptoms. Small, benign tumors cannot grow or you could grow so slowly that it does not always cause problems. You could have a brain MRI a couple of times a year to check the growth of brain tumor. If the tumor in the brain grows more rapidly than expected, or if you develop symptoms, you might need treatment.

Surgery

The goal of surgery for a brain tumor is to remove all of the tumor cells. The tumor may not always be fully removed. When possible, the surgeon works to remove as much of the tumor in the brain as it can be done safely. Brain tumor removal surgery can be used to treat brain cancers and benign tumors.

Some brain tumors are small and easy to separate from surrounding brain tissue. This makes it likely that the tumor is completely removed. Other brain tumors cannot be separated from the surrounding tissue. Sometimes, a tumor in the brain, is close to an important part of the brain. The surgery may be a risk in this situation. The surgeon can take out as much of the tumor as is safe. The removal of only a part of a tumor in the brain is sometimes called a subtotal resection.

The removal of part of his brain tumor may help reduce your symptoms.

There are many ways to make a brain tumor removal surgery. Which is the best option for you depends on your situation. Examples of types of brain tumors surgery include:

  • Removal of a part of the skull to reach the tumor in the brain.The brain surgery that involves removing part of the skull is called a craniotomy. It is the way in which the majority of the removal of brain tumors, the operations are performed. The craniotomy is used for the treatment of cancerous brain tumors and benign tumors. The surgeon makes an incision in the scalp. The skin and the muscles are moved out of the way. Then, the surgeon uses a drill bit to cut a section of the skull bone. The bone is removed to access the brain. If the tumor is deep within the brain, a tool that can be used to hold in the healthy brain tissue out of the way. The brain tumor is cut out with special tools. Sometimes lasers are used to destroy the tumor. During the surgery, you will receive medication to numb the area, so you don't feel anything. It gives the medicine that puts you in a state similar to sleep during the surgery. Sometimes you wake up during the brain surgery. This is called awake brain surgery. When you are awake, the surgeon can ask questions and monitor the activity in your brain as you respond. This helps to reduce the risk of damage to important parts of the brain. When the tumor removal surgery is finished, the part of the skull bone is put back in its place.
  • The use of a long, thin tube to reach the tumor in the brain.Endoscopic brain surgery involves placing a long, thin tube in the brain. The tube is called an endoscope. The tube has a series of objectives or a small camera that transmits images to the surgeon. Special tools are put through the tube to remove the tumor. Endoscopic surgery of the brain that is often used for the treatment of pituitary tumors. These tumors grow just behind the nasal cavity. The long thin tube that is placed through the nose and paranasal sinuses and in the brain. Sometimes endoscopic surgery of the brain that is used to remove brain tumors in other parts of the brain. The surgeon may use a drill to make a hole in the skull. The long thin tube that is placed with care through the brain tissue. The tube continues until it reaches the brain tumor.

Removal of a part of the skull to reach the tumor in the brain. The brain surgery that involves removing part of the skull is called a craniotomy. It is the way in which the majority of the removal of brain tumors, the operations are performed. The craniotomy is used for the treatment of cancerous brain tumors and benign tumors.

The surgeon makes an incision in the scalp. The skin and the muscles are moved out of the way. Then, the surgeon uses a drill bit to cut a section of the skull bone. The bone is removed to access the brain. If the tumor is deep within the brain, a tool that can be used to hold in the healthy brain tissue out of the way. The brain tumor is cut out with special tools. Sometimes lasers are used to destroy the tumor.

During the surgery, you will receive medication to numb the area, so you don't feel anything. It gives the medicine that puts you in a state similar to sleep during the surgery. Sometimes you wake up during the brain surgery. This is called awake brain surgery. When you are awake, the surgeon can ask questions and monitor the activity in your brain as you respond. This helps to reduce the risk of damage to important parts of the brain.

When the tumor removal surgery is finished, the part of the skull bone is put back in its place.

The use of a long, thin tube to reach the tumor in the brain. Endoscopic brain surgery involves placing a long, thin tube in the brain. The tube is called an endoscope. The tube has a series of objectives or a small camera that transmits images to the surgeon. Special tools are put through the tube to remove the tumor.

Endoscopic surgery of the brain that is often used for the treatment of pituitary tumors. These tumors grow just behind the nasal cavity. The long thin tube that is placed through the nose and paranasal sinuses and in the brain.

Sometimes endoscopic surgery of the brain that is used to remove brain tumors in other parts of the brain. The surgeon may use a drill to make a hole in the skull. The long thin tube that is placed with care through the brain tissue. The tube continues until it reaches the brain tumor.

The surgery to remove a tumor in the brain has a risk of side effects and complications. These can include infection, bleeding, blood clots, and damage in the brain tissue. Other risks may depend on the part of the brain where the tumor is located. For example, the surgery of a tumor close to the nerves that connect the eyes could be a risk of vision loss. The surgery to remove a tumor on the nerve that controls hearing can cause hearing loss.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy for brain tumors uses high-energy rays to kill tumor cells. The energy can come from X-rays, protons, and other sources. Radiation therapy for brain tumors, usually comes from a machine outside the body. This is called external beam radiation. Rarely, radiation can be placed inside the body. This is called brachytherapy.

Radiation therapy can be used to treat brain cancers and benign tumors.

The external beam radiation therapy is usually performed in a short daily treatments. A typical treatment plan may involve radiation treatments five days a week for 2 to 6 weeks.

External-beam radiation can focus only on the area of your brain where the tumor is located, or can be applied to the whole of your brain. Most people with a brain tumor will have the targeted radiation to the area surrounding the tumor. If there are many tumors, the brain may be in need of a radiation treatment. When the whole brain is treated, it's called whole brain radiation. Whole brain radiation is most often used to treat cancer that spreads to the brain from another part of the body and of the multiple forms tumors in the brain.

Traditionally, radiation therapy uses X-rays, but of a newer form of this treatment uses the energy of the proton. The proton beams can be more carefully to only hurt the tumor cells. They may be less likely to hurt the surrounding healthy tissue. Proton therapy may be useful for the treatment of brain tumors in children. It can also help in the treatment of tumors that are very close to important parts of the brain. Proton therapy is not as readily available as traditional X-ray radiation therapy.

Side effects of radiation therapy for brain tumors depends on the type and the dose of radiation you receive. The common side effects that occur during treatment or immediately after fatigue, headaches, memory loss, scalp irritation and hair loss. Sometimes radiation therapy side effects show up many years later. These late side effects may include memory and thinking problems.

Radiosurgery

Stereotactic radiosurgery for brain tumors is an intense form of radiation treatment. It aims beams of radiation from many angles in the tumor in the brain. Each beam of light is not very powerful. But the point where the beams meet receives a large dose of radiation that kills the tumor cells.

Radiosurgery can be used for the treatment of brain cancers and benign tumors.

There are different types of technology used in radiosurgery to deliver radiation for the treatment of brain tumors. Some examples include:

  • Radiosurgery with a linear accelerator. Linear accelerator machines are also called LINAC machines. LINAC machines are known by their brand names, such as the CyberKnife, TrueBeam and others. A linear ACCELERATOR machine targets carefully, in the form of energy beams one at a time from several different angles. The beams are made of x-rays.
  • Radiosurgery with Gamma knife. A Gamma knife machine pursues the goal of many small beams of radiation at the same time. The beams are made of gamma rays.
  • Proton radiosurgery. Proton radiosurgery uses beams of protons. This is the newest type of radiosurgery. It is becoming more common, but it is not available in all hospitals.

Radiosurgery is usually done in a treatment, or just a couple of treatments. You can go home after treatment and do not need to be in a hospital.

Side effects of radiosurgery include feeling very tired, and changes in the skin on the scalp. The skin of your head may feel dry, itchy and sensitive. You may have blisters on the skin or hair loss. Sometimes the hair loss is permanent.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy for brain tumors uses strong drugs to kill tumor cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be taken in pill form or injected into a vein. Sometimes the chemotherapy drug is placed in the brain tissue during the surgery.

Chemotherapy can be used to treat brain cancers and benign tumors. Sometimes this is done at the same time as radiation therapy.

Side effects of chemotherapy depend on the type and dose of medication you receive. Chemotherapy can cause nausea, vomiting, and hair loss.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy for brain tumors that uses drugs that attack the chemical agents present in the tumor cells. By blocking these chemicals, specific treatments can cause tumor cells to die.

Targeted therapy drugs are available for certain types of brain cancers and benign brain tumors. His brain tumor cells can be tested to see if targeted therapy is likely to help you.

The recovery after treatment

After treatment, you may need help to recover the function in the part of her brain that had the tumor. You may need the help of move, speak, see and think. Based on your specific needs, your doctor may suggest:

  • The physical therapy to help regain lost motor skills or muscle strength.
  • Occupational therapy to help you return to your typical daily activities, including work.
  • Speech therapy to help if talking is difficult.
  • Tutoring for school-age children to help them cope with the changes in their memory and thinking.

Alternative medicine

Little research has been done on complementary and alternative brain tumor treatments. There are No alternative treatments have been shown to cure brain tumors. However, complementary treatments can help you deal with the stress of a brain tumor diagnosis.

Some complementary treatments that can help deal include:

  • Art therapy.
  • Exercise.
  • Meditation.
  • Music therapy.
  • The relaxation exercises.

Talk with your health care team about your options.

Coping and support

Some people say that a brain tumor diagnosis feels overwhelming and scary. It can make you feel like you have little control over your health. You can help to take steps to understand your condition and talk about their feelings. Consider trying to:

  • Learn enough about brain tumors to make decisions about your care. Ask your health care provider about your specific type of brain tumor. Ask about your treatment options and, if you like, your prognosis. As you learn more about brain tumors, you can feel better about making treatment decisions. Seek information from reliable sources, such as the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute.
  • Keep friends and family close. Keep your close relationships strong will help you deal with his brain tumor. Friends and family can provide the practical support you need, such as help to take care of your house if you're in the hospital. And that you can serve as emotional support when you feel overwhelmed by the cancer.
  • Find someone to talk to.Find a good listener who is willing to listen to you talk about your hopes and fears. This can be a friend, a family member or a member of the clergy. Ask your health care team to suggest a counselor or a medical social worker can talk. Ask your health care team about brain tumor support groups in your area. It can be useful to learn how other people in your same situation that you are facing you with complicated medical problems.

Find someone to talk to. Find a good listener who is willing to listen to you talk about your hopes and fears. This can be a friend, a family member or a member of the clergy. Ask your health care team to suggest a counselor or a medical social worker can talk.

Ask your health care team about brain tumor support groups in your area. It can be useful to learn how other people in your same situation that you are facing you with complicated medical problems.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with your health care provider if you have any symptoms that worry you. If you are diagnosed with a brain tumor, you may be referred to a specialist. These may include:

  • Doctors who specialize in disorders of the brain, called neurologists.
  • The doctors use drugs to treat cancer, called the medical oncologists.
  • The medical uses of radiation to treat the cancer, called radiation oncologists.
  • Doctors who specialize in the nervous system cancers, called neuro-oncologists.
  • The surgeons operating on the brain and the nervous system, called neurosurgeons.
  • Rehabilitation specialists.
  • Providers who specialize in helping with memory and thinking problems that can occur in people with brain tumors. These providers are called psychologists or behavioral psychologists.

It is a good idea to be prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you prepare.

What you can do

  • Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there is anything that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
  • Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking.
  • 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 goes with you may remember something that you missed or forgot. That person can help you understand what your healthcare team is saying.
  • Write questions to ask their doctor.

Your time with your doctor is limited. Prepare a list of questions to help you make the most of their time together. Identify the three questions that are most important to you. List the rest of the questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. By a tumor in the brain, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What type of brain tumor that I have?
  • Where is my brain tumor located?
  • How big is my brain tumor?
  • How aggressive is my brain tumor?
  • Is my brain tumor cancerous?
  • Will I need additional tests?
  • What are my treatment options?
  • Can any of the treatments cure for my brain tumor?
  • What are the benefits and risks of each treatment?
  • There is a treatment you think is best for me?
  • What happens if the first treatment does not work?
  • What happens if I decide not to have treatment?
  • I know that you can't predict the future, but I am likely to survive to my brain tumor? What can you tell me about the survival rate of people with this diagnosis?
  • You should see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
  • Should I seek care at a medical center or a hospital that has experience in the treatment of brain tumors?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?
  • What is going to determine whether I should plan for a follow-up visit?

In addition to the questions you have prepared, do not hesitate to ask other questions that occur to you.

What to expect from your doctor

Your provider is likely to ask a series of questions. Be ready to answer them may allow time later to cover other points you want to address. Your doctor may ask:

  • When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
  • Do your symptoms occur all the time or come and go?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of the Brain tumor