Brain Cancer Surgery

Saturday, April 24th, 2010 at 4:42 pm

Symptoms and Treatment of Brain Cancer

Brain cancer is a disease of the brain where cancer cells (malignant) grow in the brain tissue. Cancer cells grow to form a mass of cancer tissue (tumor) that interferes with brain tissue functions such as muscle control, sensation, memory, and other normal body functions. Tumors composed of cancer cells are called malignant tumors, and those composed of noncancerous cells are called benign tumors. Cancer cells that develop from brain tissue are called primary brain tumors. Statistics suggest that brain cancer is not rare and is likely to develop in about 20,000 people per year.

There are two main types of brain cancer. Primary brain cancer starts in the brain. Metastatic brain cancer starts somewhere else in the body and moves to the brain. Brain tumors can be benign, with no cancer cells, or malignant, with cancer cells that grow quickly.

Although such growths are popularly called brain tumors, not all brain tumors are cancer. Cancer is a term reserved for malignant tumors.

Malignant tumors grow and spread aggressively, overpowering healthy cells by taking their space, blood, and nutrients. (Like all cells of the body, tumor cells need blood and nutrients to survive.)

Primary tumors

The brain is made up of many different types of cells.

Some brain cancers occur when one type of cell transforms from its normal characteristics. Once transformed, the cells grow and multiply in abnormal ways.

As these abnormal cells grow, they become a mass, or tumor.

Causes and Risk Factors

Aside from a known association with exposure to vinyl chloride, there are no known chemical or environmental agents that lead to the development of brain tumors. Genetic mutations and deletions of tumor suppressor genes (i.e., genes that suppress the development of malignant cells) increase the risk for some types of brain cancer.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor vary greatly and depend on the brain tumor's size, location and rate of growth.

Depending on the location and size of the tumor, symptoms experienced by each patient may vary. Most of the common symptoms are due to increased intracranial pressure as the growing tumor affects surrounding structures:

Frequent headaches (reported by 50% of patients)

Blurry vision

Nausea and/or vomiting

Personality or cognitive changes

Treatment

Treatment for brain cancer depends on the age of the patient, the stage of the disease, the type and location of the tumor, and whether the cancer is a primary tumor or brain metastases. The treatment plan is developed by the oncology team and the patient. Treatment involves any combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Some tumors require several different surgical procedures, and some can be treated with radiation alone.

Before treatment begins, most patients are given steroids, drugs that relieve swelling or edema. Your may receive anticonvulsant medicine to prevent or control seizures. If hydrocephalus is present, you may need a shunt to drain cerebrospinal fluid. A shunt is a long, thin tube placed in a ventricle of the brain and then threaded under the skin to another part of the body, usually the abdomen. It works like a drainpipe. Excess fluid is carried away from the brain and is absorbed in the abdomen. In some cases, the fluid is drained into the heart.

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My 50 yr old mom has terminal brain cancer. Do u know anything about it?

I know the treatment regimine is chemotherapy. The Dr.s' said chemo can shrink it but may not be able to remove it completely. So basically there's no way out, but does anyone know any places that are very good with treating it, or any facts that might be helpful to me?They've allready took out a tumor. She has three little tumors too deep in her brain to be removed by surgery.

I am so sorry to hear this. I know that there are many things you can do about cancer in general, but not specifically brain cancer. I used to have a friend who I lost touch with who actually healed herself of an inoperable brain tumor through holistic and naturapathic methods.

Change to organic foods. Juicing with organic fruits and vegetables will revitalize her like a blood transfusion and help fight off the cancer. She needs to do this at least once a day, but even 2 to 3 times if necessary. It might even be best if she went a few days just on juicing with the organic fruits and veggies. And the important thing is to use ORGANIC. You don't need to put a lot of toxins and pesticides in a body that is trying to fight for it's life. Everything organic, organic, organic.

Below are a few links of the supplements that I used along with regular medicine to help fight off my stage 4 breast cancer. Please check them out. Utilizing these types of adjunct treatments along with the regular medical treatments could make all the difference in the world between life and death. Just because they say it's "terminal" doesn't always mean it. Doctors only know the limits of what their medicine can do, but utilizing natural methods in addition has resulted in miracles. I was supposed to be terminal. I had three forms of aggressive breast cancer at the same time, which had gone in to my lymph nodes in my arm as well as my neck, and cancer cells in my lungs. I am completely cancer free right now and am doing all I can to maintain that status.

Don't give up. Tell you mom not to give up. I was 52 when I was diagnosed. She has a lot more of life to live just make a determination to fight for it and have a positive attitude. But you have to be proactive and stay on top of it. Hopelessness and giving in will be self fulfilling prophecies. Hang tuff. Have your mom visualize her immune system fighting off and killing the cancer cells and them having to leave the body; after taking the things that help to strengthen the immune system. Believe it or not, these types of things work.

Your family will be in my prayers. Good luck...

Treatments for Brain Tumors in Children : Brain Tumor Surgery