Brain Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Brain cancer develops when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the brain, forming tumors. Depending on their type, these tumors can be either slow or fast-growing.

The main goal of brain cancer treatment is to eliminate the tumor and destroy any remaining cancer cells. Recent advancements in therapy have significantly improved survival rates, especially for patients with slow-growing tumors.

Primary brain cancer originates in the brain, where excessive cell growth causes tumor formation. In contrast, cancer that spreads to the brain from another part of the body is known as secondary or metastatic brain cancer.

Some malignant brain tumors grow quickly and can disrupt vital body functions. Because brain tumors can become life-threatening, early detection and prompt treatment are crucial.

How Many Types of Brain Cancer Are There?

Researchers have identified over 150 types of brain cancers. Primary brain cancers are classified as glial (from glial cells) or non-glial (from brain structures like nerves or blood vessels) and as benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Some tumors also form in the spinal cord.

Common Benign Tumors

• Chordomas: Slow-growing, found at the skull base or spine.
• Craniopharyngiomas: Near the pituitary gland; hard to remove.
• Gangliocytomas/Gangliomas: Rare, arise in nerve cells.
• Glomus jugulare: Located near the top of the jugular vein.
• Meningiomas: Most common, grow in the brain linings; usually benign.
• Pineocytomas: Slow-growing, in the pineal gland.
• Pituitary adenomas: In the pituitary gland, they may affect hormones.
• Schwannomas: From Schwann cells; acoustic neuromas affect hearing.

Common Malignant Tumors

About 78% of cancerous brain tumors are gliomas, including:

• Astrocytomas: Form in astrocytes, often in the cerebrum.
• Ependymomas: Near the brain ventricles.
• Glioblastomas (GBMs): Fastest-growing, most aggressive.
• Oligodendrogliomas: Rare, start in myelin-producing cells.

One serious type of brain tumor is medulloblastoma. It grows rapidly at the base of the skull and is most commonly found in children.

How Many Stages Does Brain Cancer Have?

Brain cancer is categorized into four grades as follows:

• Grade 1: These tumors grow slowly, are usually benign, and can often be removed successfully through surgery.
• Grade 2: These tumors grow moderately and may begin to spread into nearby brain tissue.
• Grade 3: These malignant tumors grow quickly and are more likely to invade surrounding areas.
• Grade 4: These tumors are the most severe and fast-growing, with glioblastoma being a common example.

Symptoms of Brain Cancer

The size and location of the brain tumor affect the symptoms of brain cancer. However, in its early stages, brain cancer exhibits many of the same symptoms as several less dangerous diseases.

Numerous of these symptoms are incredibly typical and are not likely to be signs of brain cancer. However, it’s a good idea to see a doctor if you’ve had any of these symptoms for longer than a week, if they came on suddenly, if they don’t go away with over-the-counter painkillers, or if any of them worry you.

Warning Signs of a Brain Tumor

• Morning headaches that are typically worse
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Lack of balance
• Coordination problems
• Difficulty walking
• Forgetfulness
• Difficulties in thinking and speaking
• Vision issues
• Inconsistent eye motions
• Jerks or twitching of the muscles
• Inexplicable fainting
• Drowsiness
• Tingling or numbness in the arms or legs
• Seizures

Brain Cancer Causes and Risk Factors

It is unclear what explicitly causes primary brain cancer. However, research has revealed a connection between exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation and a higher chance of developing brain cancer. The most frequent sources of ionizing radiation include radiation therapy treatments, frequent medical imaging tests (CT scans, X-rays), and potential employment exposure.

Additional factors that could increase the risk of acquiring brain cancer include:

• Age
• A family history of brain cancer
• Smoking for a long time
• Using pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers
• Working with substances like lead, plastic, rubber, petroleum, and some fabrics can cause cancer

Some types of cancer are more likely to cause secondary brain cancer than others, which is the kind of brain cancer that develops when cancer travels from another region of your body to your brain.

The following cancers frequently metastasize or spread to the brain:

• Lung disease
• Breast cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Melanoma, a form of skin cancer,

How to Diagnose Brain Cancer?

Your doctor may carry out one of the following procedures to determine whether you have symptoms of a brain tumor:

A brain biopsy, which is a surgical procedure in which a small amount of the tumor is removed for diagnostic testing and to determine whether your tumor is malignant, a neurological examination to determine whether a tumor is affecting your brain imaging tests, such as CT, MRI, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, to locate the tumor a lumbar puncture, which is a procedure that collects a small sample of the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord.

A neurological examination, which includes searching for abnormalities in your:

• Coordination and balance
• Mental condition.
• Hearing
• Vision
• Reflexes

These alterations may indicate the area of your brain where a tumor grows.

The next stage in the process is usually a brain scan, most frequently an MRI, if your doctor thinks you might have a brain tumor.

Treatment for Brain Cancer

• Surgery: The most frequent form of treatment for brain tumors is brain surgery. Depending on the tumor’s position, it might be possible to remove it wholly, partially, or not.
• Chemotherapy: These medications can reduce your tumor and kill brain cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be administered orally or intravenously.
• Radiation treatment: This procedure uses high-energy radiation, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells and tumor tissue that cannot be surgically removed.
• Combination treatment: Combination therapy is the simultaneous administration of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
• Other medicines: To treat symptoms and adverse effects brought on by your brain tumor and brain cancer therapies, your doctor may prescribe medications.
• Clinical trial medicines and drugs may be used in advanced brain cancer instances that don’t respond to treatment. These are medications that are still being tested. For example, an immunotherapy trial and a CAR T cell therapy trial may be part of clinical trials for brain cancer.
• Rehabilitation: If your cancer or treatment has impacted your ability to talk, walk, or perform other daily tasks, you might need to go to rehabilitation sessions. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other therapies are all a part of rehabilitation and can assist you in learning activities.

Brain Cancer Prevention Measures

Although there is no known way to prevent brain cancer, you can lower your risk by staying away from:

• Pesticide and insecticide exposure
• Exposure to cancer-causing substances
• Smoking results in unnecessary radiation exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions