The Symptoms and Treatment of Brain Tumors

Primary CNS Lymphoma, MRI, T1 Saggital

Image via Wikipedia

Brain tumors consist of a grouping of abnormal cells that are located within a person’s brain. They may grow from nerve cells, brain membranes and around glands.

Once they are in place, the tumor cells begins to kill off cells in the brain. They can also cause inflammation, which exerts pressure. Some of the symptoms that may appear include:  headaches, body weakness, alterations in mental functioning and seizures, which may be more prevalent in older adults. The headaches can be at their worst during the morning hours, happen while a person is sleeping, be coupled with vomiting, numbness or confusion and increase in severity during exercise. The person may also have hearing changes, be clumsy, have problems writing or reading and have sensitivity to temperatures that are too hot or cold.

Tests to diagnose brain tumors include EEG’s, MRI’s, testing of brain tissue taken by a surgeon and CT scans done on the head. When a tumor is diagnosed, then various types of treatment can be used to deal with the tumor. These include chemotherapy, radiation or surgery to attempt to remove the tumor. Surgery is often done in conjunction with radiation or chemotherapy. Many patients also receive occupational and physical therapy, counseling and attend support groups.

Patients can follow-up with their doctors if the symptoms resume after the treatment has been done. They should be active in finding out information on their condition, looking for answers and working to improve their health. The more knowledgeable the patient is, the more involved he or she can be in treatment.

Filed Under: Surgery, Tumor, Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

The Treatment of Brain Tumors

A Brain tumor can be either secondary, which means it starts at one area of the body and spreads to the brain, or it can be primary, which means it starts in the brain. A tumor is a growth or mass of abnormal cells. There are malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous) types of brain tumors.

Because these tumors press on the normal structures of the brain as they grow, whether they are benign or malignant, treatment is needed. The type of treatment you receive for your brain tumor will depend on several aspects such as the size, location, age and health of patient, and type of tumor present.

Although no one knows exactly what causes brain tumors, individuals with a master degree at earnmydegree.com have learned factors that make a person more susceptible, and gives them the added benefit of getting healthy and avoiding risk factors. They can be of help by applying their knowledge in medical services for others with brain tumors.

Some factors that may put an individual at a greater risk for developing a brain tumor include family history of gliomas, individual aged 70 or older, males, being exposed to certain chemicals or radiation, formaldehyde exposure, vinyl chloride exposure, acrylonitile exposure and more. Although factors such as age, race, and family history is out of a person hands in the prevention of a brain tumor, learning of dangerous and harmful types of exposure is an excellent way to decrease the risk of this type of tumor. Learning about what may cause certain cancers or tumors through an education is a great motivator to get healthy which can also motivate others.

 

Filed Under: Treatment, Tumor Tagged With: , ,

Health Problems Caused by Smoking

Smokers may experience a variety of health problems. Although many diseases, cancers, and other serious medical issues are linked to smoking, smokers can combat these by receiving help and support while they are quitting. There are many resources available for smokers and a variety of answers to questions are listed online.

Cancer is directly linked to smoking. By altering the body and its cells’ makeup, smoking invites cancer cells to form and spread. The most common cancers that are caused by smoking are lung, mouth, and sinuses. The diversity of cancer types originates from nicotine’s ability to greatly deplete nutrient and oxygen levels.

Impotence, another health problem that affects mainly men, may be caused by smoking. Blood vessels and surrounding tissue in the penis are restricted by the use of nicotine, and these men may have difficulty maintaining an erection as a result. Largely taboo in the past, impotence is becoming a more obvious problem and is being addressed more frequently. Many men choose to buy Viagra to reverse the negative effects of smoking, but they are finding that their bodies do not react as well to the drug as the bodies of non-smokers do.

Finally, another health problem that smokers experience frequently is emphysema. Breathing difficulty and increased asthma are both direct effects of smoking. The lungs are unable to hold oxygen at the levels they should be, and plaque build-up in the blood vessels prevents the flow of oxygenated blood to all body parts.

When smokers quit, slow restoration of these blood vessels and increased oxygen exchanges help the body recover. The process may take years, but it is well worth it.

Filed Under: Tumor Tagged With: ,

Primary Brain Tumor Types

Primary Brain Tumor Types

Primary brain tumors come in numerous types. They are named for the area of the brain they originate in or the kind of cells they are made from. For instance, the majority of primary brain tumors start in glial cells. Therefore, this tumor is named glioma.

Following are the more common brain tumors that affect adults:

·        Astrocytoma:  This tumor comes from astrocytes, which are glial cells in the shape of stars. In adults, the cerebrum is usually home to this tumor. The Grade I or II astrocytoma can be considered a low grade glioma. The Grade III is sometimes known as an anaplastic or high grade astrocytoma. The   malignant astrocytic glioma or glioblastoma, is a Grade IV.

·        Meningioma: Originating in the meninges, this tumor can be Grade I, II, or III, and is typically benign.

·        Oligodendroglioma: This tumor has its beginnings in the cells that create the fatty matter covering and shielding nerves. It’s typically first located in the cerebrum. Adults of middle age are most prone to developing these Grade II or III tumors.

The most common primary tumors found in children are:

·        Medulloblastoma: Usually originating in the cerebellum, this is also known as a primitive neuroectodermal tumor, and is a Grade IV.

·        Astrocytoma Grade I or II: This is a low grade tumor that can develop in any part of the brain. Grade I juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma is the most common of these.

·        Ependymoma: Young adults and children are most susceptible to this Grade I, II, or III tumor. It affects the spinal cord’s center.

·        Brain Stem Glioma: Occurring in the brain’s lowest portion, it can be either low or high grade. Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma is the most common kind.

Sometimes a little knowledge of a disease can go a long way in helping individuals cope better.

Filed Under: Health, Tumor Tagged With: , ,

Brain Tumor Facts

Brain Tumor Facts

When a brain tumor invades your life, or the life of someone close to you, it is natural to want to learn everything you can about this type of cancer. Following are some facts regarding brain tumors that you may find helpful:

·        Every year over 200,000 people living in the United States receive a diagnosis of either a primary or metastatic brain tumor. Of these 200,000 diagnoses, around 40,000 of them are primary brain tumors. These primary tumors are often benign.

·        Solid tumor cancers that cause children under 20 years old to die are most often from brain tumors. This now exceeds the death rate in children caused by acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Brain tumors are also the second leading cancer deaths in adult males between the ages of 20 and 29. They are the fifth leading cancer deaths in adult females between 20 and 39.

·        The most common types of brain tumors result from cancer that has spread from another part of the body. These are called metastatic brain tumors. Primary brain tumors typically do not spread through the body.

·        Over 120 different kinds of brain tumors exist, which can complicate an effective treatment plan. Brain tumors can be benign or malignant. Currently, standard treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation    therapy. These are used independently or combined.

·        Brain tumors appearing in children differ from tumors in adults. As a result, they require different treatments. Survival odds for children are 69 percent but they often retain side effects.

·        There is ongoing research and study to discover the causes of brain tumors as well as better and more effective ways to cure it.

·        Currently, brain tumor research needs more funding to adequately find ways to successfully cure it. At the present, brain tumors rank lower than other cancers in cure rates.

Filed Under: Treatment, Tumor Tagged With: , ,

Complications of a Brain Tumor

Complications of a Brain Tumor

As with most serious cancers, a brain tumor may cause several complications. It is dependent upon where the brain is located as to whether a patient suffers any complications and to what extent.

A brain tumor can attack any portion of the brain. However, if the portion involved is the part that controls the movement or strength in the leg or arm, the tumor can cause a feeling of weakness in that arm or leg. This weakness can be a lot like what is experienced when someone has a stroke.

A patient’s vision can also undergo changes due to a brain tumor. If the tumor is damaging nerves involving the eyes, or the visual cortex, vision problems can occur. This is the portion of the brain that registers when a person is seeing something. Problems in this area can bring about such things as double vision or reduced vision.

One of the most common issues with brain tumors is the headaches that can come with them. If the tumor is increasing pressure in the brain, these headaches will occur. They can be quite severe and can also cause nausea and vomiting. These headaches may be from the tumor or from a fluid buildup in the brain. The majority of headaches are not even caused by brain tumors.

There are certain parts of the brain that can develop tumors that result in personality or behavior changes. This can be serious when the changes cause someone to act in an irrational, or even criminal, way.

Some brain tumors affect the auditory nerves in the brain. If this happens, the patient may experience hearing loss in the ear located on the side of the brain with the tumor.

Last, but not least, seizures can result if the tumor is causing irritation to the brain. This can happen even in people with no history of seizures.

Filed Under: Health, Tumor Tagged With: , ,

Alternative Medicine Treatments for Brain Tumors

Alternative Medicine Treatments for Brain Tumors

Not a lot of research has been done on the alternative and complementary treatments for a brain tumor. That may be due to the fact that none of the alternative treatments typically used have been shown to cure a brain tumor. In fact, so far, only the traditional medical treatments have proved that they can not only alleviate symptoms of the brain tumor, but can also totally destroy it. However, there are many alternative medicine treatments that can help patients handle the side effects of the tumor as well as the treatments that are needed to reduce or destroy it. Your doctor can guide you in this area as to which of these alternative medicine treatments may help you the most.

Some of the complementary and alternative treatments that might be able to help in coping with everything that is going on due to the brain tumor may sound a bit surprising at first. One such treatment is acupuncture. This is the practice of placing tiny needles in carefully chosen areas to relieve pain caused by the brain tumor. Hypnosis can also reduce, or remove, any pain and discomfort caused from the tumor and the side effects that come from the traditional treatments. Meditation is a form of relaxation that focuses on the mind. This helps because the mind can be taught to relax and ignore the pain to a degree. Music therapy along with relaxation exercises can both play a big role in relieving the stress and anxiety that go hand in hand with having a brain tumor.

As you can see, all of these alternative treatments for a brain tumor take on the form of relaxing in some way. When the patient is able to relax fully, it is often possible to focus less on the discomfort and more on feeling better.

Filed Under: Treatment, Tumor Tagged With: , ,

Treatment of Brain Tumors

Treatment of Brain Tumors

The treatment for a brain tumor is dependent upon the type, location and size. It also depends on the overall health of the individual. Doctors can tailor treatment to meet most situations.

One of the first methods of treatment is surgery if the tumor is located where it can be removed. Smaller tumors that are easy to access make it possible to completely remove them. Other tumors may be situated so that they’re too close to sensitive brain areas, which make surgery difficult. Doctors may try to get out as much of the tumor as they can when this happens. Getting out even a little bit of the tumor can make the patient feel better.

Another treatment option is that of radiation therapy. This involves using beams of    high energy, like X-rays, to destroy the tumor. It can be done through external beam radiation or through placing the radiation inside your brain close to the tumor.

Stereotactic radiosurgery uses several beams of radiation for a very focused type of treatment meant to destroy tumor cells located in a tiny area. The single less powerful beams converge jointly on the brain tumor. Combined, it’s a very large radiation dose. It’s only done once and the patient can usually go home the same day.

Chemotherapy is delivered in the form of drugs. These can be taken in the form of pills or injections. It can also be delivered in the form of a wafer set by the tumor during surgery. This is left in place for several days.

Targeted drug therapy concentrates on destroying particular abnormalities within the cancer cells. When these abnormalities are blocked, the cancer cells die. A lot of these drug therapies are still new and going through clinical trials to check for effectiveness and safety. One such drug that has been approved to treat brain tumors is called Avastin and given intravenously.

Filed Under: Treatment, Tumor Tagged With: , ,

Coping with a Brain Tumor

Coping with a Brain Tumor

The diagnosis of a brain tumor can be terrifying as well as overwhelming. It can cause feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. However, there are some steps that can help an individual cope with all of the negative feelings that can hit following the diagnosis.

Take an active part in your treatment by learning everything you can about your particular brain tumor. When you think of questions you want, or need, to ask your doctor, write them down and take them to your doctor appointments. As you get your answers, write them down or have some go with you to the appointments to do it for you. The more information you and your loved ones have about all aspects of your tumor and the care surrounding it, the better all of you will feel when it’s time to decide on a treatment plan.

There will be times when you simply can’t handle everything. This is when you need to find a person you’re comfortable talking with. It may be that you have a very close friend or family member that you feel comfortable with. If these people aren’t handling your diagnosis very well, either, visit someone in the clergy or a counselor. You may even gain strength from sharing your feelings with someone else that’s going through the same thing. If you have no one readily available to you, ask your doctor if there are any support groups nearby, or go online and join some communities there.

Most importantly, you must take care of yourself. This includes both body and mind. Eat a healthy diet with lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. When you feel able, get some exercise. Always get enough rest and sleep. Reduce your stress even more by doing such things as listening to music or writing your thoughts and feelings in a journal.

Filed Under: Health, Tumor Tagged With: , ,

Brain Tumor Prevention

Brain Tumor Prevention

While all of the causes of cancer aren’t known, there are still measures that you can take to cut down on your odds of ever developing brain tumors. When you follow these methods, you have a very good chance of preventing cancer from invading your brain.

Consider that your brain is the center of your body’s existence. If you didn’t have a brain, you would be a relative vegetable without thoughts, impulses or movements. A brain tumor can damage your body’s center and cause you to, ultimately, degenerate into that vegetable state. That’s why it’s very important to do everything you can to keep from ever giving a tumor the chance to take up residence in your brain.

Start out by exploring your family’s history. Find out the most common diseases that your family seems to have attracted. If you find that cancer is one of these, alert your doctor to this information. Regular doctor visits for brain scans can be helpful in catching anything before it gets started.

If you’re not as healthy as you should be, take steps to get that way. Stop any unhealthy habits such as smoking or drinking in excess. Eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise. Stay up to date on any medical news regarding brain tumors. Obtain a list of ways to prevent brain tumors from your doctor.

Use cell phones in moderation. There have been some studies that hinted to a link of regular cell phone use and brain tumors. This link showed that the odds are 240 percent higher among regular cell phone users for developing brain tumors than those that used them in moderation.

Finally, learn all you can about brain tumors. Educate yourself on the causes and symptoms. If you feel that you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately.

Filed Under: Health, Tumor Tagged With:
« Older Posts