Symptoms of a Brain Tumor – 2

Symptoms of a brain tumor are often what help patients catch these abnormal growths on the brain before they become untreatable. Brain tumors present a number of symptoms that can help you identify whether or not you are at risk of having a tumor. Here’s a look at some of the most common symptoms of a brain tumor.

 

Frequent Headaches 

Brain tumors are among many medical conditions... 

Image via Wikipedia

 

Frequent, general headaches are the most common type of symptom that develops from tumors on the brain. Tumor headaches are often characterized by extremely painful headaches in the morning that can get worse by engaging in activities like coughing, moving, kneeling or bending. These headaches will usually get worse as the tumor grows on the brain.

 

Seizures

 

A brain tumor is a growth that puts pressure on certain areas of the brain. This pressure will result in the electrical flow of the brain being disturbed and cause a seizure. Seizures are sudden convulsions and trembling. The number of seizures that are a result of brain tumors can range from a single episode to multiple seizures.

 

Ill Feeling

 

A constant ill feeling can be a sign of a brain tumor. Nausea, dizziness and vomiting are all feelings that can come as a result of a brain tumor. Often times it is not the tumor that is causing this feeling but the frequent headaches.

 

Brain tumors can be successfully treated when caught early. By educating yourself on the common symptoms of a brain tumor it will help you know when you should seek medical attention and look into whether or not a tumor might be present.  Early detection could save your life.

Filed Under: Health, Treatment 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: , ,

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: , ,

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:

Tests for Diagnosing Brain Tumors

Tests for Diagnosing Brain Tumors

For people suspected of having a brain tumor, there will be some tests that are ordered by their doctors. These tests are geared towards finding out if there is, indeed, a tumor present. Once that is established, there will be other tests to determine where the tumor is and the size of it.

A neurological exam will include checking vision, balance, hearing, reflexes and coordination. If there appears to be a problem in one or more of these areas, that will point to the portion of the brain that is most affected by the tumor. All tests for brain tumors begin with this type of examination.

Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, will be used in helping with the diagnosis. Sometimes a dye is injected into a vein in your arm prior to the MRI. Other specialized MRI scans may also be performed to help get more details regarding the brain tumor. The results of these scans will help the doctor form a treatment plan.

If a brain tumor is found, there will be other tests performed to find out if it is the result of cancer spreading from other parts of the body. It is important to locate the source of the cancer so there will be tests done to find it. Sometimes, a secondary brain tumor is when other forms of cancer are found.

A biopsy may be performed as part of the surgery that removes the brain tumor. It can also be done through the use of a needle. A biopsy means that a sample of the affected tissue is collected and tested for cancer. This is another test that can be used in determining what the course of treatment should be to control, and ultimately, cure the tumor.

If, after all the tests are completed, you still have doubts, you’re perfectly within your rights to seek a second opinion.

Filed Under: Health, Tumor Tagged With: ,

Are You at Risk for Developing a Brain Tumor?

Are You at Risk for Developing a Brain Tumor?

While doctors are not quite clear on the culprit that is behind the genetic mutations that start primary brain tumors, there are some factors that have been identified as increasing the risk of developing a brain tumor. Read these factors with an open mind and don’t assume that you’re going to get brain cancer because you may fit into any of these groups. They are only to be used as a guideline. The risk factors include:

• Race: It seems that white people get brain tumors more often than other races. The one exception to this rule is meningioma that appears to strike black people more often.

• Age: As people get older, the risk for a brain tumor increases. Older adults have more incidents of brain tumors than younger ages, but they can happen at any age. Certain brain tumors, like medulloblastomas, typically strike children exclusively.

• Radiation Exposure: Exposure to a specific kind of radiation known as ionizing radiation can increase the risk of developing a brain tumor. Ionizing radiation comes from such things as the radiation therapy that treats cancer and exposure caused from atomic bombs. There are other types of radiation that are more common. These are the electromagnetic fields produced by power line and the radiofrequency radiation from microwave ovens and cell phones. However, there has not been a direct link established between brain tumors and these types of radiation.

• Chemical Exposure from Jobs: There are specific industries that cause more of an increased risk for people to develop brain tumors. It seems to be due to chemical exposure on the job.

• Family History: A small percentage of people that get brain cancer have a family history of it. However, this is the smallest risk factor used in trying to predict who will develop a brain tumor and who will not.

Filed Under: Health, Tumor Tagged With: , ,

Causes of Brain Tumors

Causes of Brain Tumors

Primary brain tumors, or tumors that begin in the brain, form when normal cells acquire mutations in their makeup. These mutated cells grow and divide at rapid rates while also continuing to live rather than die, like healthy cells would. The result of these overrun mutating cells is a cluster of abnormal cells. This, in turn, creates a tumor.

The good news is that primary brain tumors happen less often than secondary brain tumors. The secondary brain tumors are a result of cancer spreading from elsewhere in the body. There are various types of primary brain tumors. Each type is named from the type of cells that cause it.
As previously stated, secondary brain tumors happen because there is cancer in another part of the body and it has traveled to the brain. This is called metastasizing. Secondary brain tumors typically strike people that already have a history of cancer. There are rare cases, however, where a metastatic brain tumor turns out to be the first sign of cancer that actually started somewhere else in the body.

Secondary brain tumors occur a lot more often than primary brain tumors. That’s because any type of cancer that starts anywhere in the body can travel to the brain. The most common cancers that metastasize to the brain include colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer and melanoma. These are also some of the most common cancers that people tend to get, which is why they’re most known for bringing about brain cancer.

Rarely do genetics, or family history, play a part in why one person develops a brain tumor and another one doesn’t. However, researchers are looking into whether head injuries, using cell phones, or being exposed to certain chemicals increase the chances of developing a brain tumor. Thus far, no links have been established between any of these and brain tumors.

Filed Under: Health, Tumor Tagged With: ,

Symptoms of a Brain Tumor

Symptoms of a Brain Tumor

Most people don’t assume that they have a brain tumor every time they get a headache, even though some migraines can be so painful it can raise questions. However, while migraines can be horrible, they typically are not harbingers of brain tumors. There are some definite symptoms that do come with brain tumors and it’s important to be able to identify them.

Depending on where the tumor is located and its size, the symptoms can vary quite a bit. Some of these symptoms can include:

• Difference in headache patterns
• Increased frequency and severity in headaches
• Nausea or vomiting for no reason
• Blurred vision or double vision
• Peripheral vision loss
• Gradually losing the feeling or movement in a leg or an arm
• Difficulty with speaking
• Balance problems
• Confusion over daily routines
• Changes in behavior or personality
• Seizures. This is particularly alerting with someone that has no history of seizures.
• Difficulty hearing

If you have any of these symptoms that seem new or troublesome to you, it’s time to make an appointment to see your doctor. You may not even have anything to worry about, but it’s always better to get checked out instead of taking the risk that you DO have a brain tumor. Even if you don’t have all of the symptoms listed here, if there’s anything such as different sorts of headaches from the ones you usually get, don’t hesitate to see your doctor.

Most people know their bodies pretty well and can tell when something’s not quite right. So while headaches may be the first symptom that shows when a brain tumor is in place, there are certain differences that will be noticed. The pain may be a bit more intense or settled in one part of the head, for example. The important thing is to be sure you never ignore the signals your body sends you to tell you something’s not right.

Filed Under: Health, Tumor Tagged With: ,

Overview of Brain Tumors

Overview of Brain Tumors

The formation of brain tumors is something that generally comes about when the replacement of cells process goes wrong in some sort of manner. Most normal cells age or get damaged and die. When this happens, new cells replace them. Sometimes new cells grow even though they aren’t needed by the body, and old or bad cells don’t die as they’re meant to.  This buildup of too many cells can result in a mass or tissue called a growth.

Brain tumors are either benign or malignant. Benign tumors mean that the growth doesn’t have any cancer cells in it. These can usually be removed and rarely do they return. They also typically have an edge or border to them that’s easy to see. That’s because the cells from benign tumors usually don’t involve any of the other tissues surrounding them. This means that they won’t spread throughout the body. Benign tumors cause problems if they start pushing on certain portions of the brain. This is where they differ from benign tumors that form in other parts of the body. Benign brain tumors can turn into malignant ones.

Malignant brain tumors do contain cancer cells, which is why it is also known as brain cancer. These types of tumors usually become serious, and are often life-threatening. They grow quickly, invading any healthy brain tissue close by. The cancer cells can escape from malignant brain tumors and travel to other portions of the brain or spinal cord, although they don’t usually spread to other body parts. Primary brain tumors can start in the brain, or the cancer can start elsewhere in the body and travel to the brain to create secondary tumors.

Treatment options for brain tumors are really going to depend on the type of tumor, how large the tumor actually is and where in the brain the tumor is actually located. Tests will be conducted in order to gather this pertinent information before choosing a treatment strategy.

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