Surgery | Quality of Life

Jumpstart Your Healthy Lifestlye

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Whether you want to get healthy now so that you can lower your chances of ever developing a brain tumor, or if you have one and want to improve your health, now is the time to get healthy. A healthy lifestyle is scientifically proven to increase life expectancy — and if you’re afraid that your brain tumor will kill you, you ought to know that there are some things you can do to help yourself fight it off. Diet alone can do worlds of good for brain tumor patients, those who are at higher risk for brain tumors, and even those recovering after having brain tumors removed.

Your diet can directly affect your condition. On the downside, some foods can accelerate tumor growth, so that’s why it’s so important for you to know what’s healthy to eat and to stick closely to your eating plan. Consulting a nutritionist is recommended; find one quickly by searching on a business listing site for your area, such as Canada 411.
Foods that help brain tumor conditions include:

Broccoli
Cabbage
Onions
Tofu
Soy milk
Green tea
Omega-3 fatty foods such as fish

Foods to avoid:

Refined sugars (corn syrup, white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar)
Trans-fats
Hydrogenated oils
Saturated fats

When you are following a diet plan closely, be sure to read the ingredients list on food labels. You would be surprised how many items contain ingredients you wouldn’t expect, such as hydrogenated oils in soda. To eat something sweet and healthy, try to add more fruit to your diet. Also, drink lots of water to stay hydrated, and it may help the symptoms of brain tumor treatments to emphasize fiber and protein in your food choices.

Filed Under: Research, Surgery, Uncategorized Tagged With: Cancer, Health, Tumor

The Symptoms and Treatment of Brain Tumors

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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: Brain, BrainTumor, Tumor

Side Effects of Treatment for Brain Tumors

Since the three treatment types have been known to damage healthy cells and surrounding tissue, unwelcomed side effects are typical. The severity and type of side effects vary and are based on many factors such as the location of the brain tumor and the nature and degree of treatment. Side effects differ greatly between individuals and usually change between treatments. Prior to any treatment, the medical team will explain all side effects and how to properly manage them.

Side Effects from Surgery

Following the first few days of surgery, patients report headaches and discomfort which is controlled by medicine. Also, patients can feel tired and fatigued as recovery time from surgery varies. Another less common side effect is a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain causing it to swell. Healthcare professionals monitor for this specific symptom and will provide steroids to alleviate the swelling or may have another surgery to drain the fluid. A final side effect is infection or the brain which can be relieved through antibiotics.

Side Effects from Radiation Therapy

Many patients experience nausea for several hours following treatment. Tiredness and fatigue are common so resting is extremely important. Another typical side effect of radiation therapy is hair loss. The radiation may change the color of the infected area to red. Also, in some instances, the brain tissue will swell causing headaches and the feeling of pressure. Additionally, patients can experience radiation necrosis which causes seizures or can lead to death.

Side Effects of Chemotherapy

The specific side effects of chemotherapy treatment solely depend on the type of drugs administered. The most common side effects are chills and fever, nausea and vomiting, weakness and fatigue and a loss of appetite. Many of these side effects can be lessened through additional medicine. The most common types of preventative support are prescribing steroids to relive swelling, anti-convulsive medicine to prevent seizures and shunts to drain the fluids from the brain.

Filed Under: Surgery, Treatment, Tumor Tagged With: Medicine, Radiation therapy, Surgery

Causes of Brain Tumors

To this day doctors do not know the cause of brain tumors. They have been unable to verify why one individual acquires a brain tumor and others does not. Luckily, brain tumors are not contagious; therefore it is impossible to “catch” the disease from others. This is due to the fact that cancer is based on genetic errors that cause the body to produce too many cells.

Specific Risk Factors

However, research has proven that those with specific risk factors have a higher chance of developing a brain tumor. The formal definition of a risk factor is anything that proliferates an individual’s chance of advancing a disease.

Five Known Causes of Brain Tumors

There are five primary causes or risk factors associated with the chance of developing a brain tumor. These include: race, age, sex, family history and exposure to radiation. Research has found that white people have a higher chance of developing a brain tumor than other races. Also, the majority of brain tumors are diagnosed in people older than 70. On the other hand, brain tumors are proven to be the second most common type of cancer in children younger than 8.

Surprisingly, studies have shown that brain tumors are more customary to men than women. On the other hand, the more specific type of brain tumor, known as meningiomas, is typical in women. Family history also plays a major impact due to common genes. Family members who have gliomas are more likely to develop this specific type of cancer.

Exposure to Chemicals

Finally, exposure to specific chemicals or radiation can be carcinogenic. A few examples include radiation, vinyl chloride, formaldehyde and acrylonitrile. Those exposed to radiation have a higher risk of acquiring a brain tumor. Workers that create plastics which contain vinyl chloride may increase the chance of a brain tumor. Also, formaldehyde and acrylonitrile can increase the risk of brain cancer.

Filed Under: Surgery, Tumor Tagged With: Cancer, Tumor, Vinyl chloride

Recovering From Surgery for a Brain Tumor

If you’ve had a brain tumor and gone through surgery for it, you can begin a return to health. That return, though, may take a little while. In other words, don’t expect to just be ‘back to normal’ right away because the tumor has been removed. There are still issues that you’ll have to face and work that you’ll have to do in order to get back to the level of functioning that you had before the tumor appeared. How much of an issue this really is will depend on how serious the tumor was. Some are much larger than others, some are harder to get to and treat, and some are benign while others are cancerous.

If you had surgery for a cancerous tumor, you may be facing radiation and/or chemotherapy. The radiation will target any of the tumor cells that may still be left in the brain, and the chemotherapy will seek out and destroy cancer cells that are elsewhere in the body. Some of these cells may have gotten into the bloodstream and been transported. This could potentially cause tumors in other organs, so it’s important to destroy these cells as quickly as possible. Surgery for a benign tumor won’t require chemotherapy and radiation, but you still may need to take medications to help keep swelling and other issues to a minimum, to control blood pressure, or to address other issues.

No matter what kind of tumor you had removed, you may need to go to therapy to get back functions that you lost. Some people lose some physical abilities, and others have trouble with their memory, their speech, or something else. The severity of the tumor plays a part in how much function you may have lost, but rehabilitation is important. Through therapy and rehab, you’ll be able to get a lot of the functions you lost back under your control. While it can take some time, it’s well worth putting the effort into. Most people who have surgery for a brain tumor are able to return to normal function with time and effort.

Filed Under: Rehab, Surgery, Tumor Tagged With: Cancer, Conditions and Diseases, Surgery, Tumor

Drug Rehab Research and Interventions

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Interventions are an increasingly popular way for family members and loved ones to confront drug addicts with their feelings and to persuade those with drug problems to check into a drug rehab program. The success of interventions varies wildly. Every case is unique and there are a number of variables at play.

One important strategy to improve the likelihood of an intervention’s success happens before everyone sits down with the addict: Research. That’s right; interventions don’t start with the discussion. They start weeks or even months earlier with serious research.

Those who thoroughly research drug rehab options prior to making decisions that become part of an intervention are much more likely to experience long-term success. Those who fail to plan are unlikely to see any lasting results, no matter how persuasive the intervention’s presentation and message may have been.

There are many different approaches to drug rehab and every facility has its own unique character. There is no one-size-fits-all addiction solution. As such, those planning an intervention need to consider a wide range of options and should isolate a program that seems to be an ideal fit with the personality of the addicted party.

Some programs are more successful than others are as well. Those choosing a post-intervention drug rehab program should take care to find a facility with a proven record of achievement.

Unfortunately, finances can be a factor also. One should be certain that the addict, his or her family and other willing contributors will be able to afford the full course of treatment at the rehab center before the intervention.

Filed Under: Addiction, General, Rehab, Surgery Tagged With: Addictions, Centers and Counseling Services, Drug rehabilitation, Health, Intervention (TV series), Substance abuse, Substance dependence, United States

Taking Positive Strides in Life

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It is important that you begin taking positive strides in your life all the times, even if you are only taking small steps toward being someone better. In order to be a healthy and happy person, it is important that you are constantly trying to improve upon yourself. There are many ways that you can do this, such as by eating healthier or exercising more, playing and enjoying yourself more, cutting your expenses and putting money away for savings. Taking steps toward your future means making small improvements in your life on a consistent basis. There is no reason why you cannot pick yourself up and make improvements no matter where you currently are in your life.

If you are dealing with alcoholism or a drug addiction, then there are positive steps that you can take to gain control over your life again. Drug rehab and alcohol rehab are programs that are designed to help you overcome both the mental and the physical aspects of drug addiction so that you can get clean and sober and move on with your life. If you are struggling with a substance abuse problem of any type, there are rehabilitation programs out there that will be able to help you overcome your issues and get control over your life once more.

You should strive to make positive steps toward a healthy and happy future on a daily basis. If you are willing to make small steps toward a healthy future, then you will be better equipped to meet your goals and eliminate any obstacles that get in the way. Drug addiction and alcoholism do not have to keep you from living the life that you want to lead, so simply do what it takes to overcome these obstacles so that you may move on with your life.

Filed Under: Addiction, Rehab, Surgery, Treatment Tagged With: Addictions, Alcoholism, Centers and Counseling Services, Drug rehabilitation, Health, Substance abuse, Substance dependence, United States

Cellulite Removal Techniques

Research shows that 90% of all women suffer from cellulite, while few men claim to have this problem. There is a great debate as to what actually causes cellulite. While there are some beliefs that it involves toxins under the fatty layer of the skin, recent research focuses on genetics as the main cause. Whatever the cause, the actual cellulite is a result of the fibrous septae (or strands) that connect the skin, located on top of the fat layer, to the fibrous tissues, under the fat layer. The depressions of skin between the fat is what causes the “cottage cheese” look on a person’s body. No matter what the cause of cellulite, there are multiple ways to get rid of this problem.

One of the first things that comes to mind when thinking of getting rid of cellulite is liposuction. This procedure may be conducted on the abdominals, hips, thighs, calves, arms, buttocks, back, neck, or face. It may be performed on more than one section of the body at one time. Liposuction is not a solution for losing weight. It is a way to sculpt and smooth out areas of the body affected by cellulite.

Other types of treatment are non-surgical and non-invasive. Diet and exercise are one of the most natural ways to get rid of cellulite. Eliminating sugars, caffeine, alcohol and smoking can help reduce the toxins in the body and aid in fat elimination. Eating more fruits and vegetables along with increasing the amount of water drank on a daily basis will boost the body’s immune system, therefore speeding up the ability to break down fatty tissues. Changing to a healthier way of eating will automatically decrease the amount of fat in the body. Along the same lines, introducing exercise, especially cardiovascular types such as aerobics or running will reduce fat cells in the body. Working up a sweat will speed up metabolism and increase the body’s ability to burn fat after the act of exercising is complete.

Filed Under: Health, Surgery, Treatment Tagged With: Adipose tissue, Cottage cheese, Health, Weight loss

Young Children and Brain Tumors

A brain tumor can be a scary thing for an adult, but can be much more frightening for a young child who may not really understand what’s happening to him. For a baby or toddler without language skills and understanding, there is little you can say to him about his condition. To a child who’s a bit older but still very young, it can be hard to talk about what’s wrong. If he sees his mom and dad crying he’s going to get even more frightened. Talk to him when you can keep your emotions under control. If he sees you calm and smiling, he’ll be more likely to remain that way, as well.

It’s very important that you keep any information you give to your child age-appropriate. A child who’s three or four isn’t going to understand things the way a child who’s ten years older would. Lying isn’t the right tactic, but you could limit the information you provide. There’s no need to get into graphic detail about a surgery or upcoming procedure – and there’s no need to talk explicitly about the risk of dying. It can be very hard to answer a child’s question about whether he’s going to die, but it’s a question that will most likely come up during the course of his brain tumor treatment.

Promising a child he will not die may not be the best choice, but reassurance and a talk about what’s being done to keep him alive and healthy is something you can focus on. Take your cues from your doctor, as well. That’s especially true if you’ve never had to deal with a child with a serious illness before. You may not really know what to say, and you don’t want to make the situation worse by making it more frightening or traumatic than it has to be. Children are very resilient physically, but what they’re told early in life can profoundly affect them later on. Keep your information limited and your statements as positive as possible when dealing with a brain tumor diagnosis in a young child.

Filed Under: Health, Surgery, Treatment, Tumor Tagged With: Brain and CNS, Brain tumor, Health

A Benign Brain Tumor May Still Require Surgery

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Some brain tumors are cancerous, but others are just a benign overgrowth of cells. They aren’t dangerous in and of themselves, but they can pose a hazard if they press on areas of the brain and cause symptoms. Many people get headaches when they have a brain tumor. Others can experience phantom smells – smelling something that’s not actually there – and vision changes. Every person is different, and every headache or moment of blurry vision doesn’t indicate the presence of a brain tumor. If problems persist, it’s a good idea to be checked out just to make sure that there aren’t any serious issues taking place. That’s the first step to making sure you’re staying healthy. If you are diagnosed with a benign brain tumor, you may still need surgery.

It’s wonderful to find out that cancer is not the culprit, but even a benign tumor can’t just be left to grow in the brain. Eventually the symptoms it’s causing will get worse, and it’s possible that a person with that condition could die from it, just because it would damage or put too much pressure on specific areas of the brain. Rather than take that kind of risk, it’s much better to just have the surgery and get through the healing process, so you have less to worry about in the future. Going through brain surgery may seem like a very scary proposition, but it’s becoming more routine than it was in the past. Don’t feel like it’s not something you can get through. Find a surgeon you trust and feel comfortable with, and put yourself in his hands.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions before your surgery. Surprises are generally not fun in a surgical context, and while there’s never a complete guarantee it helps to know what kinds of issues you may face. Knowing how you’ll feel and what kind of recovery time you might have can also ease your mind and help you to be better prepared for your post-surgical life. That way, you’ll be mentally and physically ready.

Filed Under: Health, Surgery, Treatment, Tumor Tagged With: Benign tumor, Brain and CNS, Brain tumor, Surgery