Brain Cancer – Causes, Diagnosis, Symptoms, Treatment and Prognosis
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Malignant brain tumors occur in about 4.5 people per 100,000 population, they may occur at any age but brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in patients younger than age 35. In adults, incidence is generally highest between ages 40 to 60.
There are two main types of brain cancer. Primary brain tumors start in the brain. Metastatic brain tumours start somewhere else in the body and moves to the brain. The most common tumor types in adults are gliomas and meningiomas. In children, incidence is generally highest before age 1 and again between ages 2 and 12. The most common types of brain tumour in children are astrocytomas, medulloblastomas, ependymomas and brain stem gliomas.
CAUSES OF BRAIN CANCER
What causes brain cancer is not exactly known but there has recently been a great deal of speculation on the role of cell phone radiation in the development of brain cancer. In fact, while studies generally have shown no link between cell phones and brain cancer, there is some conflicting scientific evidence that may be worth additional study, according to the FDA.
More accepted risk factors for brain cancer include; exposure to vinyl chloride and individuals with risk factors such as having a job in an oil refinery, as a chemist, embalmer, or rubber industry worker show higher rates of brain cancer. Other risk factors such as smoking, radiation exposure, and viral infection (HIV) have been suggested but not proven to cause brain cancer. Patients with a history of melanoma, lung, breast, colon, or kidney cancer are at risk for secondary brain cancer.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BRAIN CANCER
Onset of symptoms is usually insidious and brain tumors are often misdiagnosed. Brain Cancers cause central nervous system changes by invading and destroying tissues and by secondary effects such as pressure on the brain. Symptoms vary but in general, brain cancer symptoms include: Abnormal pulse and breathing rates, deep, dull headaches that recur often and persist without relief for long periods of time, difficulty walking or speaking, dizziness, eyesight problems including double vision, seizures, vomiting and at the late stages of the disorder dramatic changes in blood pressure may occur. Although headaches are often a symptom of brain cancer, it is important to remember that most headaches are due to less serious conditions such as migraine or tension, not cancer.
DIAGNOSIS OF BRAIN CANCERS
In most cases a definitive diagnosis is made by a tissue biopsy. Other diagnostic tools include; patient history, a neurologic assessment, skull x-rays, a brain scan, CT scan, MRI, a lumbar puncture and cerebral angiography. Meningiomas, arising from the covering around the brain or spinal cord, account for about 20% of brain cancers and are generally more benign.
TREATMENT OF BRAIN TUMORS
How to treat brain tumors 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. Brain cancer and brain tumors are somewhat unique because of the blood brain barrier, which severely restricts the types of substances in the bloodstream that are allowed by the body into the brain and makes drug treatment extremely difficult. Because of this more and more research is being undertaken in delivering medication by means of nanoparticles, amongst the properties of nanoparticles that make them ideal candidates for recognizing and treating brain cancer, their ability to deliver a wide variety of payloads across the blood-brain barrier is perhaps the most important.
Brain cancer’s location and ability to spread quickly makes treatment with surgery or radiation like fighting an enemy hiding out among minefields and caves, and explains why the term brain cancer is all too often associated with the word inoperable.
Brain cancer survival statistics for the deadliest of tumors such as gliomas have not improved significantly over the past two decades and the clinical armamentarium is, to a large extent, still dependent on surgery and radiation therapy, treatments known to leave survivors with devastating cognitive deficits. Gamma knife surgery is a radiosurgery technique used to treat people with brain cancer and other neurological disorders
The most deadly form of brain cancer may be treatable with a vaccine that uses proteins. Unlike measles or mumps vaccines, which are meant to prevent disease, the brain cancer vaccine turns on the patient’s own immune system so it will help kill the tumor. When the vaccine is injected, it stimulates the immune system to kill off brain cancer cells and prevent the regrowth of tumors that have already been treated.
PROGNOSIS
The chances of surviving for a person with a brain tumor: Prognosis greatly depends on all of the following: type of tumor extent of the disease size and location of the tumor presence or absence of metastasis the tumor’s response to therapy, age, overall health, and medical history, tolerance of specific medications, procedures, or therapies. Metastatic brain cancer indicates advanced disease and has a poor prognosis. Unfortunately, the most common form of primary brain cancer, glioblastoma, is also the most aggressive and lethal but teratomas and other germ cell tumors although they have the capacity to grow very large may have a more favorable prognosis.
Watch the video related
PlusCancer Patient Talks About Tumor, Brain SurgeryCancer Patient Talks About Tumor, Brain SurgeryThe Associated PressMindy Wanatick is 37-year-old a mother of two and was diagnosed in 2002 with glioblastoma, the type of brain tumor suspected in Senator Ted Kennedy. She has undergone three brain tumor removal surgeries and chemotherapy. (June 2)This video contains ONLY natural sound. No script is available.
Help answer the question
What is the difference between metastasized brain cancer and cancer that started in the brain?
My mother had lung cancer a year ago and although it has not returned, she now has a tumor in her brain the size of a dime. It is cancerous …. so what is the prognosis and what is the difference between this type of brain cancer (where it originated in the lungs) and brain cancer that originiates in the brain. Also, what is the prognosis?
brain cancer
18 Comments
September 19th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Cancer originating in a particular organ for the first time is called Primary neoplasm.
Metastasis is its secondary spread through blood or lymph.
Prognosis really depends on histological type of the cancer but metastasis generally requires more aggressive treatment in the form of chemo & radio because it is wide-spread.
My best wishes are with your mother and you as her family in the battle against this cancer.
September 19th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Primary brain cancer rarely spreads beyond the central nervous system, and death results from uncontrolled tumor growth within the limited space of the skull. Metastatic brain cancer indicates advanced disease and has a poor prognosis.
Primary brain tumors can be cancerous or noncancerous. Both types take up space in the brain and may cause serious symptoms (e.g., vision or hearing loss) and complications (e.g., stroke).
All cancerous brain tumors are life threatening (malignant) because they have an aggressive and invasive nature. A noncancerous primary brain tumor is life threatening when it compromises vital structures (e.g., an artery).
Incidence and Prevalence
In the United States, the annual incidence of brain cancer generally is 15–20 cases per 100,000 people. Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in patients younger than age 35.
Primary brain tumors account for 50% of intracranial tumors and secondary brain cancer accounts for the remaining cases. Approximately 17,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with primary cancer each year and nearly 13,000 die of the disease. The annual incidence of primary brain cancer in children is about 3 per 100,000.
Secondary brain cancer occurs in 20–30% of patients with metastatic disease and incidence increases with age. In the United States, about 100,000 cases of secondary brain cancer are diagnosed each year.
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. Inherited diseases that are associated with brain tumors include the following:
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (pituitary adenoma)
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (brain and spinal cord tumors)
Retinoblastoma (malignant retinal glioma)
Tuberous sclerosis (primary brain tumors)
Von Hippel-Lindau disease (retinal tumor, CNS tumors)
Patients with a history of melanoma, lung, breast, colon, or kidney cancer are at risk for secondary brain cancer.
Exposure to vinyl chloride is an environmental risk factor for brain cancer. Vinyl chloride is a carcinogen, that is, a cancer-causing substance. It is used in manufacturing plastic products such as pipes, wire coatings, furniture, car parts, and housewares, and is present in tobacco smoke.
Manufacturing and chemical plants may release vinyl chloride into the air or water, and it may leak into the environment as a result of improper disposal. People who work in these plants or live in close proximity to them have an increased risk for brain cancer.
Signs and Symptoms
A brain tumor can obstruct the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which results in the accumulation of CSF (hydrocephalus) and increased intracranial pressure (IICP). Nausea, vomiting, and headaches are common symptoms.
Brain tumors can damage vital neurological pathways and invade and compress brain tissue. Symptoms usually develop over time and their characteristics depend on the location and size of the tumor. A brain tumor in the frontal lobe may cause the following:
Behavioral and emotional changes
Impaired judgment
Impaired sense of smell
Memory loss
Paralysis on one side of the body (hemiplegia)
Reduced mental capacity (cognitive function)
Vision loss and inflammation of the optic nerve (papilledema)
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A tumor located in both the right and left hemispheres of the frontal lobe often cause behavioral changes, cognitive changes, and a clumsy, uncoordinated gait.
A tumor in the parietal lobe may cause the following symptoms:
Impaired speech
Inability to write
Lack of recognition
Seizures
Spatial disorders
Vision loss in one or both eyes and seizures may result from a tumor located in the occipital lobe.
Tumors that develop in the temporal lobe are often asymptomatic (i.e., without symptoms), but some may cause impaired speech and seizures.
A tumor in the brainstem may produce the following symptoms:
Behavioral and emotional changes (e.g., irritability)
Difficulty speaking and swallowing
Drowsiness
Headache, especially in the morning
Hearing loss
Muscle weakness on one side of the face (e.g., head tilt, crooked smile)
Muscle weakness on one side of the body (i.e., hemiparesis)
Uncoordinated gait
Vision loss, drooping eyelid (i.e., ptosis) or crossed eyes (i.e., strabismus)
Vomiting
Ependymoma originates in the lining of the ventricles and the spinal canal and may damage cranial nerves. When this happens, hydrocephalus, stiff neck, head tilt, and weakness may result.
Symptoms produced by a tumor of the meninges (meningioma) depend on which area of the brain is being compressed. They include:
Headache
Hearing loss
Impaired speech (i.e., dysphasia)
Incontinence
Mental and emotional changes (e.g., indifference, disinhibition)
Prolonged drowsiness (somnolence)
Seizures
Vision loss
A tumor located in the pituitary gland (i.e., pituitary adenoma) may increase the secretion of hormones and cause discontinuation of menstruation (i.e., amenorrhea) and excess secretion of milk (i.e., galactorrhea) in women. Impotence may occur in men.
Metastatic brain cancer tends to invade the brain tissue indiscriminately. Some symptoms include the following:
Bleeding
Headache
Impaired mental function
Motor dysfunction
Nausea
Seizures
Swelling
Vomiting
Complications
Drastic and sometimes life-threatening complications can develop with brain cancer.
Obstructed flow of cerebrospinal fluid from the third ventricle may cause sudden death.
Cerebral hernia is a progressive, fatal condition in which the brain is forced through an opening in the skull.
Hemorrhagic stroke produces sudden loss of vision and/or speech, unconsciousness, and paralysis.
September 19th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I'm sorry for your situation, very sorry. He's probably dying. Mets to the brain are usually the terminal stage for people with cancer. Melanoma in particular is very dangerous because it metasticizes to the brain easily compared to other cancers. The chemo may help, but brain mets are usally a very bad sign, and show that the cancer is very advanced.
Depending on where it is in the brain, he may lose much of his cognitive function, he may forget things, he may not be able to do simple tasks. It's very hard to tell you what to expect, but you could be looking at him getting what looks like dementia. And then again, you may not–brain tumors can be very strange. He most likely will deteriorate though, and as the tumors spread and grow, whatever you're seeing in his behavior or inability to function will get worse.
I recommend you look into hospice or a visiting nurse program eventually, as caring for someone 24/7 is so much for one person to handle–you need to have a life of your own, consider hospice.
September 19th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Im trully honest folks! believe me, dont believe me the choice is yours.
September 19th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
hello everyone can anybody help me i have my sister that has a cancer too and the doctor said she had just 2months to live. The cancer was already metastasize in her brain. By the way my sister is from the Philippines and I’m also looking for the charity or group that could really help her to get in into US to treat. please pass this to anyone knows that can help me. God bless
September 19th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
my bother died of a brain tumor when i was 10..
September 19th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
My daughter’s was formed from a cyst over many years. They don’t know why it took so long to develop symptoms because she was sick so suddenly, then went into remission, and then got sick again. Luckily, she had surgery amd it was benign, but it was on her brain stem which made it difficult to resect.
September 20th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Exposure to certain toxins can increase the chances of developing cancer (such as in smoking) but injury is generally not associated with cancer.
September 21st, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Gray
-
I tried to paste mine here and it will not let me. I have on in my signature for my email that's automatic.
If you want to email at this address below you can copy and paste mine.
WVLYNNSUMMERS74@AOL.COM
I also have a link to a site with ribbons for most cancer types. For some reason its not working but I'll try and get the info for you. Its got lots of them.
Please put BT in the title so I'll know its not spam. i can also give you some sites for support and infomation. I am so sorry for your families problems.
the choose hope site has many great products . I have purchased my metal BT ribbons from them that I wear daily. Plus my bracelets.
Any one else that wants to talk about BT issues feel free to email me. My husband is the patient. He's a 20year survivor, AAIII. I use my AOL account for most email. Yahoo hates me when it comes to email.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:01 am
My husband has Stage 4 Brain Cancer "Glioblastoma Multiforme" and currently lost his ability to speak due to 17 brain surgeries, scare tissue built up on the brain, and his cancer (the tumor's location). It is actually not considered "stuttering", they either have slurred speech or have trouble "Word finding" or forming the words.
One would mistake "slurred speech" or "trouble with word finding" as stuttering, it is the first word that best describes the problem if we are unfamiliar with the difference.
It doesn't hurt to get things checked out, an MRI scan will rule out a brain tumor or maybe there is some type of pressure pushing on that perticular part of the brain that controls one's speech (there are actually 2 sections of the brain which controls speech, a section in the front of your brain, and a section in the back of your brain).
Sometimes excessive amounts of fluid or swelling of the brain can cause pressure on those parts which could make one "stutter".
Be safe, get whoever is having the issue checked out. Good Luck
September 21st, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Drug companies don’t want a cure, they’d be out of a job if they found one.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:02 am
I had it too easy the whole time mine was growing. I never had migraines, or any balance issues. I had a tingly arm that would come and go, for almost 2 yrs. That shoulder had been injured years ago, so I thought it was just a pinched nerve. Then the last few months I had a "funny" feeling in the pit of my stomach. (the aura). I also had a strong sense of deja vu a few times. Then the last week in aug 08, I had a migraine that lasted a couple hours. It went away and I got up and went to work. My boss fussed at me for coming in because I was "out of it." I didn't realize that though. I was off the next day and I was fine. Thought I was coming down with a bug or something. The next day, friday, I went to work and was fine for a few hours, I thought. Then I started feeling odd and got someone to go outside with me. My face was going numb and I had trouble forming my words. By the time I got outside, I couldn't speak. My boss called 911 and they kept asking me what drugs I was taking! I was saying dayquil in my head but it wouldn't come out! My sugar was low, so they tried to give me OJ and when I put the straw in my mouth, I started seizing. I don't remember the ambulance ride, so they must've given me something. First hospital, ct scan. They contacted a teaching hospital 3 hours away and took me there, knocked out. Mri there confirmed tumor and I was operated on 2 days later. That was a monday and I was home on friday. Back to hospital 2 weeks later to get sutures out and that's when I was told it was cancer, oligoastrocytoma grade 3. Went through the standard treatment of chemo/radiation for 6 weeks. Then 6 months of temodar. Mris every 2 months.
September 21st, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I hope she is still doing well.
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:28 am
i had a tumor at 16 also it was thought to be a peanut sized one from my m.r.i. but when i had my surgery it was a golf ball size but i am alive and thank god i can see and hear i hope everyone who had a brain tumor removed is thankful to be alive too
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Not likely. And if you did find one that agreed, I would be very hesitant to trust them.
Recently upgraded my term-life policy from work, (before knowledge of brain tumor) and they wanted "eligibility of insurability" forms (about two weeks after surgery). First question was "Are you currently receiving medical treatment for…."
Declined increase in benefits, dropped coverage. Imagine that.
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:36 pm
What a great responsibility you have.
Get into contact with Hospice. They will help you and show you what you can do for her.
They will also be able to assess whether she needs help with nutrition or pain relief.
September 22nd, 2009 at 2:57 pm
your an ignorant, have u ever talked to an oncologist?
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Pure nonsense. Who told you this shit? Or are you just fooling around here?