In this post we will be looking at brain tumor, types of brain tumors, symptoms, causes of brain tumors and How brain tumors are diagnosed.

INTRODUCTION

A brain tumor is a growth of cells in the brain or near it. Brain tumors can happen in the brain tissue. Brain tumors also can happen near the brain tissue. Nearby locations include nerves, the pituitary gland, the pineal gland, and the membranes that cover the surface of the brain. Brain tumors can begin in the brain. These are called primary brain tumors. Sometimes, cancer spreads to the brain from other parts of the body. These tumors are secondary brain tumors, also called metastatic brain tumors. Many different types of primary brain tumors exist. Some brain tumors aren’t cancerous. These are called noncancerous brain tumors or benign brain tumors. Noncancerous brain tumors may grow over time and press on the brain tissue. Other brain tumors are brain cancers, also called malignant brain tumors. Brain cancers may grow quickly. The cancer cells can invade and destroy the brain tissue. Brain tumors range in size from very small to very large. Some brain tumors are found when they are very small because they cause symptoms that you notice right away. Other brain tumors grow very large before they’re found. Some parts of the brain are less active than others. If a brain tumor starts in a part of the brain that’s less active, it might not cause symptoms right away. The brain tumor size could become quite large before the tumor is detected. Brain tumor treatment options depend on the type of brain tumor you have, as well as its size and location. Common treatments include surgery and radiation therapy.

BRAIN TUMOR

A brain tumor is an abnormal growth or mass of cells in or around your brain. Together, spinal tumors and brain tumors are called central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Brain tumors can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous). Some tumors grow quickly, while others are slow growing. Brain tumors range in size from very small to very large. Some brain tumors are found when they are very small because they cause symptoms that you notice right away. Other brain tumors grow very large before they’re found. Some parts of the brain are less active than others. If a brain tumor starts in a part of the brain that’s less active, it might not cause symptoms right away. The brain tumor size could become quite large before the tumor is detected. Brain tumor treatment options depend on the type of brain tumor you have, as well as its size and location. Common treatments include surgery and radiation therapy.

Types Of Brain Tumors

There are many types of brain tumors. The type of brain tumor is based on the kind of cells that make up the tumor. Special lab tests on the tumor cells can give information about the cells. Your health care team uses this information to figure out the type of brain tumor. Some types of brain tumors usually aren’t cancerous. These are called noncancerous brain tumors or benign brain tumors. Some types of brain tumors usually are cancerous. These types are called brain cancers or malignant brain tumors. Some brain tumor types can be benign or malignant. Benign brain tumors tend to be slow-growing brain tumors. Malignant brain tumors tend to be fast-growing brain tumors. Types of brain tumors include:

Gliomas and related brain tumors
Choroid plexus tumors
Embryonal tumors
Germ cell tumors.
Pineal tumors
Meningiomas
Nerve tumors
Pituitary tumors
Other brain tumors

Symptoms Of Brain Tumors

The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor depend on the brain tumor’s size and location. Symptoms also might depend on how fast the brain tumor is growing, which is also called the tumor grade.

General signs and symptoms caused by brain tumors may include:

Headache or pressure in the head that is worse in the morning.
Headaches that happen more often and seem more severe.
Headaches that are sometimes described as tension headaches or migraines.
Nausea or vomiting.
Eye problems, such as blurry vision, seeing double or losing sight on the sides of your vision.
Losing feeling or movement in an arm or a leg.
Trouble with balance.
Speech problems.
Feeling very tired.
Confusion in everyday matters.
Memory problems.
Having trouble following simple commands.
Personality or behavior changes.
Seizures, especially if there is no history of seizures.
Hearing problems.
Dizziness or a sense that the world is spinning, also called vertigo.
Feeling very hungry and gaining weight.

Brain tumors that aren’t cancerous tend to cause symptoms that develop slowly. Noncancerous brain tumors also are called benign brain tumors. They might cause subtle symptoms that you don’t notice at first. The symptoms might get worse over months or years. Cancerous brain tumors cause symptoms that get worse quickly. Cancerous brain tumors also are called brain cancers or malignant brain tumors. They cause symptoms that come on suddenly. They get worse in a matter of days or weeks.

Brain tumor symptoms by location

The main part of the brain is called the cerebrum. Brain tumors in different parts of the cerebrum might cause different symptoms.

Brain tumors in the front of the brain
Brain tumors in the middle of the brain.
Brain tumors in the back of the brain.
Brain tumors in the lower part of the brain.

Causes Of Brain Tumors

Brain tumors develop when certain genes on the chromosomes of a cell are damaged and no longer function properly, but they aren’t sure why this happens. Your DNA in your chromosomes tells cells throughout your body what to do, it tells them when to grow, when to divide or multiply and/or when to die. When brain cell DNA changes, it gives your brain cells new instructions. Your body develops abnormal brain cells that grow and multiply faster than normal and sometimes live longer than normal. When that happens, the ever-growing crowd of abnormal cells takes over space in your brain. In some cases, a person may be born with changes in one or more of these genes. Environmental factors, such as exposure to large amounts of radiation from X-rays or previous cancer treatment, may then lead to further damage. In other cases, the environmental injury to the genes may be the only cause. There are a few rare, inherited (passed down from parent to child) genetic syndromes that are associated with brain tumors, including:

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1 gene).
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2 gene).
Turcot syndrome (APC gene).
Gorlin syndrome (PTCH gene).
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC1 and TSC2 genes).
Li-Fraumeni syndrome (TP53 gene).

Only about 5% to 10% of people with brain tumors have a family history of a brain tumor.

How brain tumors are diagnosed.

Diagnosing a brain tumor can be a complicated process and may involve several specialists. In some cases, though, healthcare providers may discover a brain tumor when performing imaging tests for another medical issue. If you’re experiencing symptoms of a brain tumor, your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam. They’ll also ask questions about your:

Symptoms.
Past and current health conditions.
Current medications.
Surgeries and medical treatments.
Family medical history.

They may also perform a neurological exam, which involves looking for changes in your:

Balance and coordination.
Mental status.
Hearing.
Vision.
Reflexes.

These changes can point to the part of your brain that may be affected by a tumor. If your healthcare provider suspects you may have a brain tumor, a brain scan, most often an MRI, is usually the next step.

CONCLUTION

Can brain tumors be prevented? Unfortunately, you can’t prevent a brain tumor. You can reduce your risk of developing a brain tumor by avoiding environmental hazards such as smoking and excessive radiation exposure.