| Brain cancer is a disease of the brain where cancer | | | | of brain tumors. Genetic mutations and deletions of |
| cells (malignant) grow in the brain tissue. Cancer cells | | | | tumor suppressor genes (i.e., genes that suppress the |
| grow to form a mass of cancer tissue (tumor) that | | | | development of malignant cells) increase the risk for |
| interferes with brain tissue functions such as muscle | | | | some types of brain cancer. |
| control, sensation, memory, and other normal body | | | | Symptoms |
| functions. Tumors composed of cancer cells are called | | | | The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor vary |
| malignant tumors, and those composed of | | | | greatly and depend on the brain tumor's size, location |
| noncancerous cells are called benign tumors. Cancer | | | | and rate of growth. |
| cells that develop from brain tissue are called primary | | | | Depending on the location and size of the tumor, |
| brain tumors. Statistics suggest that brain cancer is | | | | symptoms experienced by each patient may vary. |
| not rare and is likely to develop in about 20,000 | | | | Most of the common symptoms are due to |
| people per year. | | | | increased intracranial pressure as the growing tumor |
| There are two main types of brain cancer. Primary | | | | affects surrounding structures: |
| brain cancer starts in the brain. Metastatic brain | | | | Frequent headaches (reported by 50% of patients) |
| cancer starts somewhere else in the body and | | | | Blurry vision |
| moves to the brain. Brain tumors can be benign, with | | | | Nausea and/or vomiting |
| no cancer cells, or malignant, with cancer cells that | | | | Personality or cognitive changes |
| grow quickly. | | | | Treatment |
| Although such growths are popularly called brain | | | | Treatment for brain cancer depends on the age of |
| tumors, not all brain tumors are cancer. Cancer is a | | | | the patient, the stage of the disease, the type and |
| term reserved for malignant tumors. | | | | location of the tumor, and whether the cancer is a |
| Malignant tumors grow and spread aggressively, | | | | primary tumor or brain metastases. The treatment |
| overpowering healthy cells by taking their space, | | | | plan is developed by the oncology team and the |
| blood, and nutrients. (Like all cells of the body, tumor | | | | patient. Treatment involves any combination of |
| cells need blood and nutrients to survive.) | | | | surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Some tumors |
| Primary tumors | | | | require several different surgical procedures, and |
| The brain is made up of many different types of | | | | some can be treated with radiation alone. |
| cells. | | | | Before treatment begins, most patients are given |
| Some brain cancers occur when one type of cell | | | | steroids, drugs that relieve swelling or edema. Your |
| transforms from its normal characteristics. Once | | | | may receive anticonvulsant medicine to prevent or |
| transformed, the cells grow and multiply in abnormal | | | | control seizures. If hydrocephalus is present, you may |
| ways. | | | | need a shunt to drain cerebrospinal fluid. A shunt is a |
| As these abnormal cells grow, they become a mass, | | | | long, thin tube placed in a ventricle of the brain and |
| or tumor. | | | | then threaded under the skin to another part of the |
| Causes and Risk Factors | | | | body, usually the abdomen. It works like a drainpipe. |
| Aside from a known association with exposure to | | | | Excess fluid is carried away from the brain and is |
| vinyl chloride, there are no known chemical or | | | | absorbed in the abdomen. In some cases, the fluid is |
| environmental agents that lead to the development | | | | drained into the heart. |