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