How to Take Care of a Brain Tumor
Whether you have just discovered that you have a brain tumor or you are worried about the possibility of developing one in the future, there are several things you can do to take care of your condition.
Cerebrum
Using information from the senses, the cerebrum controls emotions, speech, and movement. It also controls thinking and learning. Generally, the cerebrum is the largest part of the brain.
There are several kinds of brain tumors. Some are benign. Others can cause complications. If you suspect a tumor, you should consult with your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids to reduce swelling around the tumor. If the tumor is large, a shunt may be used to drain the excess fluid from the brain.
The most common types of brain tumors are glial tumors. These tumors arise in star-shaped glial cells called astrocytes. They can grow in any part of the brain, but they most often develop in the cerebrum or brain stem. They can spread to other parts of the brain and spinal cord, and block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which is the fluid that helps the brain and spinal cord to function.
Oligodendrogliomas are a type of glial tumor. They occur in glial cells that make the fatty covering that surrounds nerve cells. They usually develop in the cerebrum, but they may also occur in the spinal cord. They are slow-growing tumors, but they can affect the brain’s ability to control hormones and affect vision.
The most common types of brain tumors in children are astrocyte-derived tumors. These tumors grow in the cerebrum and brain stem, but they can also grow in the spinal cord. They are usually benign, but they can cause increased intracranial pressure, headaches, and nausea.
Pituitary adenomas
Generally, pituitary adenomas are benign tumors that occur in the pituitary gland. They are found in about 10-20 percent of the population. They can occur at any age but are more common in people between the ages of 30 and 40. They are more likely to occur in women than in men.
Pituitary adenomas can be treated with surgery, medicine, and radiation. Some of these methods involve cutting the tumor, which will decrease the number of hormones produced by the tumor. Other methods involve removing the tumor entirely.
When the tumor becomes large, it puts pressure on nearby structures, including the optic nerve. The tumor can also compress the nearby nerves, which can cause problems with vision.
In order to determine if a pituitary tumor needs to be removed, a doctor may do a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. They may also perform blood tests and imaging tests. The imaging tests will give them an image of the tumor and other head structures. They may also order blood tests to check for hormone levels.
In most cases, pituitary adenomas can easily be treated with surgery and medicine. However, they can recur in the future. This means that you may need to have surgery again in order to remove the tumor.
Some pituitary adenomas require lifelong hormone medicines. The affected hormones may need to be replaced. You may also need to take medication to stop the tumor from growing.
Medulloblastomas
Often, doctors are able to identify medulloblastomas in brain tumors with imaging studies such as MRI or CT scans. These tests are able to show the location and size of the tumor and its surrounding areas. In addition, these tests may also show a blockage in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Medulloblastomas in brain tumors are malignant embryonal tumors that usually develop in the cerebellum. They grow quickly and can be spread to other parts of the nervous system and bone marrow. These tumors can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms.
Medulloblastomas can have a wide range of symptoms depending on the location of the tumor and the age of the patient. Patients can also experience problems with balance and coordination. Medulloblastomas are usually treated with surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor and obtain tissue for further testing.
In addition to surgery, radiation therapy is often used to shrink the tumor and prevent it from spreading. Chemotherapy is also often given to patients. The amount of chemotherapy given depends on the type of tumor and the amount it has spread. It is also possible to perform a stem cell transplant after chemotherapy.
Medical research is being carried out by Cancer Research UK scientists to find better treatment options. They are studying different subtypes of medulloblastoma. They are also conducting clinical trials to test new medicines.
Meningiomas
Symptoms of meningiomas include problems with memory, vision, balance, speech, and swallowing. They also increase pressure on the brain and spinal cord. The meninges, which surround the brain, are three layers of membranes.
There are three basic treatment options for meningiomas: observation, surgical resection, and radiation therapy. These treatments differ in their risks and benefits. The type of treatment you receive depends on a number of factors, including your age, the location of the tumor, and the symptoms it causes.
Observation is a good option for meningiomas that are small and do not cause any symptoms. You may want to report any new symptoms to your healthcare provider. It may be a good idea for you to have regular MRI scans to monitor your tumor.
Surgery is the main treatment for meningiomas that are large or symptomatic. A neurosurgeon will perform a craniotomy, which involves opening the skull and removing the tumor. The surgeon will replace the bone that was removed during the procedure with new bone.
Radiation therapy can shrink the tumor and prevent it from growing. It can also kill cancer cells that were not destroyed by the primary treatment.
Adjuvant radiotherapy can also reduce the risk of recurrence. Your doctor may also recommend palliative care, which is a series of procedures to improve your quality of life. This may include procedures to improve neurological function and alleviate emotional and social complications.
Non-malignant
Approximately one in four cancer patients will develop a brain tumor. Luckily, many of these tumors are benign. But they can still affect your life. A free non-malignant brain tumor support group can help you navigate the treatment options available to you.
In the United States, over 300,000 patients are diagnosed with non-malignant CNS tumors annually. In addition, one in four cancer patients will develop a metastatic brain tumor, a type of secondary tumor that starts in another part of the body and travels to the brain. This can have devastating consequences.
Molecular markers are becoming increasingly important to detect and diagnose brain tumors. These biomarkers help determine the aggressiveness of the tumor and the response to treatment.
Previously, the majority of population-based studies of meningiomas were limited because of the benign histology of these tumors. However, following the implementation of Public Law 107-260, state central cancer registries were mandated to collect data on non-malignant brain tumors. These registries have since shown an increase in incidence rates.
In the United States, meningioma is the most common CNS tumor. Despite its benign histology, meningiomas are a very serious type of brain tumor. In fact, they have the highest incidence rate of all primary CNS tumors.
Compared to malignant brain tumors, non-malignant brain tumors tend to be slower growing, less aggressive, and have a low risk of spreading. However, even small, asymptomatic non-malignant CNS tumors should still be considered.
Treatment options
Depending on the location of your brain tumor, there are a number of treatment options available. Some of the most common include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Each of these methods will have different effects on your condition. It’s important to ask questions of your doctor to learn more about each method and the possible side effects of each.
Surgery can remove all or part of a tumor. This is typically done for low-grade tumors, but it may not be an option if the tumor is in a vital part of the brain.
Chemotherapy is a drug that kills cancer cells. These drugs are typically given in cycles and can be taken orally or injected into the bloodstream. Usually, chemotherapy is used in combination with radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy is used when surgery is not an option. It uses high-powered rays to kill cancer cells. It can also be used to treat visible tumors that remain after surgery.
The type of radiation therapy used will depend on the size of the tumor. External beam radiation therapy is the most common. The machine is usually outside the body and can be directed at the entire brain or only at the tumor. It can take several weeks for treatment.
Stereotactic radiosurgery is another method of delivering radiation to the brain. During this treatment, computer-generated calculations are used to target the tumor and the surrounding healthy tissue. The goal is to minimize damage to the healthy tissue and spare the tumor.
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Harvard Health. (2015, November 17). Health A to Z. https://www.health.harvard.edu/health-a-to-z
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