Brain tumors

Brain tumors

A brain tumour arises from an uncontrolled and uncontrollably multiplying proliferation of brain cells.

brain tumor types and grades

Brain tumours are categorized based on their rate of growth and propensity to return following therapy.

Tumors classified as grade 1, 2, and 3 are low grade, whereas grade 3 and 4 are high grade.

Brain tumors can be of two primary types:

• Brain tumors that are not malignant (benign): they are low grade (grade 1 or 2), meaning they develop more slowly and are less likely to come back after therapy.
• High grade (grade 3 or 4) cancerous (malignant) brain tumors can originate in the brain (primary tumors) or spread outside the brain (secondary tumors); they are more likely to return following therapy.

signs of brain tumors

The precise area of the brain that is damaged by a brain tumor determines the symptoms that appear.

Typical signs and symptoms include of:

• headaches
• epileptic fits
• continuously feeling ill (vomiting), experiencing nausea, and being sleepy
• behavioral or mental abnormalities, like personality changes or memory issues
• gradual paralysis or weakening on one side of the body
• speech or vision issues

Sometimes your symptoms could not appear at all or they might appear gradually over time.

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When to visit a general practitioner

If you experience any of these symptoms, especially if your headaches are becoming worse or if they seem different from the type you usually get, consult a doctor.

Even though these symptoms might not indicate a brain tumor, you should nonetheless be examined.

Your general practitioner (GP) might recommend you to a neurologist—a medical professional who specializes in the brain and nervous system—for more evaluation and testing, including a brain scan, if they are unable to determine a more likely explanation of your symptoms.

Who is impacted

Brain tumors can strike anyone at any age, even young children, though older folks are more likely to get them.

In the UK, about 12,000 people have a primary brain tumour diagnosis each year, of which roughly half have malignant ones. Numerous others receive a second brain tumor diagnosis.

Reasons and dangers

Although the majority of brain tumors have no known origin, there are a number of risk factors that could raise your risk of getting one.

Among the risk factors are:

• Age: Although some types of brain tumors are more common in youngsters, the risk of developing a brain tumor rises with age (most brain tumors occur in older adults, aged 85 to 89).
• radiation: extremely few brain tumors are caused by radiation exposure; particular types of brain tumors are more likely in patients who have received radiotherapy, or extremely infrequently, CT scans or X-rays of the head.
• Family history and genetic conditions: Turner syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, neurofibromatosis type 2, and tuberous sclerosis are among the genetic disorders that have been linked to an increased risk of brain tumors.

Handling brain tumors

Your course of therapy if you have a brain tumor will be determined by:

• the kind of tumor
• locations within your brain
• the extent of its spread and its size
• The degree of abnormality in the cells
• your general state of fitness and health

Brain tumor treatments consist of:

• steroid
• medications to treat symptoms
• surgery
• radiation treatment
• chemotherapy

Steroids may be used after a brain tumor diagnosis in order to assist lessen edema surrounding the tumor.

Other medications, such as anti-epileptic drugs for seizures and opioids for headaches, can help with additional symptoms of brain tumors.

Brain tumors are often removed surgically. The goal is to carefully remove the maximum amount of aberrant tissue.

A full recovery is achievable with non-cancerous tumor treatment, which is frequently successful.

Occasionally, there’s a slim risk the tumor might come back, so routine follow-up visits might be necessary to keep an eye on this.

There is additional information regarding for this treatment on the website of Cancer Research UK.

Prospects

Your prognosis if you have a brain tumor will depend on a number of variables, such as:

• how old you are
• the kind of tumor you have
• locations within your brain
• how well the therapy works
• your overall well-being

Because there are many distinct types of brain tumors and they are infrequent, it is difficult to forecast survival rates.

You can find out more about your prognosis from your doctor.

Approximately 17 out of every 100 individuals diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor will live for at least five years following their diagnosis.