Symptoms of Brain Cancer

The symptoms, varieties and treatment of brain cancer

One of the most feared and dreaded disease that is affecting many and taking the lives of most is Cancer. There is no denying the fact that every day many unfortunate people come to know that they are infected by malignant tumors in various parts of their body. One of the most dreaded forms of cancer is tumor in the brain. Considered to be fatal, there are however many cases in which the tumor does not affect the health of the person at all. Brain tumors can be malignant and non- malignant, however no wonder what type it is both can have harmful implications depending on the shape, size and position of the tumor.

Symptoms of brain cancer:

Since the brain is well protected by the skull, brain tumors are visible only by inspection in the intracranial cavity. No matter what the size of the tumor is, and where it is located, these tumors are not felt by the person affected it with as they exert pressure not on the brain but on the skull. Brain tumor are most often diagnosed late when they are in a such fatal condition as they are mostly unnoticed until the symptoms become all too apparent to the person or those around him.

Among the most common symptoms are increased headaches and vomiting with or without nausea. The pupils of the eye may also get enlarged. These symptoms are usually due to increased intracranial pressure produced by the tumor. If the tumor present in the brain as affected the nearby cells, leading to destruction of normal cells of the brain or infiltration then symptoms like behavioral changes might take place. For example, loss of memory, easy irritability, lack of recognition. Other senses like hearing, speaking and eye vision may also get affected. In more serious cases the person might suffer from paralysis, either on one side of the body or of the face.  Seizures, fatigue, lack of energy are the other common symptoms.

Causes of brain cancer:

There is hardly any environmental or behavioral influence responsible for the onset of brain tumors that are either malignant or benign. Exposure to radiation or vinyl chloride can trigger tumor growing cells. The mutation of the tumor suppressing gene can lead to tumors as well. People with hereditary diseases are also more likely to develop tumors in the brain.

Treatment for brain Cancer:

Once brain cancer has been diagnosed, the measures to take care of the tumor depend on the condition, size and shape of the tumor and where it is located. Sometimes doctors suggest that the best thing to do is observe the growth and behavior pattern of the tumor and then decide on a solution. The usual steps that are taken in the course of treatment of the tumor are surgery where surgeons try their best to get rid of the tumor cells present. Chemotherapy is usually followed after the surgery where the remaining tumor cells are killed or put in a state where they do not divide for a really long time. Radiations and clinical trial are also tested.

Brain tumor in children:

One type of tumor that widely affects children is brain tumor. Every year around thousands of children and adolescents below the age of twenty are diagnosed with brain tumors that are malignant in nature. However when it comes to young children the mortality rate is high as most recover with the correct diagnosis of the problem and good treatment. From the time MRI’s became more widely available, doctors have been able to restore the health of many youngsters, allowing then to attend school regularly and led a healthy and normal life.