What you need to know about Brain Tumor
A brain tumor is a mass of abnormal cells in the brain. There is basically no specific location in the brain where brain tumors occur. The location, size and origin of brain tumors determine how they are rated or classified. Till now, there is no solid information about what causes brain tumors, but six major factorshave been deduced to pose a significant risk of developing brain tumors.
Usually, the human cells grow to an age and die while new ones are generated. But in the case of brain tumor, abnormal cells from the brain or central nervous system cluster in a chosen location in the brain to form a mass. This mass continues to grow as more cells are accommodated to cause malfunctions of the brain or damage and life-threatening.The syndrome may cause different kinds of symptoms as the abnormal cell accumulation continues or the tumor grows. When a brain tumor is caused by cancer; it is referred to as malignant brain tumor, but when it is not of cancer origin, the brain tumor is referred to as benign brain tumor.
The brain tumor has been classified based on the originated location. Primary brain tumors are tumors which begins its first growth in the brain while secondary brain tumors are tumors which started outside the brain but later spread to the brain.
Primary brain tumors
Primary brain tumors which start from the brain can be of cancerous origin (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). They can be developed from glands, nerve cells, brain cells or the membrane which covers the brain. Glial cells which support and provide nutrition to the central nervous system have been studied to also be a source of primary brain tumors. Tumors from glial cells are called gliomas.
Secondary brain tumors
This type of brain tumor has been noticed to be the most known brain tumors among patients with brain tumor. And this is why cancersare besttreated if discovered early. Secondary brain tumors may be as a result of lungs cancers, kidney cancer, breast cancer or skin cancerwhich spread to the brain. This simply means that every secondary brain tumor is malignant.
Some brain tumor patients do not get to notice or have any symptom until the tumor size gets really big and at the dangerous stage. But some brain tumor patients begin to get the symptoms as soon as the growth begins. These two cases are mostly influenced by the position of the tumor however. General brain tumor symptoms may include all or a few of the following listed below.
Some factors have been studied to contribute to the vulnerability of having brain tumor among people. These factors include:
Age: People within the age of 65 – 75 recorded the maximum number of patients diagnosed with a brain tumor
Race:Caucasians have the highest number of patients with brain tumor seconded by Africa-Americans
Hereditary: This is the less common factor to influence brain tumor vulnerability. However, it’s important to consult your doctor if you observe that many of your family members have brain tumor.
Chickenpox history: People who have chickenpox history have been confirmed to have less risk of having brain tumor
Radiation exposure: An exposure to ionizing radiation poses a high risk of developing a brain tumor. The radiation may be contracted at a workplace or from a medical treatment involving radiation.
Usually, the human cells grow to an age and die while new ones are generated. But in the case of brain tumor, abnormal cells from the brain or central nervous system cluster in a chosen location in the brain to form a mass. This mass continues to grow as more cells are accommodated to cause malfunctions of the brain or damage and life-threatening.The syndrome may cause different kinds of symptoms as the abnormal cell accumulation continues or the tumor grows. When a brain tumor is caused by cancer; it is referred to as malignant brain tumor, but when it is not of cancer origin, the brain tumor is referred to as benign brain tumor.
Types of Brain tumor
The brain tumor has been classified based on the originated location. Primary brain tumors are tumors which begins its first growth in the brain while secondary brain tumors are tumors which started outside the brain but later spread to the brain.
Primary brain tumors
Primary brain tumors which start from the brain can be of cancerous origin (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). They can be developed from glands, nerve cells, brain cells or the membrane which covers the brain. Glial cells which support and provide nutrition to the central nervous system have been studied to also be a source of primary brain tumors. Tumors from glial cells are called gliomas.
Secondary brain tumors
This type of brain tumor has been noticed to be the most known brain tumors among patients with brain tumor. And this is why cancersare besttreated if discovered early. Secondary brain tumors may be as a result of lungs cancers, kidney cancer, breast cancer or skin cancerwhich spread to the brain. This simply means that every secondary brain tumor is malignant.
Symptoms of Brain Tumor
Some brain tumor patients do not get to notice or have any symptom until the tumor size gets really big and at the dangerous stage. But some brain tumor patients begin to get the symptoms as soon as the growth begins. These two cases are mostly influenced by the position of the tumor however. General brain tumor symptoms may include all or a few of the following listed below.
- Severe headaches (may be worse at nights while resting or early morning)
- Problem with balance
- Seizures
- Loss of Memory
- Loss of vision (may be partial or complete)
- Double or blurred vision
- Problems with swallowing
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Problems performing daily activities like bathing, walking etc
- Confusion
- Involuntary movements
- Difficulty speaking or understanding
Risk factors for brain Tumor
Some factors have been studied to contribute to the vulnerability of having brain tumor among people. These factors include:
Age: People within the age of 65 – 75 recorded the maximum number of patients diagnosed with a brain tumor
Race:Caucasians have the highest number of patients with brain tumor seconded by Africa-Americans
Hereditary: This is the less common factor to influence brain tumor vulnerability. However, it’s important to consult your doctor if you observe that many of your family members have brain tumor.
Chickenpox history: People who have chickenpox history have been confirmed to have less risk of having brain tumor
Radiation exposure: An exposure to ionizing radiation poses a high risk of developing a brain tumor. The radiation may be contracted at a workplace or from a medical treatment involving radiation.
No comments