The most complex organ in our body is the brain. It is the one that produces our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Furthermore, without even arguing, the brain is the most important organ that we have in our body. It is the organ that is responsible for the control and coordination of the reactions and actions. Moreover, it also allows us to think an feel about a certain situation. Not only that, it also enables us to acquire memories and feelings. Truly, the importance of brain is so high, thus having an illness on it can be a great burden. One of the conditions that may affect the brain ultimately is the brain tumor. A brain tumor may lead to cancer, which many of us are afraid of. Hence, knowing the causes, symptoms, as well as the treatments for brain tumor is very significant. Read this article to know more about the condition.
Brain Tumor: What is this?
The brain tumor is the collection or the mass of some anomalous cells in the brain. We know that the skull is the one that encloses the brain, and this is very stiff. Whatever growth takes place inside like the restricted space, may cause various problems. The brain tumors may either be cancerous or malignant, or it may be noncancerous or benign.
When the malignant or benign tumors grow in the brain, they may lead to the increase in the pressure of the brain. Furthermore, this may cause the brain to get damages. And take note, this can be life frightening.
The brain tumors actually are regarded as either a primary or a secondary brain tumor. The primary tumor is actually the brain tumor that originates in the brain. Many of which are actually benign. On the other hand, the secondary brain tumor or the metastatic brain tumor, happens when the cancer cells binge into the brain from some other organs, for instance the breast or the lungs.
Brain Tumor: What causes it?
The causes of brain tumor mainly depend on what type of brain tumor it is, below is a more detailed explanation for each type.
Primary Brain Tumor
As stated above, the primary brain tumor originates in the brain or in the tissues that are close to it, for instance the parts in the meninges, pineal gland, or pituitary gland. The primary brain tumor starts when the normal cells obtain mutations in the DNA. Furthermore, these particular mutations allow the cells to divide and grow at a rate that increases as well as to continue living in the event that the healthy cells die. This may lead to the development of a mass of abnormal cells that forms a tumor.
Secondary Brain Tumor
On the other hand, the secondary brain tumor as stated above, are caused by some other conditions elsewhere in the body. This particular type of brain tumor more often affects those people who have a history of cancer. However, in some rare cases, this can be the first sign of cancer that has already begun somewhere else in the body.
Here are various types of cancer that may spread to the brain:
- Melanoma
- Lung cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Colon cancer
- Breast cancer
Brain Tumor: Risk Factors
The risk of a brain tumor may increase because of the following factors:
- Having no history of chicken pox: research shows that those who have a history of chicken pox have a lower risk of developing brain tumors.
- Radiation exposure: there is an increase in the risk of a brain tumor when exposed to ionizing radiation.
- Chemical exposure: the exposure to various chemicals may increase the risk of brain tumors.
- Age: the risk of brain tumors may increase as we age.
- Family history: 5-10% of the cases of all the cancers are inherited genetically or hereditary. However, it is better to have to counsel and check ups to know your brain’s state.
Brain Tumors: Symptoms
Here are some of the most common symptoms of brain tumor:
- Sudden change in the mental processing
- the weakness of a limb or part of the face
- seizures
- confusion
- blurred vision or double vision
- vomiting
- muscle weakness
- difficulty walking
- changes in mood, emotions, personality, and behavior
Treatments for Brain Tumor
The treatments for brain tumor actually depends on the following:
- General health of the patient
- Location of the brain tumor
- Size of the tumor
- Type of the tumor
Moreover, one of the most common treatments for brain tumor is surgery. Its goal is to remove as much mass as possible. This is without triggering any damage to the healthy parts of the brain. The hazards of brain surgery may include bleeding and infection. Furthermore, surgery can be done with some other treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. After having brain surgery for the removal of brain tumor, there is some therapy that may be beneficial in recovering. These include speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.
