Brain Tumor: Symptoms, Causes, and Types

A brain tumour is an abnormal growth in the brain. Some are non-cancerous (benign), while others can be cancerous (malignant). Regardless of type, brain tumours need attention because they can affect how your brain works. While that might sound quite alarming, knowing the symptoms and the treatment might make quite a difference.

Types of Brain Tumours

There are basically two major types of brain tumours:

• Primary brain tumours: These begin in the brain itself. They may be benign or malignant. A common benign type is a meningioma, while gliomas are a common cancerous one.
• Secondary brain tumours: These are cancerous and happen when cancer from another part of the body (like the lungs or breasts) spreads to the brain.

Symptoms of a Brain Tumour

The symptoms of a brain tumour can vary a lot, depending on where it is and how fast it’s growing. Here are some common signs:

• Headaches: These are different from your regular headaches. They may be stronger in the morning or after waking up.
• Seizures: If you’ve never had seizures before and suddenly start experiencing them, it could be a sign.
• Trouble with memory or confusion: You may find it hard to think clearly or remember things.
• Vision problems: Blurred or double vision can happen if a tumour presses on the optic nerves.
• Weakness or loss of balance: Difficulty walking or maintaining balance can also be a sign.

If these symptoms appear in you or someone else, medical confirmation from a doctor will be needed.

What Causes Brain Tumours?

Most of the time, it is not clear why a brain tumour has developed. However, some factors can increase the risk. These include:

• Cancers that have spread from other parts of the body
• Genetic disorders that predispose an individual to the overproduction of specific cells.
• Exposure to some forms of radiation

How Are Brain Tumours Diagnosed?

Accurate diagnosis is extremely important to treat brain tumours effectively. The diagnosis generally involves:

• Neurological examination: The physician examines the patient's coordination, muscle strength, reflexes, and vision to find out if there is any abnormality.
• Imaging tests:
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): This is considered the most common test used to view a brain tumour and outline the brain in detail.
• CT scan (Computed Tomography): This is useful in quick imaging, particularly in emergency situations.

• Biopsy: If the imaging tests indicate a tumour, a tiny sample of tissue is obtained to examine for cancer.

Other tests that can provide more details about the tumour include blood tests, lumbar punctures, and molecular testing.

Brain Tumour Treatment

Treatment for a brain tumour depends upon the type and location of the tumour, as well as the health of the individual. Following are some of the more common forms of treatment:

• Surgical intervention: This is usually done to remove as much of the tumour as possible. In some cases, surgery can remove the entire tumour.
• Radiation therapy: If the tumour can’t be completely removed, radiation may be used to target and kill the remaining cells.
• Chemotherapy: This involves using drugs to kill cancer cells. It’s usually used for tumours that can’t be removed by surgery alone.
• Targeted therapy: Some treatments are designed to target specific changes in tumour cells and are less harmful to normal cells.
• Recovery and aftercare: After treatment, patients may need physical therapy or other rehabilitation to regain strength, coordination, and other skills.

Side Effects and Complications of Brain Tumour Treatment

As with all medical treatments, the various treatments for brain tumours carry some potential risks. These include:

• Neurologic deficits: Speech, memory, or even modifications in motor function can occur as a result of surgery or radiation.
• Fatigue: A majority of the patients suffer from extreme tiredness, most especially through radiation and chemotherapy.
• Infection: There is always an infection site after surgery.

However, despite these risks, the advances in medicine have made treatments safer and more effective.

Conclusion

A brain tumour diagnosis can be challenging, but knowing more about it can help you or a loved one face it with confidence. Advances in medicine mean that treatment options are better than ever, and diagnosing the tumour early is key to improving the chances of recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are brain tumours common?

Brain tumours are 'rare' tumours compared to most other forms of cancer, though they can affect people of any age. However, certain types have a tendency to occur more often within narrow ranges of age. For example, meningiomas are commonly present in older adults, but gliomas are present commonly in middle-aged adults.

Can lifestyle choices like diet or exercise prevent brain tumours?

Currently, there’s no clear evidence that lifestyle choices like diet, exercise, or avoiding certain foods can prevent brain tumours. However, maintaining overall good health can improve your body’s resilience against various diseases, including cancer. 

How much time does it usually take to recover after surgery on the brain tumour?

Recovery after the removal of a brain tumour can vary greatly depending on the size and location and nature of the tumour, amongst other factors of general health. With several technical advances in neurosurgery, the recovery period after brain tumour surgery is now extremely rapid and patients generally resume their activities of daily living timely.

Are children at risk for brain tumours?

Yes, brain tumours can occur in children, although they are less common in children than in adults. The types of tumours that occur are different from those that occur in adults, and treatment plans for paediatric cases may be very different.

Are brain tumours always fatal?

They are not all fatal. Outcomes depend on the tumour type, size, and location, as well as how soon it is diagnosed. With early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, many patients with brain tumours lead long and healthy lives.