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Does Brain Tumor Mean That I Am Suffering from Cancer?

By Dr. Arun Saroha in Neurosurgery , Neurosciences

Feb 12 , 2018 | 2 min read

Without any doubt, this is one of the most commonly asked questions that bothers people suffering from brain tumor. And realizing the criticality of its answer, one cannot ignore such queries. The brief on brain tumor will give you clarity whether it is cancer or not.

Read carefully and give a solid base to your concerns.

First, let us present a brief explanation of brain tumor.

A brain tumor is a tissue mass formed due to the accumulation of abnormal cells. The exact cause behind the formation of brain tumor is still unknown. However, doctors do associate it with certain risk factors like exposure to radiation or any family history.

There are also several signs and brain tumor symptoms which indicate its presence. The common ones include:

Severe headaches
Seizures
Vision deterioration
Weakness on specific region of body
Loss of memory and changes in normal behaviour
Numbness in limbs
Trouble in maintaining balance

Upon witnessing such symptoms, a person should consult a doctor to get the diagnosis done. During diagnosis, brain tumors are graded on a scale of 1 to 4 depending on various factors like growth pattern. The grade of the brain tumor is determined through a biopsy.

Grade I: The tumor cells look like normal cells under the microscope and are benign in nature. The growth is quite slow which indicates that you can easily get rid of it through an effective brain tumor surgery.
Grade II: The tumor cells do not look normal if the tumor is of grade II and can come back even after the treatment after a long time. However, the growth of such tumor cells is still relatively slow.
Grade III: There are malignant cells in the tumor tissues whose appearance is very different from the normal cells. These cells are actively growing and can regrow in few months. They would need support of Radiotherapy along with surgery.
Grade IV: A tumor classified as a Grade IV tumor is most malignant. It grows fast with the cancer cells spreading locally in rapid manner. The tumor also forms new blood vessels to maintain its rapid growth.

As per the classification of the brain tumor in the above-discussed grades, doctors determine whether the brain tumor is cancerous or non-cancerous in nature. While a malignant brain tumour is mostly grade 3 or 4, a grade 1 or 2 tumor is usually classed as benign or non-cancerous. Read below to know more about the cancerous and non-cancerous tumors:

Non-cancerous or Benign Brain Tumor: This type of tumor is least aggressive and does not contain cancer cells. Originating within the brain, it grows slowly and rarely regrows. Also, it does not come back after it has been successfully removed during brain tumour treatment.

Cancerous or Malignant Brain Tumor: As the name suggests, this type of brain tumor contains cancer cells that grow rapidly. It is essential that the patient must get immediate brain tumor treatment in the form of Radiotherapy or Chemotherapy once they are diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor after surgery.

As stated above, one can determine the nature of brain tumor only through a diagnosis involving a removal; hence, it is necessary that the patient should opt for a trusted and state-of-the-art hospital.

Patients looking for the best Neuro hospital in Delhi or Neurosurgeon in Gurgaon can seek medical guidance at Max Healthcare. We, at Max Healthcare, offer dedicated services to our patients to help them attain a healthy and disease-free life. As per the grade of your brain tumor, our team of professional doctors determines the best treatment plan ensuring successful results.