Brain Tumor- All You Need to Know

Jun 01, 2019

A brain tumour is the growth of abnormal cells in the brain in the form of a mass. There are a number of different types of existing brain tumours, while some are cancerous, others are non-cancerous. A brain tumour may initiate from the brain itself, or it may begin from other parts of the body and spread to the brain. Moreover, brain tumour may grow really fast. Also, the growth rate, along with the location of the tumour determines its effect on the nervous system.

Brain Tumor Symptoms

Some tumours would have no symptoms until they are very large; other tumours may have symptoms that develop gradually. Also, these symptoms much depend on the size, location, and rate of growth. Some signs and symptoms of brain tumour are-

Frequent headaches that become severe with time
Change in the pattern of headaches
Nausea or Vomiting
Blurred Vision, loss of peripheral vision or double vision
A gradual loss of sensation or movement in legs and arms
Balance difficulty
Speech difficulty
Confusion in everyday matters
Behaviour changes
Personality Changes
Seizures in a person who has had no history in the past
Hearing impairments

Brain Tumor Causes

Primary brain tumours originate from the brain itself or in the nearby tissues such as the brain-covering membranes, cranial nerves, pineal gland or pituitary gland. Mostly, primary brain tumours start when healthy cells acquire mutations in the DNA. These mutations allow the cells to grow and divide at an increasing rate. This results in a mass of abnormal cells, which leads to the formation of a tumour. However, in adults, primary tumours are less common than secondary tumours. On the other hand, secondary brain tumours result from cancer or any other body part, eventually spreading to the brain. The secondary brain tumour is usually seen in people with an advanced history of cancer. In rare cases, a metastatic brain tumour may be the first occurrence. Any cancer may spread to the brain, and some of the examples include colon cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, etc.

Brain Tumor Risk Factors

In most of the cases, the cause of the tumour is unclear. However, some risk factors may increase the chances of a brain tumour.

Exposure to radiation: People with high exposure to a type of radiation known as ionising radiation have an increased risk of brain tumour. Certain examples of ionising radiation are radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer and radiation exposure due to atomic bombs.
Family History of Brain Tumors: People who have near relatives with the disease or family genetic syndrome are at a higher risk of brain tumour.

Brain Tumor Diagnosis

The diagnosis of a brain tumour involves the doctor asking a number of questions about your symptoms and health history. A physical and neurological exam then follows this. If the examination hints at a brain tumour, the doctor may conduct the following tests- ▪ Neurological Exam: A neurological exam includes checking a number of things like hearing balance, vision, coordination, reflexes, and strength. If the patient is facing difficulty in one or more areas, this may suggest a case of brain tumour. ▪ Imaging Tests- Imaging tests like CT scan and MRI are performed to see detailed images of the brain. ▪ Angiogram or MRA- This involves using die and X-ray of the blood vessel in the bland for the purpose of identification of the tumour. ▪ Specialised MRI: Specialized MRI like functional MRI, perfusion MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy assists the doctor in evaluating the tumour and planning the course of treatment. ▪ In rare cases, the doctor may recommend other imaging tests like CT scan and PET. However, these tests are not as useful for imaging of the brain as they are for different types of cancer. ▪ Other parts of the body- If the brain tumour is due to cancer that has spread from another part of the body, the doctor would recommend a few tests and procedures to determine the origin of cancer. Ex: CT / PET scan to look for signs of lung cancer. ▪ Biopsy- A biopsy can be performed as an operation for the removal of the tumour, or the doctor may conduct a biopsy using a needle. A stereotactic needle biopsy is done for brain tumours in areas that may be hard to reach or are sensitive within the brain that might be an extensive operation. Further, the neurosurgeon would drill a small hole in the skull and inserts a thin needle through it to remove the tissue using the needle. An MRI or CT guide the entire process. The biopsy sample is later examined under the microscope to see if it is cancerous.

Brain Tumor Treatment

Brain tumour treatment options depend on the type of brain tumour you have, as well as its size and location. It also depends on the overall health of the individual. The doctor may decide the most suitable course of treatment out of the following-

Surgery

If the location of the tumour is accessible for the operation, the surgeon will advise surgery. While in some cases the tumour is small and easy to separate from the surrounding tissue, in other cases, tumours may be inseparable, or only a part of it may be separable. In the latter, the surgeon would remove as much of the tumour as is safe. The surgery does open a person to certain risks like infection and bleeding; however, it purely depends on the location of the tumour.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams like X-rays or protons to kill tumour cells. It may come from a machine outside the body, and in very rare cases, a device may be placed inside the body, close to the tumour. Some of the side effects of radiation therapy are fatigue, scalp irritation, headaches and memory loss. This, however, depends on the type of treatment.

Radiosurgery

Stereotactic radiosurgery uses multiple beams of radiation for a highly focused form of radiation treatment to kill tumour cells in a small area. Each beam of radiation, however, isn’t as powerful but the point at which all the beams meet receives a large dose to kill the tumour cells.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill tumour cells. One can take the drugs orally in the form of a pill or through injections into the vein. The most commonly used drug to treat brain tumour is temozolomide. The side effects of chemotherapy are nausea, vomiting and hair loss. The tests of the brain tumour cells can help to determine if the chemo will be helpful.

Targeted Drug Therapy

Targeted drug treatment focuses on specific abnormalities present in cancer cells. This therapy blocks these abnormalities to cause the cancer cells to die. At present, targeted therapy drugs are available for certain types of brain tumours with many more under research.

Rehabilitation for recovery

Since brain tumour develops in part of the brain that affects speech, vision, motor skills and thinking, rehabilitation is an integral part of the recovery. The doctor may evaluate the patient needs and suggest any of the following-

Physical therapy to regain lost motor skills or muscle strength.
Occupational Therapy to get back to normal activities like work.
Tutoring children to help them cope with memory changes and thinking after a brain tumour.
Speech Therapy to help those who have difficulty in speaking.