Brain Tumors/Treatments

Quick Info on Brain Tumors/Brain Cancer

Brain tumors cannot be prevented because their causes are unknown.

A primary (1) brain tumor is a tumor that originates (starts) in the brain.

A metastic (secondary-2) brain tumor is a tumor that grows from cancer cells that have traveled to the    brain from other organs such as from lung cancer or breast cancer.

Brain tumors may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

You can have a brain tumor and not have cancer, likewise you can have brain cancer and not have just one specific tumor.

Malignant tumors are life threatening.

• Malignant tumors from other cancers such as lung or breast cancer may spread to many parts of the body including the brain.
• Malignant brain tumors that originate (start) in the brain rarely spread outside the central nervous system (CNS) which includes the head and spinal cord.

A benign brain tumor can also be life threatening.

• Because the brain is "housed" inside the skull any kind of tumor growth, benign or malignant can cause pressure on the brain.  Over time, because of limited space, these tumors can press against a major blood vessel or a vital (important to life) brain center where great damage or even death may occur.

Primary Brain Tumors and Treatments

Because secondary brain cancer can form just about anywhere in the brain, the focus will be on just some of the more common types of primary brain tumors that can develop.

Primary Brain Tumors
Gliomas
Astrocytomas
Oligodendrogliomas
Ependymomas
Schwannomas
Meningiomas

Gliomas - about half of all primary brain tumors are gliomas, or tumors growing from glial cells.

Astrocytomas - most common type of glial cell brain tumor
                                 - they develop from the glial cell Astrocytes
                                 - grow anywhere in the brain or spinal cord

Treatment: surgery, surgery followed by radiation, some forms of chemotherapy

Oligodenrogliomas - are brain tumors growing in the glial cell Oligodendroglia
                                         - tumors that grow from these cells make up 5% of all glial cell tumors
                                         - grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the brain

Treatment: surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation

Ependymoma - these tumors develop from the ependymal glial cell
                                - occur mostly in children
                                - 85% of these tumors are lowgrade meaning that they grow more slowly

Treatment: surgery followed by radiation, sometimes chemotherapy
Schwannomas - tumors are usually benign (non cancerous)
                                 - may grow on one or both sides of the brain
                                 - tumor usually affects balance and hearing and can cause facial paralysis
                                 - acoustic (ear) neuromas = a type of schwannoma
                                 - affect women twice as often as men

Treatment: surgery when possible
Meningiomas - these tumors develop from your meninges
                                 - make up 24% of all brain tumors
                                 - they affect people of all ages but are commonly seen in people in their 40s
                                 - meningiomas grow slowly
                                 - these tumors rarely spread to other parts of the brain or body

Treatment: surgery is preferred with some additional treament like radiation

Overwhelmed, this is what you are feeling now that you found out that you have to have surgery to remove the tumor in you head.  Feeling unsettled you ask your uncle to prepare a sweat later.  After the sweat you feel better.  You heard the prayers that others said over you and it gave you the strength to look forward with hope.  You are ready for whatever hardships that may lay in your future and you are determined to get well so that you are ready for the next pow wow season.

Links
Brain Main Page
Brain Cells
Risk Factors/Symptoms
Diagnosis
Statistics
Emotional Aspects