Brain Tumor: Types, Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatment.

Brain Tumor: Types, Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatment

A brain tumor is a collection of abnormal cells in the brain that go out of control. The skull, enclosing the brain, is a very rigid structure; any growth inside this structure can be life threatening. Brain tumors can either be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). These tumors can either be primary or secondary. Primary tumors originate from the brain and are mostly benign. Secondary tumors, or metastatic tumors are generally cancer cells which have spread to the brain from various parts of the body.

What are the symptoms of a brain tumor?

Symptoms of a brain tumor can either be general or specific. General symptoms are caused by the pressure of the tumor on the brain or the spinal cord. Specific symptoms are caused when something specific in the brain does not function properly due to the tumor.

General Symptoms

Headaches

Seizures

Single or multiple muscle spasms or twitches

Loss of control of body functions

Memory deficits

Nausea or vomiting

Specific Symptoms

A tumor in the cerebellum can cause loss of balance and difficulty in motor skills

A tumor in occipital lobe can cause loss of vision

A tumor in the brain stem can cause difficulty swallowing, facial weakness or numbness, or double vision

A tumor in the temporal lobe, occipital lobe, or brain stem can cause vision changes, including loss of part of the vision or double vision.

What are the risk factors to a brain tumor?

Exposure to infections, viruses, and allergens.
Ionizing radiation.
Head injury and seizures.
Family history of brain tumors.

What is the best treatment for brain tumors?

While deciding the treatment of brain tumor, its type, location, and size along with factors like patients age (child or adult) and general health should be considered. Surgery is the primary option for treating a brain tumor. Some tumors are hard to be surgically removed due to their location in the brain. In these cases, chemotherapy or radiation are usually recommended.