Brain tumor is a lump formed in the brain due to the uncontrolled division and growth in the brain cells. It can be termed as a mass or collection of abnormal cells in the brain. Every year, approximately 11000 people are diagnosed with brain tumor. Amongst the several types of brain tumor, some are cancerous (malignant) while some are non-cancerous (benign). The growth rate and location of the brain tumor can vary to a great extent, determining its effect on the functioning of the nervous system. This tumor can either begin in other parts of the body and spread to the brain, or can begin in the brain itself.
Types of Brain Tumor
There are more than 130 types of primary brain and spinal tumors which are categorized as per their location in the brain, their speed to grow and spread and the type of cells they grow from.
Brain tumor is broadly divided into two categories namely Primary (which originates in the brain) and Secondary or Metastases (when cancer cells spread to the brain from any other organ).
- Gliomas, Astrocytomas/Astrocytic Tumors, Glioblastomas, Oligodendroglial Tumors, Pituitary Tumors, Pineal Gland Tumors, Ependymomas, Craniopharyngiomas, Primary Central Nervous System (CNS) lymphomas, Primary Germ Cell Tumors, Meningiomas, and Schwannomas are the primary types of brain tumors.
- Meningiomas and Schwannomas occur between 40- 70 years of age. While Meningiomas is more common in women, Schwannomas occurs equally in both men and women.
- Cancers like lung cancer, breast cancer, Kidney Cancer, and skin cancer can be counted under secondary brain tumors.
- Most of the brain tumors are secondary types as they form the majority of brain cancers.
Factors causing brain tumor
Some of the prime reasons of a brain tumor include family history (though only 5-10% are genetically inherited), age (risk increases with growing age), race, chemical exposure, exposure to radiation and no history of chicken pox.
Warning signs of a brain tumor
The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor vary a lot as they depend solely on the tumor’s size and location. These symptoms can be either general or specific. The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor include:
- Frequent and severe headache
- Unexplained nausea or vomiting
- New or changed pattern of headache
- Vision problems (like blurred, double vision or loss of peripheral vision)
- Speech difficulties
- Difficulty with balance
- Gradual loss of sensation or movement in arm and leg
- Hearing problems
- Behavioral or personality changes
- Seizures
- Confusion in everyday matters, clumsiness, memory loss, confusion, decreased alertness
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Loss of balance
- Trouble in speaking or understanding what others are saying
- Loss of bowel control
- Numbness or tingling on a specific side of the body
- Obesity
- Low blood pressure
- Nipple discharge
- Lack of menstruation in women and development of breast tissue in men
- Increase in body hair
- Fatigue, drowsiness, and sleep problems
In case of any specific and noticeable changes, it is always advisable to consult a doctor as other medical conditions can also cause similar symptoms as a brain tumor. The treatment of a brain tumor depends completely on its type, size, and location as some of them cause direct damage by invading brain tissue while others pressurize the surrounding brain matter.
