Any brain tumor, especially those containing cancer cells, is a life threatening condition. The treatment for this type of tumor, by way of surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, is in no way a simple matter.
Brain tumors can be benign, no cancer cells, or malignant, with cancer cells.
Benign brain tumors:
- usually can be removed
- do not contain cancer cells
- sometimes are life threatening
- seldom grow back after removal
- do not spread to other parts of your body
- do not invade the healthy tissue around them
- extremely rare for a benign brain tumor become malignant
- can exert pressure on sensitive brain areas, causing serious health problems
Malignant brain tumors:
- contain cancer cells
- likely to grow rapidly
- generally more serious
- often are life threatening
- crowds/invades its surrounding healthy brain tissue
- cancer cells may break away and spread, albeit rarely
Sometimes, a malignant brain tumor can be encapsulated, meaning contained or confined, and therefore it does not spread its life endangering cancer cells about your otherwise healthy body.
A brain tumor can cause a broad range of symptoms, but the most common signs include:
- nausea & vomiting
- Horner’s syndrome
- muscle jerking/twitching
- problems with balance/walking
- problems with thinking/memory
- numbness/tingling in arms/legs
- headaches, usually worst in morning
- changes in your ability to talk, hear or see
- changes in mood, personality, ability to concentrate
Presently, the exact cause of brain tumors is unknown. Science is on the beat, trying to track down any mystery cause for mind boggling symptoms.
Until then, wisdom dictates health prevention measures by limiting carcinogen ingestion and exposure to help see your brain through many health filled years to come.