A brain or spinal tumor is a collection, or mass, of abnormal cells in your brain. Your skull, which encloses your brain, is rigid. Any growth inside such a restricted space can cause pressure on neighboring brain tissue, resulting in complications. Brain tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).
Brain tumors are categorized as primary or secondary. A primary brain tumor originates in your brain. Many primary brain tumors are benign. A secondary brain tumor, also known as a metastatic brain tumor, occurs when cancer cells spread to your brain from another organ, such as your lung or breast.
Some symptoms of brain tumors can include:
- Headaches of varying patterns
- Seizures
- New onset of headaches
- Sensory changes in arm or leg
- Balance problems
- Speech difficulties
- Personality or behavior changes
- Confusion
- Unexplained nausea or vomiting
- Vision changes
- Hearing problems
Brain tumors are diagnosed based on imaging and confirmed with a tissue biopsy.
- Computerized Tomography (CT): Non-invasive x-ray to look at the structures within the brain
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): medical imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and computer generated radio waves to create detailed images of the brain
- Biopsy: extracting samples of the cells to determine the presence or extent of a disease; This test will identify if the tumor cells are benign or malignant. It will also determine whether cancer originated in your brain or another part of your body.
Treatment
Brain tumor management requires a personalized approach because every brain tumor is unique. Your medical team will evaluate your tumor and help determine which therapy is best for you. The size, type, grade of tumor and location of tumor are only some of the factors that are considered for treatment options and recommendations.
Treatment options include:
- Surgery: removal of the tumor and some of the surrounding healthy tissue, usually the first treatment used for a brain tumor
- Radiation therapy: use of high-energy x-rays to destroy tumor cells. This will help slow or stop the growth of a tumor.
- Radiosurgery: use of a single, high dose x-ray directed to the tumor and avoids healthy tissue
- Chemotherapy: use of powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells