Brain Cancer (Neurological Cancers)

Brain Cancer (Neurological Cancers)

A neurological disease, brain cancer can grow aggressively and cause seizures, muscle weakness, behavioral changes and hearing loss. When abnormal cells form in the brain, they force out healthy ones and cause tumors to develop. These tumors often start in the brain or in nearby tissues, such as the outer covering of the brain called the meninges, the cranial nerves or the pituitary and pineal glands. Although the exact cause of brain cancer is unknown, your risk increases if you smoke cigarettes, have been exposed to radiation to the head, or have been exposed to certain chemicals. Cancerous tumors that spread can interfere with our central nervous system, which controls all of our bodys processes. Tumors that begin in the brain are much more rare than tumors that begin elsewhere and then spread to the brain. Cancers that start in the breast, colon, kidney or lungs commonly spread to the brain.
Recently Answered
Q What factors affect the chances of surviving brain stem gliomas?
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Adults stand a better chance of surviving a brain stem glioma than do children even though most brain stem gliomas are found in children. The type of tumor also plays a factor in survival. Focused tumors that exist in a single part of the brain stem are... Full Answer
Q Why is surgery not used on the majority of brain stem gliomas?
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Most brain stem gliomas are diffuse, rather than focal. This means that the cells of the tumor are spread out and closely entangled with nearby functional brain cells. Surgical attempts to remove diffuse gliomas are usually considered too risky. In... Full Answer
Q Do brain stem gliomas spread to other parts of the body?
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Brain stem gliomas do not typically spread outside the brain, or even beyond the brain stem. Sometimes recurrent brain stem gliomas will spread to other parts of the brain. Full Answer
Q Why are brain stem gliomas diagnosed more frequently than they used to be?
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Brain stem gliomas are diagnosed about twice as often as they were 30 years ago. This increase probably does not result from a doubling of occurrences. Detection technology has gotten better. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other tools are helping... Full Answer
Q How can brain stem gliomas be managed on a daily basis?
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Brain stem gliomas require a great deal of medical attention. Children and adults with brain stem gliomas should ideally have access to a variety of different doctors and health care professionals. Strategies for dealing with brain stem gliomas should be... Full Answer
Q What do I need to know about caring for a child with a brain stem glioma?
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Children with brain stem gliomas will need to undergo a daunting array of tests and treatments. If they survive, some persistent brain damage - caused by either the tumor or the treatment - remains possible. Mental impairments may cause difficulty in... Full Answer
Q Is it possible to survive a brain stem glioma without surgery?
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It is possible to survive a brain stem glioma without surgery, but in severe cases, the rate of survival is not high. In cases of diffuse (spread out) tumors, surgery is ineffective because the tumor is wrapped around sensitive portions of the brain.... Full Answer
Q What specialists should my child see about a brain stem glioma?
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Brain stem gliomas are dangerous and complicated tumors, particularly in children. Ideally, a child with a brain stem glioma should visit a variety of cancer and brain specialists. A neuro-oncologist should be the primary reference, but also important... Full Answer
Q How are brain stem gliomas treated in people with neurofibromatosis?
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Neurofibromatosis is a genetic condition characterized by freckles, brown spots, and benign tumors on the skin. It is usually found during childhood. People with neurofibromatosis are more prone to tumors of the nervous system, including brain stem... Full Answer
Q What increases the risk of brain stem gliomas?
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The biggest risk factor for brain stem gliomas is age. Most people afflicted with brain stem gliomas are children between the ages of 6 and 9, although there are rare instances of brain stem gliomas in adults. In cases where diffuse (spread out) brain... Full Answer