A Quick Introduction to Brain Tumor Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

When abnormal cells grow inside the brain and are in the form of a mass the condition is called brain tumor. There are various types of brain tumor that exist. Some of the brain tumors which exist are malignant or cancerous while other may be non-cancerous. A brain tumor can begin in any part of the brain and spread to other parts of the body or vice-versa. The growth rate of brain tumor is different for each individual suffering from it.

The effect of brain tumor on the overall functioning of the nervous system depends on the location and growth rate of the tumor. The treatment for brain tumor depends on the tumor type as well the location and the size. The brain tumor can have a distressing effect on the overall mental health of a person. The patient suffering from the condition of brain tumor must be in touch of the doctor until the condition gets treated.

If a person is suffering from the brain tumor he/she may be exhibiting the following symptoms

• Headaches in the morning after waking up, while sleeping.
• The headaches will get worse after coughing and sneezing.
• Vomiting
• Change in the mental functioning
• Confusion

• Clumsiness
• Effect on the memory
• Loss of balance
• Numbness or tingling sensation on one side of the body.
• Trouble in speaking
• Blurred vision
• A person might have seizures without any previous history of neurological disease.

The cause of the majority of the brain cancers is still not known and completely understood. The brain tumors originate in the brain itself. Tumors start to develop if there are mutations in the DNA. It is because of these mutations that cells of the brain increasingly grow and divide. Usually, in adults the primary brain tumors are uncommon in comparison to the secondary brain tumors.

There are some risk factors which increase the risk of brain tumors in individuals

• The risk of brain tumor increases with age.
• This condition can also be inherited from the family however, the chances are only 5 to 10 percent.
• The risk of brain tumors increases in people who have been exposed to the ionizing radiation.
• If a person is exposed to certain chemicals then he/she has an increased risk of suffering from brain tumor.

The precautions for a person suffering from the condition of brain tumor includes

• Excessive imaging scan radiations must be avoided.
• The toxic chemicals which are used in the oil and the rubber industry must be avoided at any cost.
• Smoking and drinking excess of alcohol must be avoided.
• The excessive use of cell phones must be avoided.

For diagnosing the brain tumor the doctor will first take a look at the patient physically. The doctor may also ask for the medical history of the patient. The doctor will then advise a very detailed neurological examination. These examinations will help the doctor in determining whether the cranial nerves are intact or not.

The doctor will take a look at the eyes of the patient with the help of an ophthalmoscope. This test is done to check whether there is any swelling of the optic nerve. The doctor will further evaluate coordination, memory, and muscle strength. After the physical examination the doctor may order some more tests confirm the diagnosis

• CT scan of the head: It will give a detailed image of the brain for the doctor to make diagnosis.
• MRI of the brain: It gives clearer images to the doctors for detecting any tumors.
• Angiography: In this test a dye is injected to the artery from the groin area. It helps doctors in understanding the blood supply of the tumors.
• Skull x-ray: Sometimes the brain tumors can cause fracture in the skull bones, these are easily visible in the skull x-ray.
• Biopsy: In this a small piece of tumor is obtained. This test tells us whether the tumor is malignant or not.

The treatment of brain tumors depends on the location, size, and the type of the tumor. General health of the patient is also taken into consideration. The treatment which is common for brain tumor is surgery. The objective of the surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible without damaging the other parts of the brain. For surgery to take place the tumors must be located within the area of limits of the surgery.

The risk associated with brain surgery is inclusive of bleeding and infection. Surgery can further be combined with other treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. After the completion of the neurosurgery a patient might need speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

The Brain Tumor is a life-threatening condition that may be accompanied by some serious symptoms. Sleeping disorder is one of them which commonly occurs in patients suffering from Brain Tumors as a result of the radiation therapy in the treatment. Hypersomnia is the disturbing pattern of sleeping found in such patients which is a serious concern for them.

Some of the natural treatments for brain tumors are inclusive of the following

• Get enough sunlight: being in sunlight helps in the production of the vitamin D in the body. There have been studies that indicate that vitamin D is a very active cancer prevention agent.
• Vitamin b17: due to the bitter taste of vitamin b17, it has been removed from the diet. Studies have revealed that eating food products rich in vitamin b17 can help in destroying cancerous cells.
• Fish oil: for people suffering from the problem of brain tumor omega-3-fatty acids are beneficial as they not only boost immunity but also reduce inflammation. Fish oil is rich in omega-3-fatty acids.

Summary: Brain Tumor, be it benign or malignant, may prove to be a fatal condition for an individual. It is life-threatening and may be accompanied by some serious symptoms. Headaches are one of them which occur with the worst pain and change in pattern. New forms of headaches usually develop which result in continuous pain but are different from migraines. Surgery is the only treatment option in such cases the result of which depends upon the prognosis. Postoperative symptoms also occur which are a matter of concern.