Brain Cancer has always been dreaded. Previously people saw no
chances of recovery once afflicted by the fatal disease. Even today,
brain cancer is regarded as of the most complicated ailments; however,
modern science has evolved many modern technologies and treatments to
fight the disease.
Types
Two
different forms of brain cancer are usually detected in human beings –
primary and secondary. The primary type initiates in the brain. The
cancer does not move to any other part of the body, and therefore, the
situation is not grave. Nevertheless, if there are uncontrollable tumor
growths within the small skull then it proves fatal.
The
secondary form is also known as Metastatic brain cancer. Here the
cancer originates in some other part of the body but then migrates to
the brain. Since it is an advanced stage of cancer, it can be life
threatening.
Causes And Symptoms
Malignant
brain tumors lead to brain cancers. Some of the common symptoms of the
presence of brain tumors are memory loss, impaired judgment, swelling
of the optic nerve, vision loss, severe behavior changes, impaired
smell sense, frequent vomiting, nausea and severe headaches, etc. Brain
Cancer is dreaded because the symptoms of the disease go unnoticed,
remain dormant until the last stage and this takes the patient towards
oblivious death.
The following reasons have been isolated as being the chief risk factors:
- As
with all forms of cancer, carcinogens play a prime role in causing
brain cancer. Be aware that house wares, pipes, car parts and furniture
have higher concentrations of carcinogens. - Continuous contact with vinyl chloride has been seen as another prime reason.
- One
suffering from lung cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer
for a long time is in all likelihood going to get affected by the
secondary brain cancer.
Treatment depends on the
stage of the disease, type and location of the tumor(s). Other factors
such as a patient’s age too play a role in determining the apt
treatment.
What One Should Do?
If
one thinks that he/she is inflicted by the disease then there are a
number of people whose suggestions are indispensable. Radiologist,
neurosurgeons, dietitians, oncologist and physiotherapist are the right
people to consult with.
If the tumor is in the nascent
stage, then one can get rid of it by means of surgery. The modern
technology is more advanced and less scary. It is a knife less
technology and only high-energy radiations are focused from different
angles to kill the tumor. This is also known as the “gama knife
surgery”.
Treatment for brain cancer incorporates three methods, which are surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
There
is external and internal radiation therapy. External therapy is
projecting radiation beams on to the tumor and the internal therapy is
implanting small radioactive capsules inside the tumor. Chemotherapy
entails the process of administering drugs to kill the tumor. It is
done in two to four cycles of treatment.
Follow up tests and
checkups are necessary once the brain cancer is treated fully by
eliminating/destroying the brain tumor(s).