A brain tumor, or tumor, is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor (defined as an abnormal growth of cells) within the brain or the central spinal canal. In 2012, 13,700 people died from brain or nervous system cancer and there were 22,910 new cases reported - that's just one year. So many people are impacted by cancer whether as a patient or a relative or friend of a patient; because of this, people are always concerned that they will become one of those statistics.

There are many different types of brain tumors. First, primary brain tumors are tumors that begin in the brain (not traveling from another part of the body). Any primary tumor refers to the type of tissue where the tumor first appeared. The most common brain tumors are call gliomas (that's pronounced glahy-oh-muh). A secondary tumor is one in which the cells travel from another area of the body - so a in the brain, a secondary tumor would be cells that traveled into the brain (via blood stream) and burrowed in and started multiplying cells in its new home.

There are a couple types of gliomas:
Astrocytomas (pronounced ās'trō-sī-tō'mə)- this is a cluster of star-shaped cells referred to as astrocytes. These can grow anywhere in the brain or spinal cord; but there are general pattern that seems to occur. Astrocytomas are most often found in the brain for adults but in the brain stem in children.
Most people know that cancer has many grades - I, II, III, and IV. Identifying cancer early allows a patient to be treated quickly and more effectively.
Anaplastic astrocytoma: This is a grade III astrocytoma.
Glioblastoma multiforme (pronounced glee-o-blas-TO-ma multih-FOR-may): This is a grade IV astrocytoma.
SIGNS
The most frequent symptoms of brain tumors include:

Headaches that tend to be worse in the morning and ease during the day
Seizures (convulsions) - what my brother experienced was little spaces of time that he couldn't account for. For example, while ordering food in a restaurant, he would suddenly stop talking - that was the extent of his seizure for many years until he had a grand mal seizure (that's the kind of seizure with convulsions).
Nausea or vomiting
Weakness or loss of feeling in the arms or legs
Stumbling or lack of coordination in walking (ataxic gait)
Abnormal eye movements or changes in vision
Drowsiness
Changes in personality or memory
Changes in speech: My brother lost his ability to speak well; this was because the tumor was in his speech center in his brain. This became one of our biggest clues to his condition.

CAUSES
Aside from exposure to vinyl chloride or ionizing radiation, there are no known environmental factors associated with brain tumors. Mutations and deletions of so-called tumor suppressor genes are thought to be the cause of some forms of brain tumors. People with various inherited diseases, such as Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia, neurofibromatosis type 2 are at high risk of developing brain tumors.

Although studies have not shown any link between cell phone radiation and brain tumors, the World Health Organization has classified mobile phone radiation on the IARC scale into Group 2B – possibly carcinogenic. That means that there "could be some risk" of carcinogenicity, so additional research into the long-term, heavy use of mobile phones needs to be conducted.
TREATMENT
When a brain tumor is diagnosed, a medical team will be formed to assess the treatment options presented by the leading surgeon to the patient and his/her family. Given the location of primary solid neoplasms of the brain in most cases a "do-nothing" option is usually not presented. Neurosurgeons take the time to observe the evolution of the neoplasm before proposing a management plan to the patient and his/her relatives. These various types of treatment are available depending on neoplasm type and location and may be combined to give the best chances of survival:


surgery: complete or partial resection of the tumor with the objective of removing as many tumor cells as possible


radiotherapy: the most commonly used treatment for brain tumors; the tumor is irradiated with beta, x rays or gamma rays.

chemotherapy: is a treatment option for cancer, however it is seldom used to treat brain tumors as the blood and brain barrier prevents the drugs from reaching the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy can be thought of as a poison that prevents the growth and division of all cells in the body including cancerous cells. Thus the significant side effects associated and experienced by patients undergoing chemotherapy.

A variety of experimental therapies are available through clinical trials.
http://linked2kay..com/2013/06/understanding-brain-tumors-signs-causes.html

Life is difficult. May the almighty God grant good health to us all.

Omexonomy: Life is difficult. May the almighty God grant good health to us all.

Amen o