The human brain is the most vital organ in your body, responsible for controlling every aspect of your body. Therefore, it’s crucial to take care of it since any harm can lead to serious consequences. A “brain neoplasm” also known as a brain tumor, is an abnormal growth of cells within the brain. These growths can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
While brain tumors are serious, it’s important to remember that many neurological symptoms can have different causes. In this article, we will discuss the basics of brain tumors, common symptoms, treatment, and more.
Common Symptoms of brain neoplasm
Brain neoplasms can cause a wide range of symptoms, which may vary depending on the tumor’s size, type, and location. Here are some of the most common symptoms to be aware of:
- Headache: The head feels worse when you wake up. Headaches happen more often and are stronger.
- Vision Problem: Problems with your eyes, like things look blurry, seeing double, or not seeing well on the sides.
- Paralysis: Can’t feel or move an arm or leg well. Hard to keep your balance.
- Fatigue: Feeling tired all the time.
- Confusion: Getting mixed up with normal things. Hard to do simple things you’re told.
- Memory: Hard to remember stuff.
- Personality or Behavior Changes: Acting differently or feeling different than usual. You feel more irritable or emotional.
- Nausea and Vomiting: The symptoms can occur without warning and may lead to weakness.
- Problems with hearing: There may be a decrease in your hearing ability, making it difficult to distinguish sounds, which could affect one or both ears.
- Feeling dizzy or like everything is spinning: This sensation, similar to vertigo, makes it difficult to stand or walk, giving you the feeling that you’re going to fall every time you try to stand and walk.
Diagnosis for brain neoplasm
When you have symptoms of a brain neoplasm and when you visit a hospital, then you’ll need to perform several tests and procedures to be sure that you have a brain neoplasm. This might include:
- Neurological exam: It is performed to test different parts of the brain to check if they are working correctly or not. This may include checking different parts of the head such as vision, hearing, reflexes, etc.
- Head CT scan: It is a device that uses X-rays to make pictures, also called a CT scan. A CT scan is used to detect problems in and around your brain.
- Brain MRI: t stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, which works by using magnets to create pictures inside the body. This test is used to measure the different amounts of blood in different parts of a brain tumor.
- Biopsy: It is collecting a sample of the tissue from the brain and performing the analysis to diagnose the brain tumor and prepare the treatment based on the result.
Treatment for brain neoplasm
Treatment can vary from different factors.
- Tumor Characteristics: This includes it’s size, type, and grade of the tumor
- Tumor Spread: If the tumor has moved to other parts of the central nervous system.
- Side Effects: The possible negative effects treatment might have.
- Patient Choices and Health: What the patient prefers for their treatment and how healthy they are overall.
Growth of brain tumors can be rapid or slow depending on the different factors. The doctor will recommend to you how soon treatment should start after diagnosis.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are followed after surgery on a brain tumor for speedy recovery. If it is a low-grade brain tumor then surgery may be the only treatment needed but for higher-grade tumors surgery followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy is needed again everything will be suggested by the healthcare team or doctor.
Treating brain tumors is difficult because the brain’s protective barrier blocks many chemotherapy drugs, and surgery near sensitive areas can be risky. Sometimes, tiny tumor parts may be left behind after surgery. Also, radiation therapy might harm healthy brain tissue.
The following are the main treatment options.
Surgery
- Radiation Therapy: It is performed by using strong beams of energy; such beams kill brain cancer cells. It is used alongside surgery or chemotherapy for treating brain neoplasms.
- Chemotherapy: If the brain tumor is growing fast, then chemo is used. In this process, it uses anti-cancer drugs named cytotoxic, which help to destroy brain tumor cells. It is given in the ventricles of the brain and circulates throughout the body in the bloodstream.
- Targeted therapy: As the name suggests, this treatment targets the brain tumor’s specific genes or tissue environments that are helping the brain tumor’s growth and survival. Similar to chemotherapy, a drug is provided to block the growth and spread of tumor cells, and, most importantly, it limits the damage to healthy cells.
Why Early Detection of brain neoplasm is important?
Early detection of a brain neoplasm can be life-saving and is crucial for successful treatment. When identified early, treatment options may be more effective, potentially involving surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. The sooner a doctor can diagnose the tumor, the more treatment options are available. So, you should go to a nearby medical place as soon as possible when you get the symptoms of a brain tumor.
Conclusion
Brain neoplasms can present with a variety of symptoms that can impact daily life and overall health. Recognizing these signs and seeking medical advice promptly is crucial for early detection and treatment. If you’re experiencing any persistent or unusual symptoms, don’t hesitate to consult your healthcare provider. Remember, early intervention can make a significant difference in treatment success and recovery.
Disclaimer: This blog post provides general information about brain tumors and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition.
