Brain and Nervous System:

• The brain is a soft mass of supportive tissues and nerve cells connected to the spinal cord.
• Nerves in the brain and spinal cord transmit messages throughout the body.
• The brain and spinal cord together form the central nervous system (CNS).
• The central nervous system is the core of our existence. It controls our:

A. Personality:

• Thoughts.
• Memory.
• Intelligence
• Speech.
• Understanding, and emotions.

B. Senses.

• Vision.
• Hearing.
• Taste, smell, and touch.

C. Basic body functions:

• Breathing.
• Heartbeat, and blood pressure.
• And how we function in our environment — movement, balance, and coordination.

Learning about the normal workings of the brain and spine will help you understand the symptoms of brain tumors, how they are diagnosed, and how they are treated.

Major Parts Of the Brain:

There are three major parts of the brain.

• Cerebrum — uses information from senses to tell our body how to respond. It controls reading, thinking, learning, speech, and emotions.
• Cerebellum — controls balance for standing, walking, and other motion.
• Brain stem — connects the brain with the spinal cord and controls basic body functions such as breathing, body temperature, and blood pressure.

Lobes Of The Brain: 

Within the major parts of the brain, lobes of the brain control different functions. As you can see in the diagram, the frontal lobe of the brain helps you think and reason. The temporal lobe contains the neural pathways for hearing and vision, as well as behavior and emotions.

You can probably guess that a tumor in one of these lobes, or intervention to remove the tumor, could affect specific functions. Additionally, since the brain has areas that connect, it is possible for a brain tumor to impact a function of the brain where the tumor is not specifically located.

II. Signs And Symptoms: Brain Tumor

Brain tumor symptoms depend on the area of the brain affected. Brain tumors can:

• Invade and destroy brain tissue.
• Put pressure on nearby tissue.
• Take up space and increase pressure within the skull (intracranial pressure).
• Cause fluids to accumulate in the brain.
• Block normal circulation of cerebrospinal fluid through the spaces within the brain.
• Cause bleeding. Brain Tumor Brain Tumor

Brain tumor symptoms vary from person to person.

They include: Brain Tumor

• Headaches, which are often the first symptom. A headache due to a brain tumor usually becomes more frequent as time passes. It may not get better with over-the-counter pain medicine and it may come with nausea or vomiting. It can get worse when you lie down, bend over or bear down, such as when you have a bowel movement.
• Seizures. Seizures can take many different forms, such as numbness, tingling, uncontrollable arm and leg movements, difficulty speaking, strange smells or sensations, staring, and unresponsive episodes or convulsions.

Changes in:

• Mental function, mood, or personality. You may become withdrawn, moody or inefficient at work. You may feel drowsy, confused, and unable to think. Depression and anxiety, especially if either develops suddenly, maybe an early symptom of a brain tumor. You may become uninhibited or behave in ways you never have before.
• Speech (trouble finding words, talking incoherently, inability to express or understand language).
• Ability to hear, smell, or see, including double or blurred vision.
• And the ability to feel the heat, cold, pressure, a light touch, or sharp objects.
• Pulse and breathing rates if brain tumor compresses the brain stem.
• Loss of balance or coordination.

These symptoms do not always mean you have a brain tumor. However, it is important to discuss any symptoms with your doctor, since they may signal other health problems.

III. Side Effects of a Brain Tumor:

1. Emotional Effects:

Emotional side effects are natural for any major disease, brain tumor, or not. When a brain tumor is diagnosed, it can take away your sense of security and control. Uncertainty is among the most challenging things that you may have to grapple with on a day-to-day basis.

Depression is also very common.

In addition to the emotional side effects related to receiving the diagnosis, the type, size, and location may also affect your emotions. Some people with brain tumors experience intense emotions or personality changes because the tumor is located in an area that controls emotional functioning.

You do not have to feel guilty about emotional challenges. They are very common. A member of your healthcare team can refer you to a professional like a clinical social worker, clinical psychologist, or neuropsychologist. Support groups may also help.

2. Cognitive Effects:

Cognitive side effects are those that affect your ability to process information and communicate. You may find it harder to find the words you need or calculate the tip at a restaurant. It may be difficult to concentrate or remember things. Your abilities may be better on some days and worse on others. Again, medical professionals and special types of therapy can help strengthen these abilities during and after treatment.

3. Physical Effects:

Physical effects are common as treating a brain tumor can take a great toll on your body. While the effects are different for every person, a brain tumor and subsequent treatments may change your appearance, strength, and ability, as well as your ability to carry on a full, active day.

Additional common side effects include seizures, pain, fatigue, weakness, nausea, headaches, and hair loss. Many people with brain tumors are able to handle these changes by being realistic. They set priorities and do only what needs to be done. They plan frequent rest and ask for help.

In addition,

medical services, such as physical and occupational therapy, can help improve body function. Make sure to speak with your doctor about any symptoms you make have so that they can be medically treated as optimally as possible.

IV. Why Do Brain Tumors Occur? “The Causes And Risk Factors”:

The reason why brain tumors occur is unclear.

V. Types And Grades of Brain Tumor:

According to the WHO,

the classification of brain tumors is mainly based on the cause of the cell and its behavior, from harmless, too dangerous, which is the most aggressive. The least dangerous malignancies are allocated Grade I while the most dangerous are allocated Grade IV. The significant classification of brain tumors is reliant on the area of origin.

There are two significant types of brain tumors:

• Primary brain tumors.
• Secondary brain tumors.

I. Primary Brain Tumors:

Primary brain malignancies begin from the mind and can remain local or propagate to other areas of our bodies. These are further broken down into different types, based on the source from different brain areas.

The Different Types of Primary Brain Tumors:

1. Gliomas:

Gliomas start from the helpful brain cells. Gliomas are of different types. They include:

• Oligodendrogliomas – these can affect people of all ages and mainly begin from myelin-producing cells. They are rare and mostly do not propagate.
• Ependymomas – This type of glioma mostly have an impact on the children and the youth. Its basis is the lining of the ventricles.
• Brain stem gliomas – These are found in the lower part of the brain. This part of the brain is very important as it controls the main body functions. Most of the brain control gliomas are of high quality and hence very dangerous.
• Astrocytomas – They take place in the cells known as astrocytes. They can grow in any part of the vertebrae or the brain. In children, they create from the cerebellum or the cerebrum.

2. Non Gliomas:

These occur from the non-supportive cells. Various types include:

• Pineal tumors – They grow from the pineal glands and can be easily removed from the brain. Some of them are very slow-growing while others are fast-growing.
• Medulloblastomas – They start from the basic nerve cells. They also can grow in the cerebellum. They are also referred to as primitive neuroectodermal tumors.
• Craniopharyngiomas – They originate from the pituitary glands. Most of them are harmless. In case they press the hypothalamus gland because of overgrowth, various important features are lost and they become dangerous.
• Schwannomas – They initiate from the Schwan cells and generate myelin. Myelin protects auditory nerve cells.
• Meningiomas – These are experienced by women of 30 to 50 age segment. They are harmless and begin from meninges.

II. Secondary Brain Tumors:

The following cancers are the most common types that cause secondary tumors; lung, breast, kidney, colon, and malignant melanoma.

• Secondary brain tumors are those malignancies that create in different parts of the body and get into the mind.
• They are metastatic and get into the veins and the lymphatic system program.
• They then flow through the veins or/and the lymph vessels and get filed in the mind.
• From here they continue splitting and become obtrusive.
• Also, secondary brain malignancies are difficult to treat.
• They are also a significant cause of intracranial cavity malignancies.

The following malignancies are the most typical types that cause secondary tumors:

• Dangerous cancer malignancy.
• Colon.
• Lung.
• Renal.
• Breast.

VI. Brain Tumor Grading:

Diagnostic tools include:

• Computed tomography (CT or CAT scan).
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Other MRI sequences can help the surgeon plan the resection of the tumor based on the location of the normal nerve pathways of the brain. Intraoperative MRI also is used during surgery to guide tissue biopsies and tumor removal.
• Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is used to examine the tumor’s chemical profile and determine the nature of the lesions seen on the MRI.
• Positron emission tomography (PET scan) can help detect recurring brain tumors.

Sometimes the only way to make a definitive diagnosis of a brain tumor is through a biopsy. The neurosurgeon performs the biopsy and the pathologist makes the final diagnosis, determining whether the tumor appears benign or malignant, and grading it accordingly.

VIII. Treatment Options:

How to cope with brain tumors? 

If you find this article useful, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family, as you might help someone in need. Thanks.