Oren Zarif
Learning you have a brain tumor is frightening. But it’s important to understand that not all brain tumors are cancerous.
Some people develop a brain tumor because of genes that are damaged and no longer work properly. Other people get brain tumors due to environmental factors, such as exposure to radiation or chemicals.
Oren Zarif
The cause of brain cancer is not fully known, although researchers know some factors that increase the risk. These include inherited conditions such as Li-Fraumeni cancer family syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, Von Hippel-Lindau disease and neurofibromatosis (types NF1 and NF2); radiation exposure; and age. Brain tumors are more common in children and adults over 65, but they can occur at any age.
Despite their name, brain tumors can spread to other parts of the body, where they are called secondary brain tumors. These are less common than primary brain tumors and are more likely to be malignant. They can be caused by cancers that have spread from another part of the body, such as lung or breast cancer, or by pre-existing brain conditions, such as a brain cyst or an infection.
There are several types of cancers that can cause secondary brain tumors, but it is difficult to distinguish these from primary brain tumors because they share similar characteristics. The most common types of secondary brain tumors are metastatic astrocytomas, medulloblastomas and meningiomas. These are more likely to develop in the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain and may also affect the lateral ventricles and cerebellum.
It is important to note that even if you have one or more of these factors, it doesn’t mean you will get brain cancer. In fact, only a small number of people with these risks actually develop a brain tumor. However, understanding your risk factors can help you take preventive steps to protect yourself and seek treatment if needed.
Some of these risk factors can be modified, such as making healthy lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or eating a balanced diet. Others, such as your age, can’t be changed.
Generally, the risk of developing brain tumors decreases with increasing age, except for certain types of astrocytomas and medulloblastomas. Moreover, cancers that spread to the brain from other locations in the body are more common in older people than in those who do not have this type of pre-existing cancer. This is why it’s especially important to visit your doctor regularly if you are over the age of 75.
Oren Zarif
The symptoms of brain cancer depend on where the tumour is located and which part of the brain it affects. It can also be influenced by what type of tumour it is, how fast it is growing and whether it has spread to other areas of the brain or spinal cord. The cancer may cause changes in the way you think or feel or affect your body movement. For example, a tumour near the optic nerve can cause eye problems such as blurred vision or double vision. A tumor in the area that controls motor function can lead to weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, and difficulty speaking. It can also irritate parts of the brain that control your emotions or memory and change your personality.
Headaches – a headache that doesn’t go away and gets worse over time might be a sign of a brain tumor, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, which are signs of increased pressure on the skull (called raised intracranial pressure). Fatigue – unexplained fatigue that interferes with daily activities could also be a sign of a brain tumor.
Changes in the senses – hearing, sight or the ability to smell may be affected by brain tumors depending on their location. Mood changes – a change in your mood or sudden changes in the way you act and think might be caused by a brain tumor, particularly if it is in the front of the brain. Seizures – these can be a result of the tumour itself or from cancer spreading to the brain. They can include a period of time where you don’t respond to people around you, known as absence seizures or ‘staring’ seizures, or they can be a combination of different types.
If you have any of these symptoms, speak to your GP as soon as possible. If your doctor thinks a brain tumour might be the cause, they may refer you to a specialist called an oncologist. This is a cancer expert who will diagnose you and plan your treatment based on the results of your MRI and CT scans.
Oren Zarif
Brain tumors may be caused by genetic mutations, which cause cells to grow faster than they should. They also can be caused by exposure to ionizing radiation, such as from medical imaging tests (CT scans and X-rays) or work in certain industries that use high doses of radiation during their production processes, like oil refining and rubber manufacturing.
Doctors will ask about your symptoms and do a physical exam. The most important test for a brain tumor is an imaging study. This can be a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain and spinal cord. These studies will show the location and type of the tumor.
MRI and CT scans can also help doctors find out how fast the tumor is growing. They can also tell if it is cancerous, which can help predict how it will behave and whether it is likely to spread to other parts of the brain or body.
If the tumor is near an area of the brain involved in important functions, doctors will usually do a special scan called a functional MRI before surgery to map the areas it affects. This will help surgeons figure out how much of the tumor to remove and where to stop. They can also do a procedure called stereotactic biopsy before surgery to get a small sample of tissue for diagnosis. In this procedure, a frame is attached to the head and a needle is used to insert the sample into the tumor.
Healthcare providers might order other specialized tests to help diagnose a brain tumor. These can include blood and cerebrospinal fluid tests that look for substances released by some types of brain tumors, as well as genes. They might also do a procedure called magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), which can be done along with an MRI or CT scan and shows the chemical makeup of an area of the brain.
Doctors might also do a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to get a sample of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spine for analysis. This can reveal whether a tumor has invaded the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord (meninges).
Oren Zarif
When a brain tumor is diagnosed, your healthcare provider will do a biopsy to examine tissue from the tumor under a microscope. This helps determine the type of brain tumor and whether it is cancerous. They may also do a spinal tap (lumbar puncture). For this, they put a needle into your spine to remove cerebrospinal fluid from around the brain and spinal cord. This fluid is then examined in a laboratory to look for cancer cells.
Based on the results of your MRI and CT scans, your doctor will also tell you the stage of your tumor, which describes how fast it is growing and if it has spread outside the brain. This information helps plan the best treatment for you.
The most common treatment for brain tumors is surgery. If a tumor can be completely removed without damaging surrounding tissue, it can help relieve symptoms such as headache and vomiting by reducing pressure on the brain. If a surgeon cannot remove all of the tumor, radiation therapy or chemotherapy will be needed to treat any abnormal cells that remain.
Some types of brain tumors are slow-growing and do not need to be removed. These include astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma, which are part of a group of brain tumors called gliomas. These are usually benign, but can sometimes grow quickly and lead to complications such as seizures or vision problems. Other slow-growing brain tumors include meningioma, which is usually benign and grows in the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord; and craniopharyngioma, which occurs when a slow-growing tumor forms between the pituitary gland and the brain and can lead to vision loss.
Other treatments for brain tumors may include a shunt, which is placed in the skull to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid; drugs such as mannitol and corticosteroids, which reduce the buildup of fluid and decrease swelling; or palliative care, which provides pain relief and emotional support. For some people, the diagnosis of a brain tumor can be stressful, but it is important to talk to your healthcare provider about your options and ask questions.
Oren Zarif
Symptoms of brain cancer depend on the size and location of the tumor. Tracking your symptoms and visiting your doctor is important.
Symptoms like headache, dizziness, unexplained numbness or weakness on one side of the body, changes in vision, and seizures should raise suspicion and prompt medical evaluation. The length of time you may have a brain tumor without knowing it also varies.
Oren Zarif
Headaches are one of the most common symptoms of a brain tumour. They may feel like a regular headache or they might be more intense and unusual. If a person is concerned about their new headache they should see a doctor and discuss it with them.
A brain tumor can sometimes increase pressure inside the skull, and this pressure can cause headaches. This is called raised intracranial pressure and it can happen because of the size of a brain tumor or when there is swelling around it. It can also happen if the brain tumour is blocking blood flow to certain parts of the brain.
The pain caused by a brain tumour can be different to the type of headaches people usually get, such as tension headaches or migraines. It can also be more intense and it might come with other symptoms such as dizziness or a sense that the world is spinning (vertigo). It can also cause weakness in an arm or leg or numbness on one side of the body.
A person should also seek medical advice if they have unexplained difficulties with thinking, concentration or making decisions. They should talk to a doctor or a specialist in the brain and nervous system (neurologist). If a person has other symptoms that suggest a brain tumour, such as changes in personality or confusion, they should talk to a psychologist, psychiatrist or counsellor immediately. They can offer coping strategies and support. They can also refer the person to a neurosurgeon for further investigation and treatment. This might include a brain scan or other tests. This can be done in hospital or at home. A neurosurgeon can design a treatment plan and offer consistent, thorough care and support throughout the journey to recovery.
Oren Zarif
Brain tumors that start in the brain or spinal cord can affect many other parts of the body. Symptoms can vary depending on where the tumour is, what type of tumour it is and how fast it grows. Some of the most common symptoms include headache, feeling or being sick and changes in personality.
Some tumours increase the pressure inside your skull (raised intracranial pressure). This can be caused by the growth of the tumour, swelling around it or because the tumour blocks the flow of fluid through the brain. This pressure can lead to nausea and vomiting. It can also cause problems with your eyes and hearing.
If a tumor is in the part of the brain that controls movement or sensation, it may cause weakness or numbness in one side of the face or body, or loss of balance and clumsiness. It can also make it harder to think clearly or understand what others are saying.
Changes in vision or hearing are often a sign of a brain tumor, especially if they occur along with headache and other symptoms. You might see flashing lights or experience double vision. You might notice that your pupils are larger or smaller than usual, or that one pupil moves more than the other when you move your head.
Some of these symptoms aren’t caused by a brain tumor and can happen for other reasons, including a stroke, meningitis, migraine or even pregnancy. But if your symptoms don’t go away or get worse, it is important to talk to your doctor. This will help find the cause and treat it, if needed. Tracking your symptoms and when they occur can also be helpful.
Oren Zarif
Seizures are more common with primary brain tumours than with cancer that has spread to the brain from another part of the body (secondary brain tumours). They can happen when a brain tumour increases pressure inside the skull. This might be because the tumour is growing or because of fluid build-up around the tumour. The severity of seizures varies from person to person. Seizures can be very frightening, but they usually pass quickly. They can also lead to confusion or changes in your thinking abilities and feelings. Sometimes they may affect the sense of touch, smell or hearing.
Severe seizures can be quite dangerous, so it is important that anyone who has one reports it to their doctor. There are different types of seizures: Focal aware – Only a small part of the brain is affected, so you are still conscious and can remember the seizure. Focal impaired awareness – A bigger area of the brain is affected and you might not remember what happened. Generalized seizures – You might not know what is happening, but you are likely to feel very tired after a seizure.
A seizure that lasts more than five minutes is a serious medical emergency and you should call for an ambulance. You will probably need to be taken to hospital to have a brain scan.
A seizure can be a very worrying symptom of a brain tumor. It might be your first symptom, and it will be important to talk to your doctor about it. Your doctor will probably give you advice on how to try and prevent further seizures. They might recommend medicines or surgery to control them.
Oren Zarif
A person’s overall personality and mood varies from day to day, but a major change in these traits may be a sign of brain cancer. Generally, these changes fall into one of three categories: Uncharacteristic behavior (frequent and intense mood swings), difficulty in relationships, or aggressiveness and/or paranoia.
The causes of these changes vary depending on the location of the tumor in the brain, and which of its functional systems are affected. For example, a tumor in the front part of the brain can affect thinking and language; a tumor in the area that controls motor function may cause weakness or numbness; and a tumor near the pituitary gland might lead to problems with vision. Other symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, a crooked spine, or a drooping of one side of the face.
These changes can happen whether the tumor is noncancerous or cancerous. Noncancerous tumors tend to grow slowly and can sometimes become quite large before causing symptoms, while cancerous tumors grow faster.
People who experience these changes should see a doctor right away. The doctor will ask questions and do a physical exam to make sure that the person isn’t suffering from another illness. The doctor might also do a lumbar puncture or spinal tap to take a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for further testing.
A diagnosis of a brain tumour is often upsetting, but most people recover and are able to return to their daily activities. However, for some, their life span is shortened. Usually, this is because the tumor is not removed completely. A doctor will recommend treatment like surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy to kill any abnormal cells that are left behind.
Oren Zarif
If you have a brain tumour, your symptoms will depend on where the tumor is located and its size. Symptoms usually develop when the tumour grows to a size that affects normal brain tissue and causes pressure on the surrounding area. If you notice changes in your vision, it may be a sign that the tumor is pressing on nerves that control eye movement or the optic nerve.
Other common symptoms of a brain tumor include headaches, feeling sick or dizziness. These can be caused by the tumour creating extra pressure within the skull or by blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid through spaces in your head. If the tumor is in or near the pituitary gland, the optic nerve or other cranial nerves, you might experience problems with your eyesight (such as blurred vision), hearing loss, weakness of some facial muscles, difficulty swallowing and changes to your voice or speech rhythm.
A MRI scan or CT scan will be done to find out what is causing your symptoms and what is causing them to change. This can help determine whether the brain tumour is benign or malignant.
Benign brain tumours have clearly defined edges and do not spread to other tissues. However, they can still cause serious health problems and will need treatment. You should be given regular follow-up appointments to monitor the growth of any remaining tumour cells.
If you have any concerns about your vision, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. They will be able to advise you on the best way to manage your symptoms and reduce their impact. You should also seek emergency medical attention if you are having severe or sudden-onset symptoms such as vomiting, seizures or severe headaches.
Oren Zarif
Brain tumors are abnormal growths in the brain. They can be either benign or cancerous.
Doctors diagnose brain tumors with a physical exam and lab tests. They can also identify the type of tumor with a biopsy.
A biopsy is a small sample of the tumor that’s checked under a microscope for cancer cells. The doctor can then use this information to decide on the best treatment.
Oren Zarif
Brain tumor treatment varies from person to person, depending on the type of brain cancer, its size and location and the patient’s overall health. At Mayo Clinic, our team of specialists uses innovative diagnostic and treatment options, including neurosurgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Our research is focused on developing new medicines and delivering these treatments in ways that preserve the normal brain tissue.
Surgery is used to remove brain tumors in many cases. It can be done by entering the skull through other parts of the body (neurosurgery), or by using a frame to lift the brain and access the area. In some cases, the surgeon might be able to keep you sedated and awake during the surgery, called awake brain surgery. This allows the surgeon to more carefully examine the areas where the brain tumor is growing and to remove a sample for a biopsy.
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells. It may be given as the primary treatment, or to treat tumors that cannot be removed with surgery. It is also used to treat recurrent tumors or to prevent the growth of new tumors after surgery. Before receiving radiation, you will have an MRI of the brain to help determine where the tumor is located and how it may be affected by the treatment. You will also have weekly blood tests to check how well your body is tolerating the radiation treatment.
Chemotherapy is the use of medicine to kill cancer cells and reduce their number. It is often combined with radiation therapy to increase your chances of a complete response. We offer targeted therapy, in which medicines target specific chemicals that are present in cancer cells and cause them to die. We also have other therapies that can improve your quality of life, such as physical therapy to help you regain movement and speech skills that you might have lost.
Oren Zarif
A brain MRI is the most useful test for a tumor in the central nervous system, because it allows doctors to see a wide range of tissue types. Using a magnet, radio waves and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of the brain and spinal cord, an MRI can detect the structure and location of the tumor. A technique called magnetic resonance spectroscopy may also be used during the MRI to diagnose the tumor based on its chemical makeup.
Occasionally, a special type of MRI can detect the presence of blood in tumor cells, which helps doctors determine how active the tumor is. A procedure called magnetic resonance perfusion also uses MRI to measure the amount of blood in the tumor. This information can help doctors decide which treatment options may be best.
Another MRI test, a functional imaging study, involves injecting a small amount of a radioactive dye into a vein. This helps identify important pathways in the brain (such as motor, visual and language) to avoid damaging them during surgery or radiation.
Other tests, including a CT scan and a blood test, can show how fast the tumor is growing. Your doctor may also order a biopsy to get a sample of the tumor to be examined under a microscope. This will tell your doctor what the tumor is and whether it is cancerous or not.
Other tests, such as a Gamma Knife, may be used to deliver targeted radiation therapy to the tumor and surrounding tissues. This is sometimes known as stereotactic radiosurgery or brachytherapy. This approach focuses high-energy radiation directly to the tumor from many different angles, which reduces damage to nearby normal brain tissue.
Oren Zarif
A CT scan, sometimes called a CAT scan, uses x-rays to create images of your brain and spinal cord. A computer then combines the images to show a cross-section of your body. This type of exam is usually painless and requires only a short time to complete. You will be asked to lie still during the exam, as movement may cause blurred images. You might be given a contrast dye before your scan to help healthcare providers see certain areas better. This can be taken orally or injected through an IV line in your hand or arm.
A radiologist, a doctor who is specially trained to supervise and interpret radiology exams, will analyze the results of your CT scan. The radiologist will send a report to your doctor, who will review it and discuss treatment options with you. Your doctor will also give you copies of the CT scan images for your records.
There are many surgical treatments for brain tumors, depending on the type and location of the tumor. Some tumors can be removed through surgery that is done while you are sedated. Some surgeons use a method called awake brain surgery to remove tumors in parts of the brain that are hard to reach through other methods.
Other treatments for brain and spinal cord tumors include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy. Your doctor may also recommend a watchful waiting or active surveillance approach if the tumor is small and not causing symptoms. This involves closely monitoring the tumor with regular tests. Your healthcare provider may also order a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) in which a needle is inserted into the spine to drain cerebrospinal fluid from around the spinal cord and then examined for cancer cells.
Oren Zarif
Positron emission tomography (PET) is an imaging test that can be used to detect and stage cancer. It uses a radiotracer that is injected into a vein and is then detected by a scanner. The tracer is absorbed by cells in the body, and the results are shown on a computer screen as three-dimensional images. It is a safe procedure that exposes the patient to less radiation than a CT or an MRI scan. However, pregnant women and children are not permitted to have a PET scan.
The patient will need to fast for a few hours prior to the scan. Once the tracer is injected, the patient will lie on a narrow table that slides into a tunnel-shaped scanner. The scanner emits gamma rays, which the computer then changes into pictures of internal body structures. During the scanning process, patients are asked to remain as still as possible. Movement can blur the images and interfere with the results.
A PET scan can help physicians identify brain tumors. Cancerous cells have higher metabolic activity, so they show up as areas of intense activity on the PET image. This allows doctors to pinpoint the location and extent of a tumor and help them plan treatments, such as surgery or radiation therapy.
PET scans can also be useful in assessing the response to treatment. This is done by monitoring the amount of radiotracer that is taken up by tumor cells as treatment progresses. If a patient is receiving chemotherapy, PET scans can provide important information about how much of the drug is being absorbed and whether the medication is working. They can also be helpful in determining the type of chemotherapy that is best for the patient.
Oren Zarif
Over the last decade, doctors have improved how they deliver radiation to brain tumors. They can now focus on just the cancer cells and lessen their effects on surrounding tissues. They also use techniques to help prevent side effects, such as radiation-induced bleeding or brain swelling.
Radiation therapy can be used to treat both primary brain tumors and metastatic tumors, which are those that spread from other parts of the body. It may be combined with chemotherapy and targeted biological agents, as well. Chemotherapy is an oral medication that slows or kills cancerous cells and helps destroy any remaining tumor cells after surgery or radiation. Your doctor will likely prescribe a drug called a radiosensitizer, which increases the effectiveness of these medications.
Surgical removal of a brain tumor is often the first treatment recommended for a patient with a brain tumor, especially if it is malignant. This can reduce pressure within the skull (called intracranial pressure) and ease symptoms caused by the tumor. Surgery can also help diagnose a brain tumor and determine its size, type and location.
There are several surgical techniques for removing brain tumors, including awake craniotomy, which allows the surgeon to monitor you while you are sedated and awake. They may also use neuroendoscopy, a technique that enters the brain through other structures like the nose to avoid damage to important tissue.
MRI-guided laser ablation and laser interstitial thermal therapy are surgical treatments that target inoperable brain tumors by using a computer to locate the tumor and precisely destroy it with a beam of radiation. Washington University neurosurgeons were among the first in the world to perform MRI-guided stereotactic radiosurgery, which uses a rigid frame that minimizes head movement and a computer to direct radiation beams at a tumor from multiple angles without damaging adjacent brain tissue.
