How did I know I had a brain tumor?

160

What is a brain tumor?

A brain tumor is a collection of abnormal cells in your brain that forms a mass.

Your brain is protected by a highly tough skull.

Any expansion in such a small location might generate complications.

Brain tumors can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous) (benign).

The pressure inside your skull might rise when benign or malignant tumors get larger.

This can result in brain damage, which can be fatal.

There are two types of brain tumors: primary and secondary.
The genesis of a primary brain tumor is in the brain.
The majority of initial brain tumors are harmless.
A secondary brain tumor, also known as a metastatic brain tumor, develops when cancer cells from another organ travel to your brain.

Types of brain tumors

Primary brain tumors

Brain tumors that start in the brain are called primary brain tumors.

They may grow as a result of your efforts.

• brain cells

• meninges, which are the membranes that surround your brain

• neuronal cells

• glands

Primary tumors can be malignant or benign.

Gliomas and meningiomas are the most prevalent forms of brain tumors in adults.

What are Gliomas?

Gliomas are tumors that form when glial cells multiply. Normally, these cells:

• supply nutrients to your central nervous system

• clear cellular waste

• break down dead neurons

• maintain the construction of your central nervous system

Gliomas are tumors that arise from cells. Glial cells come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The following are examples of cancers that start in glial cells:

• astrocytomas, which are astrocytic tumors that start in the cerebrum

• Oligodendroglial tumors, which are common in the frontal and temporal lobes.

• glioblastomas, which arise from supporting brain tissue and are the most aggressive kind of cancer.

Primary brain tumors of other types

Other primary brain tumors include:
• pituitary tumors, which are usually benign;
• pineal gland tumors, which can be benign or malignant;
• ependymomas, which are usually benign;
• craniopharyngiomas, which are benign but can cause clinical symptoms such as vision changes and premature puberty in children;
• primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphomas, which are malignant.

• meningiomas, which arise from cells that produce the protective cover of your nerves (myelin sheath) called Schwann cells
• schwannomas, which arise from cells that generate the protective cover of your nerves (myelin sheath) called Schwann cells
Meningiomas and schwannomas are most common in persons aged 40 to 70.
Women are more likely than males to have meningiomas.
Schwannomas affect both men and women equally.
Although these tumors are typically benign, their size and placement might create difficulties.
Cancerous meningiomas and schwannomas are uncommon, yet they can be deadly.

Secondary brain tumors 

The majority of brain malignancies are secondary brain tumors.

They begin in one section of the body and move to the brain, a process known as metastasis.

The following cancers have the potential to spread to the brain:

• carcinoma of the lungs

• Breast cancer is a disease that affects women.

• carcinoma of the kidneys

• carcinoma of the skin

Secondary brain tumors are invariably cancerous.

Benign tumors do not spread from one section of the body to another.

What are the elements that put someone at risk for a brain tumor?

History of the family 

Only around 5 to 10% of all malignancies are inherited genetically, or hereditary.
It’s uncommon for a brain tumor to be passed down through the generations.
If you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, talk to your doctor.
Your doctor may be able to refer you to a genetic counselor.

Age 

Most forms of brain tumors grow at risk as people become older.

Race

Caucasians are more likely to get brain tumors in general.

African-Americans, on the other hand, are more prone to have meningiomas.

Exposure to chemicals 

Exposure to certain chemicals, such as those found in the workplace, can raise your chance of developing brain cancer.

A list of probable cancer-causing substances encountered in the workplace is kept by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Trusted Source.

Radiation poisoning 

People who have been exposed to ionizing radiation are at a higher risk of developing brain tumors.

High-radiation cancer therapy can expose you to ionizing radiation.

Nuclear fallout might potentially expose you to radiation.

The Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear power plant disasters show how individuals might be exposed to ionizing radiation.

No history of chickenpox

People who have had chickenpox as a kid had a lower chance of developing brain tumors, according to the American Brain Tumor Association.

Symptoms and signs of a brain tumor

The symptoms of a brain tumor are determined by the tumor’s location and size.

Some tumors cause direct harm to brain tissue by entering it, while others put pressure on the surrounding brain.

When a developing tumor puts pressure on your brain tissue, you’ll experience symptoms.

A typical sign of a brain tumor is headaches.

You may suffer headaches that are as follows:

• are worse in the morning when you wake up; • occur while you sleep; and • are exacerbated by coughing, sneezing, or activity.

You may also encounter:

• vomiting • blurred or double vision

• confusion

• convulsions (especially in adults)

• a change in mental functioning • weakening of a limb or portion of the face

• clumsiness • memory loss • bewilderment are some of the other typical symptoms.

• difficulty writing or reading

• changes in hearing, taste, or smell

• decreased alertness, which may include drowsiness and loss of consciousness

• difficulty swallowing

• dizziness or vertigo

• eye problems, such as drooping eyelids and unequal pupils

• uncontrollable movements

• hand tremors

• loss of balance

• loss of bladder or bowel control

• numbness or tingling on one side of the body

Pituitary tumor symptoms

Pituitary tumors can cause the following symptoms:

• nipple discharge, also known as galactorrhea;

• absence of menstruation in women;

• growth of breast tissue in males, also known as gynecomastia;

• enlargement of the hands and feet.

• sensitivity to heat or cold

• hirsutism (excessive body hair)

• low blood pressure

• obesity

• alterations in eyesight, such as fuzzy vision or tunnel vision

When it comes to brain tumors, how can you know if you have one?

A physical exam and a review of your medical history are used to diagnose a brain tumor.

A thorough neurological evaluation is part of the physical examination.

Your doctor will do a test to determine whether or not your cranial nerves are healthy.

The nerves that originate in your brain are known as cranial nerves.

An ophthalmoscope, which is a device that flashes a light through your pupils and onto your retinas, will be used by your doctor to examine the interior of your eyes.

Your doctor will be able to see how your pupils react to light as a result of this.

It also allows your doctor to see directly into your eyes to check for any optic nerve enlargement.

Changes in the optic nerve can occur as the pressure inside the skull rises.