The human control center, ‘the brain.’ Any form of growth in this organ is scary. However, have you ever known that there are several types of brain tumors, some of which are non-cancerous? This blog finds deeper explanation regarding brain tumors, elaborating on all the types that give way to the development of their composition, separating the healthy growths from the damaged cancerous ones in an easy-to-understand manner.
What is a brain tumor?
Before I address the question, let us start with some elementary knowledge. Brain tumor refers to cancer that starts in the head or on the outer layer of your brain. Such brain growths can develop in varying locations inside the head, and they can also be of different sizes and shapes.
Imagine your brain as a busy city. Now picture a new building popping up where it shouldn’t be. This building might block traffic (in this case, the normal flow of signals in your brain) or push against other important structures. That’s kind of what a brain tumor does.
The Big Question: Cancerous or Not?
Now, let’s come back to the point: Is every onset within the brain necessarily a malignant one? The simplistic is that, no, not all brain tumors are benign: they can be malignant too, meaning that they are cancerous. Let’s explain this in more detail:
Benign Brain Tumors: The Non-Cancerous Kind
Although benign brain tumors don’t behave like cancer, they are still undesirable in any form. People have problems because of them. Here’s what you need to understand about them:
- We measure their progression in years: Most non-cancerous tumors are slow to develop. They are not fast, and are most of the time ignored as far as treatment is concerned.
- They are not unclear: Their usual pattern is that of a sharp demarcation, which helps the physician to distinguish where the tumor ends and where the normal brain tissue starts.
- They are local: Non-neoplastic tumors, unlike their neoplastic relatives, do not metastatize to other areas of the brain or to other parts of the body.
- They can still be harmful: Benign tumors do not pose a threat like cancer does but still they have their own problems. For instance, they may disturb vital areas of the brain, causing headaches, seizures or even loss of vision.
- Resection is not permanence: In some cases, after treatment, benign tumors could eventually come back. But it has no probability.
Malignant Brain Tumors
Malignant brain tumors are the real threat. These tumors are commonly referred to as brain cancer. Here’s why they differ so significantly:
- They tend to have more aggressive growth rates: Malignant tumors commonly tend to grow at a faster rate than a benign one. They are in a rush, which can render them more threatening.
- They grow invasive: Benign tumors usually have well-defined borders. In contrast, malignant tumors tend to have poorly defined borders. This poses a risk of leaving some tumor cells behind when excising the tumor.
- They can metastasize when necessary: Tumors classified as malignant invade the surrounding structures and tissues with the capability of even spreading to distant regions in the brain and/or spinal cord.
- They act in a less benign way: Such neoplasms appear to destroy healthy brain neurons and exhibit much greater tissue damage than benign types of tumors.
- Treatment is more complex and demanding: The negative nature of malignant neoplasms, which makes them more aggressive, also means that a more complicated therapy is expected, such as concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy with surgery.
The Zone of Indeterminacy: Grading Brain Tumors
Now things start to become expansive. Doctors do not simply appraise brain tumors as malignant and benign. There are grades I-IV. To this end, classification gives the doctors an insight into the tumor’s possible behavior and the treatment approach to adopt.
Grade I: These lesions are the least aggressive. They tend to be slow-growing lesions that are unlikely to metastasize. Most of the non-cancerous tumors are within this bracket.
Grade II: These tumors grow a little bit faster than the Grade I tumors. They may recur after treatment, sometimes as a higher grade.
Grade III: We are now stepping into more perilous territory. Grade III tumors are more aggressive and capable of invading the brain tissues that surround them.
Grade IV: These growth forms are considered the most hostile. They are characterized by rapid growth and metastasis, making treatment extremely difficult. One of the most common glioblastomas is an aggressive grade IV brain tumor.
It is also worthwhile mentioning that some of the “benign” tumors may, in fact, be in grade II or III. Because of that, doctors seem not to prefer the use of the term ‘benign’ when they are discussing about Brain tumor, but prefer to be associated with ‘Non-malignant’.
Brain Tumors: Patterns of How They Develop
Meningioma is the common tumor affecting the human brain or the central nervous system. It occurs in the meninges- these are the three layers of tissues that surround the brain and the spinal cord. Meningiomas are also very common and most of them are slow growing and are actually not malignant. Glioma begins in cells called glial cells that help in supplying and safeguarding neurons. Gliomas tumours maybe either slow growing and less invasive known as low-grade gliomas or fast growing and more invasive termed as high- grade gliomas. Some of them can be ignored, while many progress to malignancy.
Acoustic Neuroma is a non cancerous tumor that arises in the hearing nerve found in the skull. Consequently, it leads to hearing loss, imbalance and other related complications. Pituitary Adenoma develops in the pituitary gland which is a small area located at the base of the brain. Many of these are harmless, however, they become a source of disease when they compress other structures or influence hormonal balance. Medulloblastoma is a brain cancer that affects the young population of people, most especially children. The first clinical sign appears in the lower zone of the occipital region of the brain and can then advance to more zones of the brain and spinal cord.
Symptoms: When Should You Worry?
Signs can indicate whether a brain tumor is malignant. These signs occur because the tumor occupies space in the cranial cavity and exerts pressure on specific regions of the brain. Here are some commonly seen symptoms:
- Headaches that get worse over time
- Seizures
- Changes in vision, hearing, or other senses
- Problems with balance or coordination
- Confusion or changes in personality
- Nausea and vomiting
Seek medical assistance in case of these symptoms, more so if they last for a longer period or become severe. It is also crucial to note that multiple other illnesses may lead to the same symptoms; hence, there is no need to stress yourself. However, caution is the mother of all inventions.
The Diagnosis and Treatment Purpose: What Normally Happens
When a physician suspects a patient to be suffering from a brain tumor, one will most probably commence with a neurological assessment. Such an assessment usually comprises a few standard tests: those of the individual’s visual capability, hearing capacity, coordination, and reflexes, among others. Moreover, one may order CT scans or MRIs to obtain clearer images of the brain.
Nevertheless, a procedure known as a biopsy typically follows the identification of a mass. It consists of obtaining a small piece of tumor tissue for microscopic evaluation.
The choice of mode of treatment is influenced by many factors. Most frequently, the treatments are:
- Surgical treatment: Whenever it is feasible, the doctors will do their best to excise more of the tumor without violating safety limits.
- Radiology intervention: This is where the high-energy beams are directed towards the tumor to destroy the tumor cells.
- Drugs to treat cancer: These are agents that work systemically to destroy malignant cells within the organism.
- Rasayana therapy: This is a rather integrative treatment approach that is used in order to treat cancer in mostly natural way.
- Observation: In the case of some non-cancerous growths developing slowly, the physician may observe them for a while.
Be Positive:
Receiving a tumor diagnosis can be frightening. It scares when you are not clear if the tumor is cancerous. However, many individuals continue to lead happy lives despite receiving a tumor diagnosis.
If you or someone dear to you has a diagnosis of a brain tumor, remember the below:
- Every case is different: Your experience with a tumor might be totally different from that of another patient.
- Support is important: Expect family, friends, and support groups or associations to be there for you. You do not have to carry this burden all by yourself.
- Take control: Know the specifics of the type of tumor you have, although there are risks of misinformation on the internet. Check with your physician about whatever information you come across.
- Encourage a general well-being : Eating, physical activity (as much as feasible), and stress management can all contribute to an improved feeling during the treatment phase.
- Do not lose hope: Keep in mind that not every kind of brain tumor is a death sentence, and even those that are more grave do have an improving treatment.
Conclusion: Knowledge is Power
So, to return to our initial query: It is therefore not true that all brain tumors are cancerous. However, malignant or benign, all brain tumors require medical attention.
Incorrect news about brain tumors for many people comes from the media; however, learning the basics does help in overcoming the fear and gives you the power to seek the answers if such a diagnosis is given to you or a relative of yours. Remember that with every day, medical science improves and gives hope and better treatment to every person suffering from any of the many brain tumors.
If you suspect a health issue, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention. Visit a doctor. Your brain is your precious cargo, and you should never take any risk in relation to your health.
References:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-tumor/multimedia/vid-20535203
- https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/brain-cancer/types
- https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/brain-and-spinal-cord-tumors
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/brain-tumor/brain-tumor-types
- https://braintumor.org/brain-tumors/about-brain-tumors/brain-tumor-facts/