Brain Cancer: Varieties, Symptoms, Remedies, and Additional Insights
Brain tumors, uncontrolled growth of brain cells, can cause various symptoms such as headaches, nausea, back pain, weakness in the arms and legs, and changes in personality [1]. These symptoms can be indicative of different types of brain tumors, including ependymomas, astrocytomas, and glioblastoma multiforme [1].
Ependymomas originate from cells lining the cavities in the brain and are most common in white and non-Hispanic individuals, occurring more often in men than women [1]. Symptoms of ependymomas may include headaches, nausea, and back pain [1].
Brainstem gliomas, such as DIPG, are a fast-growing form of brainstem tumor that is difficult to treat [1]. Symptoms of brainstem gliomas include headaches after lying down or upon waking up, loss of balance, dropping things more than usual, facial weakness, and double vision [1].
Astrocytomas are a type of glioma that usually occur in the cerebrum and are graded from 1 to 4, with grade 4 being the most aggressive (glioblastoma multiforme) [1]. Symptoms of astrocytomas could include headaches, seizures, limb weakness, vision problems, and problems with speech [1].
Glioblastoma multiforme, a grade 4 astrocytoma, is an aggressive, fast-growing form of cancer, most common in men between 50 and 70 years of age [1]. Medulloblastomas, on the other hand, usually form in the cerebellum and are more common in children than adults [1].
Treatment for brain cancer is multidisciplinary, combining surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and novel therapies depending on the tumor type, location, size, and patient factors [1][3][4][5]. Surgery is often the first step, aiming to remove as much of the tumor as possible while preserving brain function [1][2][3]. Radiation therapy uses focused high-energy beams to kill or slow tumor growth and is frequently used after surgery or when surgery is not feasible [1][2][5].
Chemotherapy employs drugs to kill cancer cells or inhibit their growth, but its effectiveness in brain tumors is limited by the blood-brain barrier [3][5]. Targeted therapy focuses on specific genetic or molecular changes in tumor cells to inhibit growth with fewer side effects on normal cells [3][5]. Immunotherapy works by stimulating the immune system to attack cancer cells and is considered an emerging treatment [3][4].
Other treatment options include tumor treating fields (TTFields) for glioblastoma, which use electrical fields to disrupt cancer cell division [3]. For recurrent tumors, treatment is personalized based on tumor characteristics and patient condition, involving combinations of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted drugs, or clinical trials [3].
Early detection improves the prognosis for all cancers, and several organizations provide support to people living with brain cancer, including financial assistance, social and emotional support, information on programs that help people get access to medication, and help with bills, fuel, and transportation costs [1].
It is important to note that this study involved a moderate sample size of individuals diagnosed with gliomas, but it is unclear if the study was representative of multiple demographic factors, so more research is needed in this area [1]. Not all brain tumors are cancerous; for example, chordomas are a type of benign brain tumor that grows very slowly [1].
References: [1] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Brain tumors. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-tumors/symptoms-causes/syc-20354873 [2] American Brain Tumor Association. (2021). Brain Tumor Basics: Types of Brain Tumors. https://www.abta.org/resource/brain-tumor-basics-types-of-brain-tumors [3] National Cancer Institute. (2021). Brain Cancer Treatment (PDQ®). https://www.cancer.gov/types/brain/hp/brain-treatment-pdq [4] American Society of Clinical Oncology. (2021). Brain Tumors: Chemotherapy. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/brain-tumors/treatment/chemotherapy [5] American Brain Tumor Association. (2021). Brain Tumor Basics: Treatment. https://www.abta.org/resource/brain-tumor-basics-treatment
- In addition to brain tumors, symptoms such as headaches, pains, and nausea can indicate various medical-conditions, possibly including neurological disorders or mental-health issues.
- Pfizer may be developing treatments for specific types of headaches, but its role in managing or curing cancers like brain tumors is unrelated.
- Children can also suffer from headaches and pains due to different medical-conditions, such as blocked or inflamed nasal passages, or even problems related to their mental-health or healing process.
- Headaches and pains are common symptoms that brain tumors, including ependymomas, astrocytomas, and glioblastoma multiforme, can produce as they grow and affect neurological functioning.
- Headaches and pains are not exclusive to brain tumors; they might also be indicative of benign medical-conditions like chordomas, which grow slowly in the brain.
- On the bright side, health-and-wellness, as well as organizations supporting patients with brain tumors, provide various resources and support systems for individuals battling these conditions, helping them manage symptoms like headaches and pains.
