When we hear the word 'brain tumor', we all get a little scared, don't we? Even hearing that word brings fear to our mind. But most of the time, the reason for this fear is that we don't know exactly what it is. So today, we will talk about what these brain tumors are, their types, symptoms, and treatments in a very simple and understandable way. After reading this article, you will lose your unnecessary fear about this and gain good knowledge.
What is a brain tumor?
Simply put, a brain tumor is an abnormal, uncontrolled growth of cells in or around our brain. Think of it like every cell in our body has a set of instructions (what we call DNA) that tells us how to function. When this set of instructions is damaged for some reason, some cells start to divide uncontrollably, like they "go crazy." This is the group of cells that gather in this way, which we call a 'tumor'.
These nuts can be divided into two main types:
1. Benign Tumors: These are not cancerous conditions. They usually grow very slowly. And they do not spread to other parts of the brain. However, depending on their location and size, they can cause problems by pressing on important parts of the brain.
2. Malignant Tumors: These are what we call Cancer. They grow rapidly and can spread to surrounding tissues and other parts of the brain.
The difference between 'benign' and 'malignant' tumors
It is very important to understand the difference between the two. Let's look at it this way to make it easier to understand.
| Characteristic | Benign tumors | Malignant tumors |
|---|---|---|
| Growth rate | Often grows slowly. | Often grows rapidly. |
| Spread | It does not spread to surrounding tissues or other places. | It can spread to surrounding tissues and other parts of the brain/spinal cord. |
| Borders | Usually has clear boundaries and is easy to remove surgically. | There are irregular borders and may have roots extending into healthy tissue. |
| Recurrence | The likelihood of recurrence after removal is low. | The likelihood of recurrence is high even after removal. |
The important thing is that even a benign tumor can be life-threatening depending on its location and size in the brain. Therefore, it is essential to seek medical attention for every brain tumor.
What are the symptoms of a brain tumor?
The symptoms of a brain tumor vary depending on where in the brain the tumor is located and its size, because different parts of our brain control different functions in the body.
Here are some common symptoms that can be seen:
- Headache: This can be different from a normal headache. It can be especially severe upon waking in the morning, or it can be so painful that it wakes you up at night.
- Seizures: If someone who has never had a seizure before suddenly develops one, it is a sign to be concerned about.
- Changes in personality or behavior: Things like suddenly becoming angry, agitated, or having memory loss.
- Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.
- Loss of balance while walking, dizziness.
- Vision problems: Blurred vision, double vision, etc.
- Hearing problems: Hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
- Difficulty speaking or understanding words.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Numbness in the face.
Very important: Many of these symptoms can also occur in other common illnesses. So don't be afraid to think you have a brain tumor just because you have one or two of these. However, if you have one or more of these symptoms, it's wise to see your doctor and get them checked out without ignoring them.
How to diagnose the disease? (Diagnosis)
If you have the above symptoms, your doctor may examine you and refer you for several tests if they suspect a brain tumor.
- Neurological Exam: Here, the doctor checks things like your balance, hearing, vision, and reflexes.
- MRI and CT Scan: The best way to diagnose a brain tumor is with an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan. This can produce clear images of the brain. Sometimes a CT (Computed Tomography) scan may also be done.
- Biopsy: This is the definitive test that confirms the disease. In this, a very small piece of tissue is taken from the tumor, either surgically or through a small incision, using a needle, and examined under a microscope. This test can tell exactly whether the tumor is 'benign' or 'malignant', and what type it is.
- Spinal Tap: This test is done if there is any doubt that the tumor has spread to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF ).
What are the treatments?
How a brain tumor is treated depends on several factors, including the type and size of the tumor, its location in the brain, the patient's age, and overall health.
Here are some of the main treatment methods:
1. Surgery: Often the first treatment is surgical removal of the tumor. A neurosurgeon will try to remove as much of the tumor as possible without damaging the brain.
2. Radiation Therapy: This treatment is used for tumors that cannot be completely removed by surgery, or to destroy cancer cells that remain after surgery. This involves using high-energy rays (like X-rays) to destroy cancer cells.
3. Chemotherapy: This involves giving drugs that kill cancer cells or stop their growth. These drugs can be given as injections or pills.
4. Other treatments: In addition, today there are many modern treatments such as Immunotherapy (stimulating the body's own immune system to fight cancer).
For some 'benign', very small, asymptomatic tumors, the doctor may decide to 'watch and wait' without any treatment and perform frequent scans.
Take-Home Message
- Not all brain tumors are cancer. There are two types: benign and malignant.
- Don't ignore symptoms like persistent severe headaches, new seizures, or behavioral changes.
- Even if you have symptoms like these, don't panic unnecessarily. It could be due to another simple cause. But definitely see a doctor.
- MRI scans and biopsy tests can accurately diagnose the disease.
- Today, there are many advanced treatment methods such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, so successful results can be achieved by seeking treatment under proper medical advice.
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