Early Signs and Treatment of a Brain Tumor

Brain tumors are abnormal masses or a collection of cells in the brain. The skull, which encloses the brain, is rigid. If any growth takes place inside this area, it can lead to health issues.

Brain tumors can be non-cancerous [benign] and cancerous [malignant]. When the tumor in the brain begins to grow, it increases the pressure inside the skull. It can lead to brain damage, which can be life-threatening.

You can opt for an effective brain tumor treatment once you know about the signs and symptoms of this condition. Do you wish to know what they are? Let’s learn about them from this post.

The Early Signs/Symptoms of Brain Tumors

Experts say that brain tumors can cause both mental and physical symptoms. These symptoms will depend on the location, type, and size of the brain tumor you have. But there are some early signs of this condition, and they are:

  • Severe headaches
  • Changes in personality
  • Seizures
  • Vision Issues
  • Changes in mood

Apart from these signs, there are several others that people with brain tumors may experience:

  • Loss of balance
  • Memory Loss
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Loss of coordination
  • Fatigue
  • Problems with the speech
  • Nausea
  • Difficulty in concentrating
  • Stiffness or tingling at one side of your body
  • Muscle weakness
  • Feel disoriented and confused

Types of Brain Tumors That You Should Know Of

There are several kinds of brain tumors, and each of them has different symptoms/signs. Let’s learn about some of them:

Meningioma

Reports show that about 1/3rd of brain tumors are “meningiomas.” They are non-cancerous and grow slowly.

This tumor starts to grow from the tissue that covers the spinal cord and the brain and then starts to put pressure on these places.

This condition is common in those who are over 60 years of age and is rare in children. The symptoms of this condition are seizures, vision problems, weakness in the leg or arm, headache episodes, and personality changes.

Astrocytoma

It is another brain tumor, which develops from the cells known as “astrocytes.” These cells make up the tissues in the brain. This brain tumor ranges from Grade 1 to Grade 4.

The Grade 1 tumors grow very slowly compared to the Grade 4 ones. Behavior changes, headache episodes, loss of memory, and seizures are some of the symptoms.

Craniopharyngioma

It is a non-cancerous brain tumor that occurs near the pituitary gland. This tumor is more common in children than adults. “Ependymomas” and “Medulloblastomas” are also common in children.

Craniopharyngioma can put pressure on the optic tract and pituitary gland. The pressure will lead to symptoms like obesity, hormone issues, development delays, and vision issues due to swollen optic nerves.

Metastatic Tumor

Also known as secondary brain tumors, metastatic tumors develop in different parts of the human body where the cancer is present. After that, it shifts to the brain through the bloodstream.

These tumors are presented in a similar way to primary brain tumors. Balancing difficulty, weakness on one side of the body, memory loss, seizures, headaches, and changes in behavior or personality are some of its symptoms.

What are the Treatments for Brain Tumors?

The treatment for brain tumors depends on the type, size, and location of the tumor. In this section, you will learn about some of the best brain tumor treatment options.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a popular treatment option for brain tumors. In this treatment, medicines are used to target the tumor cells. You can take the medication orally or get it injected into the vein.

During surgery, chemotherapy medications are placed in the tissues of the brain. This treatment option can use for treating benign brain tumors, and chemotherapy is also conducted during radiation therapy.

The side effects of this treatment will depend on the dosage and type of medication you get. Some of the common side effects are hair loss, vomiting, and nausea.

Targeted Therapy

In this treatment, medicines are used to attack certain chemicals found in the tumor cells. These medicines will help block the chemicals and cause the tumor cells to die.

The medicines provided under the targeted therapy are available for specific kinds of benign brain tumors. The brain tumor cells will get tested by medical experts to check whether or not targeted therapy can help you.

Parting Thoughts

Brain tumors occur in both adults and children. It can be either non-cancerous or cancerous, and there are many types of brain tumors. The best way you can learn whether or not you have a tumor in your brain is by detecting the early symptoms/signs. Once you do, it will become easier for you to get effective treatment.

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