Brain cancer happens when abnormal cells grow and form masses, or tumors in the brain. Sometimes, this is called “neurological cancer”, which may also include the spinal cord or both the spine and the brain.
While tumors in the brain can cause cancer, it’s important to understand that not all tumors are cancerous. Brain tumors that cause cancer are called malignant, while brain tumors that do not cause cancer are called benign.
Brain cancer and neurological cancer have many different signs and symptoms that affect other parts of the body, depending on where the tumor is located. For example, a tumor near the part of the brain that affects speech can make speaking difficult while tumor near the optical nerve may cause blindness or blurry vision. Here are some signs and symptoms of brain tumors:
To find out whether you have a brain tumor, your doctor will have to perform tests that allow him or her to assess your nervous system. He or she will also need to order some sort of scan to get a better idea of where the tumor might be. So, you might have to get an MRI, CT scan, or biopsy.
People with brain cancer may have several different treatment options depending on the nature of their condition. These include:
