What is Brain Cancer?

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 become cancerous, it’s important to understand that not all tumors are cancerous. Brain tumors that are cancerous are called malignant, while brain tumors that are not cancerous are called benign.

What are the Symptoms of Brain Cancer?

Brain and neurological cancers have many different signs and symptoms. These may 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 a tumor near the optical nerve may cause blindness or blurry vision. Here are some signs and symptoms of brain tumors:

Altered sight, hearing, and ability to talk
Bruising
Changes in personality or mood
Confusion and disorientation
Cushing’s syndrome, a hormonal condition caused by too much stress hormone (cortisol)
Diabetes
Feeling tired with no good explanation
Headaches (that may change based on your head position and the time of day)
Memory loss
Menstrual cycle changes
Muscle weakness
Nausea or vomiting
Numbness
Seizures
Speaking difficulties
Trouble with balance or walking

Testing and Screening Options

To determine your medical condition, your doctor will have to perform tests that allow him or her to assess your nervous system. He or she will most likely order some sort of scan to learn more about your tumor such as its location and size. Common tests include MRI, CT scan, and biopsy.

Treatment

For those diagnosed with brain cancer, there are several different treatment options. Your treatment will depend on the nature of your condition and may include:

Surgery, neurosurgery, and craniotomy
Surgical techniques that don’t require major cutting, such as endoscopy
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Intraoperative radiation therapy (IROT)