Brain Tumor: Symptoms, Causes, and Types
A brain tumour is an abnormal growth in the brain. Some are non-cancerous (benign), while others can be cancerous (malignant). Regardless of type, brain tumours need attention because they can affect how your brain works. While that might sound quite alarming, knowing the symptoms and the treatment might make quite a difference.
Types of Brain Tumours
There are basically two major types of brain tumours:
- Primary brain tumours: These begin in the brain itself. They may be benign or malignant. A common benign type is a meningioma, while gliomas are a common cancerous one.
- Secondary brain tumours: These are cancerous and happen when cancer from another part of the body (like the lungs or breasts) spreads to the brain.
Symptoms of a Brain Tumour
The symptoms of a brain tumour can vary a lot, depending on where it is and how fast it’s growing. Here are some common signs:
- Headaches: These are different from your regular headaches. They may be stronger in the morning or after waking up.
- Seizures: If you’ve never had seizures before and suddenly start experiencing them, it could be a sign.
- Trouble with memory or confusion: You may find it hard to think clearly or remember things.
- Vision problems: Blurred or double vision can happen if a tumour presses on the optic nerves.
- Weakness or loss of balance: Difficulty walking or maintaining balance can also be a sign.
- If these symptoms appear in you or someone else, medical confirmation from a doctor will be needed.
What Causes Brain Tumours?
Most of the time, it is not clear why a brain tumour has developed. However, some factors can increase the risk. These include:
- Cancers that have spread from other parts of the body
- Genetic disorders that predispose an individual to the overproduction of specific cells.
- Exposure to some forms of radiation
How Are Brain Tumours Diagnosed?
Accurate diagnosis is extremely important to treat brain tumours effectively. The diagnosis generally involves:
- Neurological examination: The physician examines the patient's coordination, muscle strength, reflexes, and vision to find out if there is any abnormality.
- Imaging tests:
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): This is considered the most common test used to view a brain tumour and outline the brain in detail.
- CT scan (Computed Tomography): This is useful in quick imaging, particularly in emergency situations.
- Biopsy: If the imaging tests indicate a tumour, a tiny sample of tissue is obtained to examine for cancer.
Other tests that can provide more details about the tumour include blood tests, lumbar punctures, and molecular testing.
