Brain cancer symptoms and diagnosis

Symptoms of a brain cancer tumor can be general or specific. A general symptom is caused by the pressure of the tumor on the brain or spinal cord. Specific symptoms are caused when a specific part of the brain is not working normally because of the tumor. For many people with a brain tumor, they were diagnosed when they went to the doctor after experiencing a problem, such as a headache or other changes.

Brain tumor signs

There are two main types of brain tumors:

Benign Brain Tumors – A benign brain tumor consists of cells that grow slowly and do not spread to other areas of the brain or body. They have distinct boundaries. Surgery alone may cure this type of tumor.
Malignant Brain Tumors – A malignant brain tumor is life-threatening. It may be malignant because it consists of cancer cells, or it may be called malignant because of its location. In other words, a brain tumor composed of benign cells—but located in a vital area—may behave in a malignant fashion. A malignant brain tumor made up of cancerous cells can invade and destroy healthy tissue so these areas cannot function properly.

Brain Cancer Causes

• Primary brain tumors include any tumor that starts in the brain. Primary brain tumors can start from brain cells, the membranes around the brain (meninges), nerves, or glands.
• Tumors can directly destroy brain cells. They can also damage cells by producing inflammation, placing pressure on other parts of the brain, and increasing pressure within the skull.
• The cause of primary brain tumors is unknown. There are many possible risk factors that could play a role.
• Radiation therapy to the brain, used to treat brain cancers, increases the risk for brain tumors up to 20 or 30 years afterwards.
  Exposure to radiation at work or to power lines, as well as head injuries, smoking, and hormone replacement therapy have NOT been proven to be risk factors.
• The risk of using cell phones is hotly debated. However, most recent studies have found that cell phones, cordless phones, and wireless devices are safe and do not increase the risk.
• Some inherited conditions increase the risk of brain tumors, including neurofibromatosis, Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and Turcot syndrome.
• Lymphomas that begin in the brain in people with a weakened immune system are sometimes linked to the Epstein-Barr virus.

Common Symptoms of Brain Cancer

The most common symptoms of brain tumours that people first go to the doctor with are headaches and fits (seizures). But do remember that brain tumours are rare and there are much more common reasons for both these symptoms. So if you have either of these, do go to the doctor as soon as possible. But remember that there is most likely another cause of the symptoms.As the skull is made of bone, there is a fixed amount of space for the brain to take up. The growing tumour increases the pressure inside this fixed space. This is called raised intracranial pressure or raised ICP. The increase in pressure causes the following effects.

The following are the most common symptoms of a brain tumor. However, each patient may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms vary depending on the size and location of the tumor. Any tumor, extra tissue or fluid can cause increased intracranial pressure (pressure on the brain) and result in the following symptoms:

• Headache
• Vomiting (usually in the morning)
• Nausea
• Personality changes
• Irritability
• Drowsiness
• Depression
• Decreased cardiac and respiratory function
• Altered mental status

Brain Cancer Treatments or Diagnosis

Early treatment often improves the chance of a good outcome. How you are treated depends on the size and type of tumor and your general health. The goals of treatment may be to cure the tumor, relieve symptoms, and improve brain function or comfort. Surgery is often needed for most primary brain tumors. Some tumors may be completely removed. Those that are deep inside the brain or that enter brain tissue may be debulked instead of removed. Debulking is a procedure to reduce the tumor’s size. Tumors can be hard to remove completely by surgery alone, because the tumor invades surrounding brain tissue much like roots from a plant spread through soil. When the tumor cannot be removed, surgery may still help reduce pressure and relieve symptoms.

 

Brittany Maynard Dead – Suffering Brain Cancer

Brittany Maynard Dead

Twenty-nine year-old Brittany Maynard’s public story of bravely enduring brain cancer touched the hearts of millions of Americans. She died peacefully on Saturday, Nov. 1 in her Portland home, surrounded by family and friends.

Brittany suffered increasingly frequent and longer seizures, severe head and neck pain, and stroke-like symptoms. As symptoms grew more severe she chose to abbreviate the dying process by taking the aid-in-dying medication she had received months ago. This choice is authorized under the Oregon Death With Dignity Act. She died as she intended – peacefully in her bedroom, in the arms of her loved ones.

Brittany’s family requests that the media respect their wish to mourn her loss privately. They have released an official obituary, cut and pasted below and available atwww.TheBrittanyFund.org.

“Brittany has died, but her love of life and nature, her passion and spirit endure,” said Compassion & Choices President Barbara Coombs Lee. “In Brittany’s memory, do what matters most. And tell those you love how much they matter to you. We will work to carry on her legacy of bringing end-of-life choice to all Americans.”

Source: http://fox2now.com/2014/11/02/terminally-ill-brittany-maynard-ends-her-life-according-to-report/

 

Canadian Cancer Treatment Options and New Trend

Cancer incidence and treatment-related costs are rising in Canada. The cancer medical centers use and costs in the first year after diagnosis for patients with 7 common types of cancer in Ontario to examine temporal trends in patterns of care and costs. Methods We selected patients aged 19–44 years who had received a diagnosis of melanoma, breast cancer (female only), testicular cancer or thyroid cancer, in addition to patients aged 45 years and older who had received a diagnosis of breast (female only), prostate, lung or colorectal cancer, between 1997 and 2007. Patients were identified from the Ontario Cancer Registry. Using linked administrative databases, centers determined use and costs of chemotherapy, cancer radiotherapy, cancer-related surgery, other admissions to hospital and home care.

New reports about Canadian cancer treatment

A new report says Canadian cancer patients need to have fair and equal access to the newest forms of “targeted therapy” when it comes to cancer drugs and testing, so that patients across the county can get the best care and treatment. In its annual Report Card on Cancer in Canada, the Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada highlights that there have been great strides in developing better, more efficient and cost-effective cancer treatments in recent years. Cost of cancer treatment depends on conditions.

Canadian cancer treatments

Cure For Cancer Found In Canada

This is one of the most ground breaking things imaginable with a certain impact if it came to fruition. The cure for cancer.One of the most feared things a doctor could tell you, is that you have cancer. For most this means you completely tune out every other word the doctor says and your mind goes racing into another dimension. You probably think about your life, the things you have and have not done. The road ahead of you to attempt to combat this horrible disease. Maybe even the costs and potential debt you or your family may accrue from the dreaded C word.

Canadians worried about cancer treatment costs

A new poll says 85% of Canadians feel if they were diagnosed with cancer, the cost of drugs would have a negative impact on their personal finances.Andrew Goodridge, a Fredericton, N.B., resident with colorectal cancer, said he would’ve gone bankrupt without the support of his family and friends.Many new cancer drugs need to be taken at home and aren’t covered by the publicly funded health system.According to the Canadian Cancer Society, about three-quarters of the take-home drugs cost over $20,000 for a single course of treatment, and the average cost for a newer drug is $65,000.

Treatment for Breast Cancer in Canada

There are several ways to treat breast cancer, depending on the type and stage of the cancer as well as other factors. Usually, two or more methods are used in combination. Local treatment methods take effect only in the area of the body where they are applied. Surgery and radiation therapy are examples of local treatments. Systemic treatment methods take effect in the entire body. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy and HER-2 therapy are systemic treatments.

Kidney cancer treatment

For the first time, a consensus meeting of Canadian experts in kidney cancer was held in January, 2008 in Mont Tremblant Québec. A report was developed outlining guidelines in the treatment of kidney cancer. Kidney cancer experts met again in 2009, 2011 and 2013 and updated these guidelines.

Canadian Cancer hospitals, clinics and centres

Ottawa Integrative Cancer Clinic and Centre

The clinic and staff members are the first integrative cancer care and research centre in central and eastern Canada, established to improve quality of life for those touched by cancer. Through clinical practice, research and education, we strive to assess and reduce possible causes of cancer while exploring innovative integrative treatments. Many people living with cancer seek complementary support alongside their conventional treatments. Why? Complementary therapies can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life by decreasing toxicity and side effects, strengthening the immune system, and supporting the body’s healing ability. We work with our patients and where possible collaborate with their oncologists, surgeons, and family doctors to develop therapeutic programs that help sustain wellness during and after treatment.

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Producing advances in the scientific understanding of cancer in order to deliver more effective therapies and practices requires enormous investment, ingenuity and expertise. Being referred to (cited) frequently by subsequent research papers is a means to communicate these advances. It is also an important indicator of research influence and impact.