Brain Tumor: Types, Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatment

A brain tumor is a growth of abnormal cells in the brain or nearby locations, including the nerve, pituitary gland, the pineal gland, and the membranes that cover the brain surface. It can be benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous), affecting both adults and children. All brain tumors can impact brain function and increase the pressure inside the skull, whether they are cancerous or not. Some tumors grow quickly while others grow slowly.

Brain tumors are categorized as:

• Primary: These tumors originate in the brain and are generally benign.
• Secondary: When the cancer spreads to the brain from other parts of the body, such as the lung or the breast. It is also known as a metastatic brain tumor.

Types of Brain Tumors

• Gliomas: These are the tumors arising from glial cells. Types of gliomas and related brain tumors include astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, glioblastoma, and ependymoma. They can be benign, but most are malignant.

• Meningiomas: These tumors start in the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Meningiomas are usually benign and the most common type of benign brain tumors.

• Pituitary Tumors: These tumors affect the pituitary gland and are generally benign. Craniopharyngioma is a type of brain tumor that occurs near the pituitary gland.

• Pineal Tumors: These tumors start in and around the brain’s pineal gland. It can be benign or malignant. Pineoblastoma is a malignant type of pineal tumor that is common in children.

• Choroid Plexus Tumors: It starts in the cells that make the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, known as cerebrospinal fluid. It can be benign or malignant and is more common in children.
• Other Brain Tumors: Several other brain tumors occur in and around the brain. Tumors can start in muscles, blood vessels, bones of the skull, and connective tissue around the brain. These are called primary central nervous system lymphomas.

What are the Common Symptoms of a Brain Tumor?

Symptoms of the brain tumor depend on the size, location, and type of tumor. Some tumors cause direct damage, and some cause pressure on the surrounding tissue. Symptoms also depend on how fast the tumor is growing. 

Common symptoms include:

• Persistent headaches that are worse in the morning or when lying down
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Blurred vision or double vision
• Trouble with balance
• Weakness in an arm or a leg
• Memory and speech problems
• Personality changes
• Confusion
• Difficulty in writing or reading

Non-cancerous brain tumors tend to cause symptoms that grow slowly, and you might not notice them at first. The symptoms might get worse over months or years. 

Cancerous brain tumors’ symptoms occur suddenly and get worse in a matter of days or weeks.

What Causes a Brain Tumor?

The exact causes of brain tumors are not clear, but several factors contribute to their development:

• Genetic factors
• Radiation exposure
• Immune system disorders
• Age and gender
• Diet and lifestyle
• Metastatis
• Obesity

It is essential to take proactive measures and maintain a healthy lifestyle to help reduce the risk of developing brain tumors.  

Risk Factors

The cause of primary brain tumors is not clear, but some factors that may raise the risks are:

• Age: Brain tumors start at any age, but happen most often in older people. The risk of brain tumors increases between 85 and 89 years of age. Some brain tumors only affect adults, while some only affect children.

• Family History: The risk of getting brain tumors will be higher in people with a family history of brain tumors. People with tuberous sclerosis, Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, Turner syndrome, Gorlin syndrome, and Turcot syndrome have an increased risk of getting brain tumors.

• Race: Some types of brain tumors are more common in certain races. For instance, gliomas are more common in white people, while meningiomas are more common in black people. 
• Exposure to Radiation: Exposure to ionising radiation can cause DNA changes in the body’s cells and lead to tumors and cancers. 

What are the Tests to be Done to Diagnose a Brain Tumor?

Several tests are done to diagnose a brain tumor, including:

• MRI: It is the best imaging test to identify brain tumors, in which a special dye is used to check the tumor’s size and exact position in specific detail.

• CT Scan: If the patient is unable to undergo an MRI, a CT scan could be a good alternative. It gives a more detailed scan of the body than the X-ray machine and can be done with or without contrast. It helps doctors to see blood vessels more clearly.

• Biopsy: A biopsy of a tumor is needed to identify if the tumor is cancerous or not. It will also help to determine whether the cancer originated in the brain or other parts of the body.
• Skull X-rays: Sometimes, brain tumors can cause breaks or fractures in the skull bone, and specific X-rays can show if these have occurred. 

Treatment For Brain Tumors

Treatments for brain tumors depend on several factors, such as type, size, location of the tumor, patient’s age, and overall health. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy.

• Surgery: It is the first line of treatment for both benign and malignant tumors. The goal of surgery is to remove as much of the cancer as possible without causing damage to the surrounding tissue. In many cases, minimally invasive techniques are used to reduce recovery time and improve outcomes. Surgery can also be combined with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

• Radiation Therapy: In this therapy, high doses of X-rays are used to kill or shrink the tumor cells. It is often used when the surgery isn’t possible or after the surgery to eliminate cancer cells. 

• Radiosurgery: It is a type of radiation therapy that uses focused beams of radiation (gamma rays or proton beams) to target tumor without damaging the surrounding tissues.

• Chemotherapy: In this therapy, anticancer drugs are used to destroy cancer cells in your brain or throughout the body. It can be taken orally or injected. Chemotherapy may be recommended after surgery to kill any cancer cells left behind. 
• Targeted Therapy: In this therapy, drugs specifically target features in cancer cells without harming the healthy cells. It has fewer side effects than chemotherapy. 

Physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy can also help the patient recover after neurosurgery. 

Can Brain Tumors be Prevented?

Unfortunately, you can not prevent a brain tumor, but with lifestyle management and awareness, you can reduce the risk of developing it. 

Below, we have mentioned some possible strategies to reduce the risk:

• Regular exercise
• Avoid excessive radiation exposure
• Avoid smoking
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle
• Weight management
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Know your family history
• Regular health checkups

It is vital to stay informed and live a healthy life to support your overall brain and body health.

Takeaway

If you are diagnosed with a brain tumor, it is essential to see your healthcare team regularly to receive treatment and monitor your symptoms. Seeking timely treatment can prevent complications that occur when a brain tumor grows and puts pressure on the skull. 

India has become a leader in providing high-quality care for brain tumor treatment. Several best neurology hospitals in India offer affordable services without compromising the quality. Advances in medical technology have improved the outcomes, especially when the tumors are detected early. With the right treatment plan, affordable brain tumor surgery cost in India, and expert medical care, many patients can manage brain tumors.