A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor defined as an abnormal growth of cells

within the brain. Brain tumors can happen anywhere in the brain. As the cells mutate and the tumor
grows, it can then damage other parts of the brain. Today Pathophysiology, signs and symptoms,
diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention will all be addressed about Brain Tumors.
The presence of a tumor causes a combination of symptoms and the lack of corresponding.
Brain tumors have similar characteristics and obstacles when it comes to diagnosis and therapy with
tumors located elsewhere in the body.
The diagnosis starts with a doctor asking questions of the patient to get a clear view of his
current symptoms. There are many Examinations; examinations include the eyes, ENT and/or
electrophysiological exams. The use of EEG often plays a role in the diagnosis of brain tumors.
Swelling or obstruction of the passage of the CSF from the brain may cause early signs of
increased inner cranial pressure which can cause headaches, vomiting or an altered state of consciences,
and in children changes to the diameter of their head and bulging of the skull. Other signs and possible
effects of a brain tumor being present, is difficulty in seeing and processing information. Also a seizure
that takes place upon a person that does not have epilepsy is a very likely sign of a brain tumor.
Imaging plays a central role in the diagnosis of brain tumors. Types of imaging test are CT scans
and especially MRI's. Tumors will often show as differently colored masses in CT or MRI results. Benign
(Non-Cancerous Tumor) brain tumors often show up as darker than brain and vice versus with a
malignant tumor (Cancerous Tumor).
The only way to be exactly positive on the diagnosis of a brain tumor is through brain biopsy or
open surgery. Proper examination is essential for the right treatment. This examination, performed by a
pathologist, typically has two stages: Inoperable (A lady in my ward (Sherri Dusenberry) has been
diagnosed with and inoperable tumor). And the other stages being that of operable.
When a brain tumor is diagnosed, a medical team will be formed to assess the treatment
options presented by the leading surgeon to the patient and his/her family. Neurosurgeons take the
time to observe the change of the tumor before proposing a plan to the patient and his/her relatives.
These various types of treatment are available depending on tumor type and location and may be
combined to give the best chances of survival, surgery complete or partial removal of the tumor with
the goal to remove as many tumor cells as possible. Radiotherapy the most commonly used treatment
for brain tumors; the tumor is destroyed with beta, x rays or gamma rays.
Chemotherapy is a treatment option for cancer, however it is seldom used to treat brain tumors
as the blood and brain barrier prevents the drugs from reaching the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy can
be thought of as a poison that prevents the growth and division of all cells in the body including
cancerous cells. There are also experimentations that can be done on a patient.
Survival rates in primary brain tumors depend on the type of tumor, age; functional status of the
prognosis of brain cancer varies based on the type of cancer. Prevention wise there is really no
prevention. However the movie Forks over Knives say a vegan diet can reverse cancer and also stop it.
That movie also claims a vegan diet can cure diabetes.
Some other interesting facts about Brain Tumors are The World Health Organization (WHO) lists
120 different types of brain tumors, making effective treatment very complicated. Although the cause of
brain tumors is unknown, each year approximately 190,000 people in the United States and 10,000
people in Canada will be diagnosed with a brain tumor. In the United States, the overall incidence of all
primary brain tumors is more than 14 per 100,000 people.
Brain tumors are the number two cause of death in men age 45 and younger. Only 31 percent of
males and 30 percent of females survive five years following the diagnosis of a primary or malignant
brain tumor. Childhood brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer death in people age 20 and
younger. Although as many as 69 percent of children with brain tumors will survive, they are often left
with long-term side effects.
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Ben Carson Neurosurgeon
Mayoclinic
National Cancer institute
Dr. Angela Mark of NorthShore University HealthSystem