Brain cancer: symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment

Definition

What is brain cancer?

Brain cancer is defined as a condition when a malignant tumor grows in the brain. These brain tumors grow very quickly and can spread to other tissues in the brain or other central nervous system, such as the spinal cord. However, unlike other types of cancer, this disease can very rarely spread to other parts of the body.

Brain cancer is divided into two main types, namely primary and secondary (metastatic). Primary brain cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the brain itself. Meanwhile, secondary brain cancer is a cancer cell that appears in other parts of the body and spreads to the brain.

In the primary type, most brain cancers start from the glial cells. However, not all tumors that start in these cells are cancerous. One of the malignant brain tumors that starts in the glial cells is glioblastoma, which is a very aggressive type of brain cancer.

While in the secondary type, this disease often occurs due to the spread of several types of cancer, such as breast, lung, kidney, colon, and melanoma of the skin.

Brain cancer is a condition that has no cure. Even if treatment is successful, cancer cells may come back at a later time. However, people with brain cancer can survive for years, depending on the condition of each patient and if treated early.

The life expectancy of brain cancer patients generally reaches five years. However, some of the patients with this disease can survive longer, although the percentage is not large.

Reporting from Cancer Research UK, 20 out of 100 people or about 20% of people with brain cancer can survive up to five years or more. Meanwhile, only 15 out of 100 people or about 15% can survive for 10 years or more.

How common is this disease?

Brain cancer is a disease that can affect patients or sufferers at any age, from children to the elderly. In fact, the Indonesian Cancer Foundation said, this disease is one type of cancer that often occurs in children.

This disease is also most common in men than women, with the possibility of one in 143 people in the world. While the possibility of women getting this disease is one in 185 people. However, there are also certain types of brain tumors that are more likely to occur in women than men.

However, the number of brain cancer cases is still lower than other types of cancer. Based on the 2018 Globocan data from WHO, the total new cases of brain cancer in Indonesia reached 5,233 and was ranked 15th among other types of cancer. Meanwhile, the death rate is in the 13th position with the total number of cases reaching 4,229.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of brain cancer?

The signs and symptoms of this disease can vary from patient to patient, depending on the location of the tumor. However, in general, the symptoms of brain cancer that may occur are:

• Headache.
• Seizures.
• Vision problems.
• Difficulty speaking.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Memory or thinking problems.
• Muscle weakness or numbness in several parts of the body.
• The body is difficult to balance and coordination of body movements is messy.
• With difficulty walking, the arms and legs sometimes also become weak.
• Fatigue for no apparent reason.

Other symptoms may not be listed above. If you have questions about certain symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.

When to see a doctor?

The symptoms above are similar to other, less severe diseases. However, it doesn't hurt to see a doctor if you feel the symptoms above, especially if the symptoms you are experiencing occur continuously and tend to get worse over time.

The signs and symptoms you experience can vary from person to person. Discuss with your doctor about the agreed diagnosis method, treatment, and of course the best treatment for you.

Causes & risk factors

What causes brain cancer?

So far, the cause of brain cancer is still not fully known. However, the researchers found a change in DNA from normal brain cells to tumor cells in people with this disease.

In primary brain cancer, these changes can occur in any brain cell, such as glial cells or other types of cells. While in the secondary type, these DNA changes generally occur in cells in other parts of the body which then spread to the brain, such as the breasts, lungs, colon, kidneys, or skin.

However, the cause of this change from normal cells to brain tumor cells is not fully understood. This condition can run in families or occur by itself at some point in life.

What increases the risk of getting this disease?

Although the cause of this disease is not fully known, experts say there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of developing brain cancer.

Having one or more risk factors does not mean that you will definitely get this disease. Conversely, people with this disease may have unknown risk factors. The following are the risk factors:

• Increasing age
• Male gender
• Radiation exposure
• Genetic disorders
• Weak immune system
• Chemical exposure

Diagnosis & staging

How do you detect or diagnose brain cancer?

To find out brain cancer, the doctor will ask about the symptoms you are experiencing and will perform various methods or tests to determine the cause. Some of the tests or examinations that will generally be carried out are:

• CT scan

This type of examination uses X-rays to produce images of your brain.

• MRI scan

This test is done to produce images of your brain in more detail using a computer and magnetic forces.

• PET scan

This type of test is performed by injecting a number of radioactive solutions to show cancer cells.

• Biopsy

A biopsy is done by taking a sample of tumor tissue in your brain to be examined in a laboratory.

Apart from these tests, other types of examinations may also be needed, depending on the individual patient's condition. Always consult with your doctor about the right type of test.

What is the stage of development of the brain cancer stage?

Through some of the examination tests above, your doctor can find out what stage of brain cancer you have. Knowing the stage of the disease can help doctors determine the right treatment.

In general, the stage of this disease is divided into four levels, namely:

• Stage I: The tumor in the brain is still benign. Tumor cells look almost like normal brain cells and their cell growth tends to be slow.
• Stage II: The tumor grows slowly, but it may spread to the surrounding tissue or come back after receiving treatment.
• Stage III: The tumor grows rapidly and is malignant and can spread to nearby tissue.
• Stage IV: The tumor grows very fast, is malignant, and can easily spread to nearby tissue. Tumor cells also look very different from normal cells.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the treatment options for brain cancer?

Brain cancer treatment aims to remove as many tumors as possible and try to stop their growth in the body from coming back. To achieve this goal, some of the main treatments that are generally recommended by doctors, namely:

• Operation or surgery

The operation is performed by removing malignant tumors that are in the brain, either whole or most of the tumors without affecting brain function.

• Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells, and is generally given after surgery. However, this treatment can also be given to relieve symptoms if the tumor cannot be removed.

• Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy uses radiation to kill cancer cells after surgery or to relieve symptoms.

In addition to the various procedures above, you may need to undergo a variety of other treatments. The type of treatment that will be assigned depends on the type of tumor you have, the stage of the cancer, your age, and your overall health condition. Always consult your doctor about the right type of treatment.

Home care

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat brain cancer?

Some lifestyle changes or home remedies can help you deal with this disease. Here are home remedies for brain cancer that you can practice:

• Apply a healthy lifestyle, such as quitting smoking, eating food for brain cancer sufferers and having a balanced diet, and exercising regularly, as recommended by the doctor.
• Seek support from loved ones, such as family, friends, or even fellow brain cancer sufferers.
• See a doctor as soon as possible if you have new seizures or headaches that were not there before, to prevent complications of the disease.
• You may need help from physiotherapy to help you recover after treatment or adapt to any side effects or changes that may arise from your treatment.
• Using herbal brain cancer drugs, such as boswelia, with the permission of a doctor.

Prevention

How to prevent this disease?

There is no sure way to prevent brain cancer. However, you can reduce the risk of this disease by avoiding various factors that can cause it. Here are the ways you can apply:

• Avoid unnecessary radiation exposure.
• Avoid exposure to chemicals.
• Quit smoking or avoid secondhand smoke.
• Keep certain medical conditions or diseases under control.

In addition to the specific methods above, you also need to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced nutritious diet, exercising regularly, controlling stress, and maintaining an ideal body weight.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for more information and to find a solution that is right for you.