BRAIN TUMOR

General Information

DEFINITION--An abnormal growth in the brain that may be benign or malignant. A non-malignant brain tumor may cause as much disability as a malignant tumor unless it is treated appropriately.

BODY PARTS INVOLVED--Brain; central nervous system.

SEX OR AGE MOST AFFECTED--All ages, but most common in adults between ages 20 and 60.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Headaches that worsen when lying down.
• Vomiting with nausea, or sudden vomiting without nausea.
• Vision disturbances, including double vision.
• Weakness on one side of the body.
• Lack of balance; dizziness.
• Loss of sense of smell.
• Memory loss.
• Personality changes.
• Seizures.

CAUSES--Some tumors begin in the brain (primary tumors), but most brain tumors have spread (metastasized) from other cancers--especially cancer of the breast, lungs, intestines or melanoma of the skin. Symptoms are caused by increasing pressure in the skull as the tumor enlarges.

RISK INCREASES WITH--

The following risk factors are related to cancers in other body parts that spread to the brain:

• Poor nutrition, especially a low-fiber diet (intestinal cancer).
• Smoking (lung cancer).
• Excess alcohol consumption (liver cancer).
• Excess sun exposure (melanoma).
• Previous cancer at any other body site.

HOW TO PREVENT

• Practice breast self-exam, skin self-exam and testicular self-exam (see Appendix for all).
• Don't smoke.
• Eat a high-fiber diet (see Appendix).
• Protect yourself from excessive sun exposure by using sunscreens and protective clothing.

What To Expect

DIAGNOSTIC MEASURES--

• Your own observation of symptoms.
• Medical history and physical exam by a doctor.
• Many different techniques are used to locate the site of a brain tumor: EEG, CT scan, MRI scan (See Glossary for all), x-rays of the skull, bones, lungs and gastrointestinal tract.

APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE

• Surgery to remove the tumor, if possible.
• Radiation therapy may be given.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS--Disability and death if a tumor is inoperable because of size or location.

PROBABLE OUTCOME--

• Brain tumors that are not treated lead to death or permanent brain damage. Bones of the skull restrict a tumor's outward growth, so the brain is compressed as a tumor grows.
• If a tumor is discovered and treated early with surgery or radiation therapy and chemotherapy, full recovery is often possible. For an explanation of this surgery, see Craniotomy (in Surgery section).

How To Treat

GENERAL MEASURES--

• The more you can learn and understand about a disease, the more you will be able to make informed decisions about where to go for your care, the treatments available, the risks involved, side effects of therapy and expected outcome.
• Additional information available from the Association for Brain Tumor Research, 2720 River, Des Plaines, IL 60018, (708)827-9910.

MEDICATION--Your doctor may prescribe:

• Cortisone drugs to diminish swelling of the brain tissue.
• Anticonvulsant drugs to control seizures.
• Pain relievers.
• Anticancer drugs.

ACTIVITY--Will depend on your symptoms.

DIET--No special diet is necessary unless recommended by your doctor.

Call Your Doctor If

• You have symptoms of a brain tumor.
• New, unexplained symptoms develop. Drugs used in treatment may produce side effects.