Brain cancer is a tumor that forms within the brain or spinal cord. It can be malignant or benign. Common symptoms include headaches, seizures, and visual changes. While the causes are unclear, risk factors include aging, genetics, medical radiation, and certain medical conditions. Diagnosis involves scans such as CT, MRI, PET and biopsies. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and observation. The standard treatments aim to remove the tumor and slow its growth.
2. General Idea
Brain cancer is a tumour or tumours within the brain
which consist of a group of strange and not normal
cells.
This tumour can be either malignant or benign.
Malignant
Tumour
Benign
Tumour
3. General Idea
They can also be primary or secondary,
Primary Tumour
-Came from cells in the
brain.
-Remain in the brain or the
spinal cord.
Secondary Tumour
-Came from cells elsewhere
in the body.
These brain tumours can either be found within or
around the brain.
4. General Idea
The common tumour types within the brain include,
Astrocytoma,
Grade 1: Pilocytic Astrocytoma
Grade 2: Astrocytoma (Astroblastoma)
Grade 3: Anaplastic Astrocytoma
Grade 4: Glioblastoma Multiforme
5. General Idea
One who has brain cancer will face symptoms such
as,
Headaches-
Seizures-
Visual Changes-
8. Causes
While it is not certain what causes this cancer, there
are many theories as to why it occurs.
Aging
Age:
As we get older, the risk of brain cancer tends to
increase but new diagnoses have shown that they
are more common in young adults.
Medical Radiation:
Frequent uses of radiotherapy, CT scans or X-rays to
the head influence the chances of gaining cancer
Radiotherapy
9. Causes
Other cancers:
Anyone who has other cancers in the past may have
an increase chance in the future to have brain
cancer.
Genetics:
People with rare syndromes such as
Lung Cancer
Neurofibromatosis type 1 and 2 or Tuberous
sclerosis increase their risk of obtaining this type of
cancer.
Gorlin Syndrome
(Another syndrome that
increases risk)
10. Causes
Medical conditions and medicines:
A person with HIV or Aids doubles the risk of gaining
brain cancer in their life. Also, women who take
hormone replacement therapy (HRT) slightly
increase the gaining of it as well.
HIV
The size of your body:
HRT
Those overweight have a slightly increase chance of
having brain cancer than those thin and slim.
Overweight
11. Causes
Mobile Phones:
While there is still not enough evidence to suffice a
connection, they do emit radio waves that may be
the reason what causes brain cancer.
Smoking and Alcohol:
Cell phones
Though still unclear, studies have shown increase
risks of gaining it.
Smoking &
Alcohol
12. Prevention
Unfortunately, as of now, there is still no way to
prevent brain cancer.
However, there are some ways to assist in
preventing it from becoming a serious threat in your
life.
13. Prevention
While still unconfirmed, there are theories that other
methods may prevent brain cancer.
Macrobiotic Diets:
Consisting of grains supplemented with other food
like vegetables supposedly go far in the long run.
The Non-usage of Cellular Phones:
Since phones emit radio waves and this may be a
cause of brain cancer, not using these types of
phones may aid in a decrease chance of gaining
brain cancer.
Cell Phones
Macrobiotic
Diet
14. Prevention
Early Diagnoses:
Enables us to have the ability to find signs of a
possible cancer occurring within or around the
brain.
Treating of Tumours:
Eliminating the tumours around or within the brain aid
very much in decreasing the chances of getting
brain cancer.
Type of Treatment:
Surgery
CT Scan
15. Diagnosis
There are many ways of diagnosing a patient for
any signs of a potential brain tumour occurring.
CT Scan:
A CT Scanner is the most commonly used as to
acquire pictures of the brain. Any abnormalities with CT Scanner
the brain will appear on the CT Scan.
MRI Scan:
These machines give us further detailed scans than
the CT Scan but are only used depending on if any
abnormalities were found.
MRI Scanner
16. Diagnosis
Neurological Exam:
Neurological
This exam includes a physician to check many things Exam
of a person such as their vision, hearing, and
memory. By doing so, this may give the doctor a
clue as to if there is a brain tumour and where it
might be found.
Angiogram:
It is a type of X-ray upon which a contrast dye is
injected into the main arteries as to view the brains’
arteries and veins.
Angiogram of
The Brain
17. Diagnosis
Brain Scans:
A contrast dye is injected into a vein of either arm and
generally, this dye will be soaked up more in a brain
tumour, making the tumour easy to view.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI):
This will measure the flow of water that is in the white
matter tracts of the brain, providing a scan of the
structure of the brain as well as to compare
changes over time.
DTI
Brain
Scan
18. Diagnosis
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI)
scans:
A FMRI is used to discover and pinpoint where
exactly a particular disorder may be in some part of
the brain. Patients may also be instructed to do a
specific task as to pinpoint the area.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scans:
MRI Scans use magnetic fields and radio waves to
produce detailed pictures of the brain, showing
visual slices to create a 3-D view of a tumour.
FMRI
MRI
19. Diagnosis
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scans:
These scans will find any change in cells as they
grow. A radioactive glucose is injected where it is
then absorbed more in a tumour of the brain than
elsewhere which allows us to see the growth.
Biopsy:
PET Scan
A surgical procedure upon which a small sample of
the tumour is removed for examination. Usually, it
occurs during the surgery to remove the brain
tumour (open biopsy).
Preparation
For Biopsy
20. Diagnosis
Biopsy (continued):
There are 2 other biopsies. They include,
Needle Biopsy
Stereotactic Biopsy
-A small hole is made into
the skull by a drill and then
a needle is inserted into the
tumour.
-The needle is then
removed, containing a
sample of the tumour.
-A computer is used as well
as a 3-D scanning device.
-With these machines, a
tumour is then looked for.
21. Diagnosis
Blood & Urine Tests:
A patient’s body will be tested as to determine its
levels of hormones. Abnormal levels of specific
hormones indicate and help diagnose a syndrome.
Bone Scan:
This type of scan aids doctors and surgeons in
Blood & Urine
viewing a skull base brain tumour.
Tests Aiding
22. Treatment
When it comes to treatments for brain cancer, 3
standard treatments are utilized:
Surgery
Radiation Therapy
Chemotherapy
A wait-and-see approach (observations) may also
be utilized as to monitor any changes occurring in
the brain tumour/s.
Treatment plans are individualized along with what
type as well as the grade of the tumour.
23. Treatment
Surgery:
Usually being the first treatment depending on if the
tumour is in an operable area. The purpose of it is
to remove as much of the tumour or tumours as
well as obtaining an accurate diagnosis by the
pathologist.
Surgery
24. Treatment
Radio Therapy:
Radio therapy is the involvement of high levels of
radiation targeting directly at a tumour of the brain.
Normal radiation therapy lasts for at least 6 weeks.
There are 2 types of radio therapy,
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Gamma Knife
-Given as one single
treatment
-Treats meningiomas, pituitary
tumours, acoustic neuromas,
and secondary tumours.
Radio
Therapy
25. Treatment
Chemotherapy:
The utilization of medication to stagnant or slow down
the growth of tumour cells in brain cancer. It is
either given to the patient orally or intravenously.
Temozolomide Or Temodal:
For brain tumour (brain cancer) patients, this is
becoming quite the common chemo drug for them.
Chemotherapy
Unfortunately, it very expensive unless covered by
insurance. Often it is given along side with radio
therapy for high-grade gliomas.
Temozolomide
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http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerhelp/type/brain-tumour/about/brain-tumour-risksand-causes
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http://www.medicinenet.com/brain_cancer/page9.ht
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http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosu
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28. Works Cited
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http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosu
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