Brain tumor – causes, symptoms & therapy

In principle, all tumors that grow inside the skull can be referred to as brain tumors. In the narrower sense, only tumors that grow from the brain tissue are brain tumors. As with all tumors, a distinction is made between benign, i.e. benign, and malignant (cancerous) growths.

Although benign tumors do not metastasize, they can cause major damage to the brain. In contrast to other tumors, brain tumors grow within an area closed off by the skull, which means that as they grow, the surrounding tissue is more damaged because it can hardly escape.

causes

It is still unclear which components ultimately have to come together for a brain tumor to develop. Despite the relatively high level of ignorance in this area, it has been proven that people who have had contact with carcinogenic substances over a longer period of time have an increased risk of brain tumours.Such carcinogenic substances can be contained in pesticides, for example. For a while, doctors and scientists assumed that head injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries , increased the risk of developing brain tumors. However, this hypothesis could not be empirically proven and is considered disproved.

Just as little as injuries to the skull, psychological stress, stress or electrosmog could be proven as causal components for tumor growth in the brain. In addition to the significantly increased cancer risk associated with long-term contact with carcinogenic substances, radiotherapy of the skull also leads to a demonstrably higher risk of developing a brain tumor in children. Although this case rarely occurs, genetic predispositions can also contribute to the development of brain tumors.

When to the doctor?

If you feel pressure or tension inside your head that lasts for several days or increases in intensity, you should see a doctor. If headaches occur on both sides or on one side, a doctor’s visit is also necessary as soon as they last for a longer period of time. If the symptoms continue to spread in the head, this is a cause for concern that should be investigated.

Before taking any pain medication, you should consult a doctor. This prevents complications, as side effects and contraindications can occur. Since timely action can be vital in the case of a brain tumor, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible as soon as an irregularity or discomfort occurs.

If you experience problems with your vision or hearing, you should contact a doctor. If there are other functional disorders in the entire body, medical examinations must also be initiated. If the person concerned suffers from insomnia or is impaired in coping with everyday tasks, a doctor must be consulted.

Mood swings, irritability, or periods of depression should be presented to and discussed with a doctor. In the event of impaired attention or loss of consciousness, an ambulance must be called. If the person concerned repeatedly suffers from dizziness, nausea or unexplained vomiting, he also needs a doctor.

symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of brain tumors:

• headache

• nausea

• dizziness

• Vomit

• seizure

• speech disorders

• visual disturbances

There are many symptoms that can occur with a brain tumor. However, the symptoms are very unspecific, especially at the beginning of the disease. At first, those affected often suffer from headaches and dizziness. If these symptoms get worse over time, nausea and vomiting are added.

In the later course, personality changes can also be observed, so that relatives sometimes get the feeling that they no longer really know a person they know well. Depending on where in the brain the tumor is located, paralysis and seizures can also occur.

If symptoms such as speech and vision disorders occur, this already gives an indication of the brain area in which the tumor is probably located. The course of a brain tumor depends on the individual case. Basically, the further the disease has progressed, the worse the prognosis.

Diagnose

The correct and early diagnosis of a brain tumor can certainly be life-saving for a patient. If the symptoms after the anamnesis raise the suspicion that it could be a brain tumor, there are various imaging methods that doctors can use to make a reliable diagnosis.

First, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan of the head is ordered. Here, masses in the brain can be detected. If suspicious masses are found on MRI or CT, a lumbar puncture is performed. A small amount of the brain fluid is removed and examined in the laboratory.

If patients suffer from epileptic seizures , an EEG is made. Angiography can also be helpful in making the diagnosis; The blood vessels in the brain are made visible with the help of an X-ray machine after the administration of a contrast medium.

complications

A brain tumor triggers malfunctions in one or more systems. Depending on the size or location of the tumor, it is located in brain regions that are responsible for regulating individual processes and processes. All sensory systems are evaluated in the brain. Damage to the tissue there leads to severe impairments in general lifestyle. Motor disorders, the processing of visual or auditory stimuli, as well as mental abilities are affected. Brain tissue is particularly vulnerable to injury and can lead to personality changes.

Despite the narrowness under the skullcap, a brain tumor can spread and lead to an immense feeling of pressure in the head. Deformation of the skull and severe pain set in. The tissue is squeezed, vessels in the head can burst and a life-threatening condition sets in. Eliminating a brain tumor is particularly difficult. It is located in areas of the body that are difficult to access and can only be removed with great effort.

In addition, elimination can lead to further damage to the brain. In many places, damage to healthy tissue when the tumor is detached causes irreparable damage. A brain tumor, despite successful removal, can grow back or begin to grow elsewhere in the brain.

treatment and therapy

Since brain tumors, even if they are benign, can severely damage the brain tissue, surgical removal of the growth is usually necessary. However, this is only possible in the relatively early stages of the disease or when the tumor is in a part of the brain where surgery can be performed.

An operation on the brain poses a major health risk, which is why the advantages and risks of an operation must be carefully weighed beforehand. In many cases, the most promising approach is combination therapy. The tumor is surgically removed, but before or after it is also treated with radiation or chemotherapy. In general, surgical tumor removal is the most important therapeutic measure for brain tumors.In some cases, however, it is advisable to take other therapeutic measures first so that the tumor shrinks and can thus be removed more easily. In some cases, only part of the tumor can be removed, which reduces pressure in the brain so that the remaining brain tissue is no longer compressed. After such an operation, chemotherapy or radiation must always be used so that the remaining tumor tissue can be destroyed.

prevention

Since the exact causes that lead to this disease are largely unknown, there are no specific measures to prevent a brain tumor. In general, there should be no contact with carcinogenic substances. A generally healthy lifestyle can also be helpful in protecting the body from cancer or better surviving the disease.