Cancerguide.co.uk
    Information Directory                                                                                                                       

Home | Breast Cancer  |  Lung Cancer  |  Prostate Cancer  |   Skin Cancer  |  Throat Cancer   

 
Brain Cancer

 What is Brain Cancer?

 The brain, like any other tissue in the body, is made up of individual cells which are much smaller
 than a pinpoint, and require a microscope to see them. These cells are the smallest units which
 compose the brain, and there are several different types. A brain cancer can arise from any of the
 cells which make up the brain.

 What are the Symptoms of Brain Cancer?

 This depends upon where in the brain the cancer arises, and how big it becomes before coming to
 medical attention. The brain has particular areas controlling thought, sight, hearing, sensation,
 movement, coordination and mood. The upper brain area tends to control the more advanced
 thought functions, while the middle controls mood and movement and the rear (or "brain stem")
 stimulates breathing and heart rate.

 

 Primary brain tumors:

 Primary brain tumors are named due to the cell types, from which they are originated. Frequently
 encountered histologic brain tumor types are glioma, glioblastoma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma,
 medulloblastoma, meningioma and neuroglioma. Tumors can be benign and are usually, but not
 necessarily, localized to a small area. They can also be malignant and invasive (i.e., spreading to
 neighbouring areas). Brain cells can be damaged by tumor cells by (i) directly being compressed
 from growth of the tumor, (ii) indirectly being affected from inflammation ongoing in and around
 the tumor mass, (iii) brain edema (swelling) or (iv) increased pressure in the skull (due to brain
 edema or to the blockage of the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid ). Local tissue damage
 (either by direct or indirect mechanisms) causes focal neurologic symptoms, which vary due to the
 location of the brain tumor. Hemiparesis , aphasia , difficulty speaking, ataxia , hemihypoesthesia
 (numbness and decreased sensation of touch on one side of the body) and localized headache are
 some of the symptoms occurring due to the local effects of the brain tumor.

 Types of Brain cancer:

 Primary Brain Tumors, Metastatic Brain Cancer, Benign Brain Tumor, Primary CNS Lymphoma, Brain
 Sarcoma, Childhood Brain Cancers, Spinal Cord Tumor, Subtypes by type of cell affected:, Gliomas,
 Astrocytoma, Brain Stem Glioma, Ependymomas, Oligodendrogliomas, Medulloblastoma, Meningioma,
 Schwannomas (Brain), Craniopharyngiomas, Germ cell tumors (Brain), Germinoma (Brain), Pineal
 region tumors, Pineocytoma, Pineoblastoma, Neuroblastoma (Brain), Neurocytoma (Brain),
 Ganglioneuroma (Brain), Oligodendroglioma, Stage of spreading of cancer:, Grade of the cancer,
 Benign brain tumors, Malignant brain tumors.

Popular Searches