By Evelyn Villanueva
The signs of brain tumor depend on the size, location and type of tumor. Symptoms may appear whenever a tumor pushes a nerve or injures a particular area in the brain. They can also be caused if the brain enlarges or fluids build up in the skull.
Majority of the common signs of brain cancers are the following:
- Headaches (regularly worse at daybreak)
- Vomiting or nausea
- Problems in walking or balancing
- Changes in personality, mood or capacity to contemplate
- Memory problems
- Changes in vision, hearing or speech
- Muscle trembling or jerking
- Numbness or itchy feeling in legs or arms
If the symptoms indicate that there is indication of brain cancer, the doctor can do any of the subsequent procedures as basis of its diagnosis:
- Physical examination - the doctor examines general sign of health
- Neurologic examination - the physician checks the attentiveness, strength of muscle, reflexes, coordination and reaction to pain. The eyes are also examined to find out if there is any swelling due to the tumor pushing the nerve which attaches the brain and eyes.
- CT scan - an x-ray apparatus connected to computer which takes series of thorough pictures of a head. The patient is given an injection of special tint in order that the brain can be seen visibly in the picture. The picture may show growths or tumors inside the brain.
- MRI - a forceful magnet attached to computer which makes comprehensive pictures of sections in the body. These pictures are shown on a screen and can be printed also. Sometimes, a particular dye is inserted in order to help illustrate differences in the various tissues inside the brain.
The following tests are also considered to help diagnose brain tumor:
• Angiogram - a particular dye is injected to the bloodstream and runs in the blood vessels inside the brain in order for them to appear on x-ray. If a growth is present, it can be seen by the doctor.
• Skull x-ray - various forms of brain cancers cause calcium accumulation inside the brain or changes on the bones in the skull. Through x-ray, changes can be checked.
• Spinal tap - the physician may take a sample of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid - a fluid that fills up the spaces around the brain as well as the spinal cord). This is done with use of local anesthesia. The spinal tap can be done around thirty minutes. The patient lies flat within several hours after extraction of CSF to avoid headache. Laboratory test is done to check for the presence of cancer cells and other indications of problems.
• Myelogram - refers to the x-ray of the spine or spinal cord. Spinal tap is done by injecting a special dye in the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient tilts to let the dye combine to the fluid. This procedure assists the doctor discover cancer on the spinal cord.
• Biopsy - it is the removal of sample of tissue to search for cancer cells. The pathologist examines the cells under the microscope in order to verify abnormal cells. A biopsy may show tumor, tissue changes which might lead to tumor and other situations. This is the surest way in diagnosing brain cancer.
Learn some facts in relation to the cancer of the brain or brain tumor. For more information, visit us at: http://CancerRadiation.org/
Posted in
Brain Tumor,
Diagnosis,
The Symptoms
By Stewart Wrighter
From the latest research in the field of medicine it is evident that there are lots of patients who are suffering from the painful condition of brain tumor. It is a disease which has taken many lives and still many are struggling hard to survive from this detrimental syndrome. For the cure, many neurologists have been successful in fighting back this disease but still there is a lot more to do to face this challenge. And for this reason, the experts from cancer treatment and radiation therapy are coming forward to participate in the fight against cancer.
Brain tumor is a very harmful and dangerous disease. It only results in the patient's death if it is not controlled in its earlier stage. By reading this article you will know more about Brain tumor, its symptoms and its treatment process. This information will be helpful if you are suffering from the same condition.
Symptoms:
There are many symptoms of brain tumor which neurologist describe. Among them, the most common symptoms are Headaches, Nausea, Hearing troubles, Sight misperception, Vision problem and sometimes problems in the behavioral functioning.
Headaches:
Regular headaches are common in a brain tumor patient. These are regular and frequent and can take place at any instant. When the headaches are in the primary stage, they are preventable, but when the disease enters a severe stage, they are unstoppable and can even take the patient's life. Well it can be and cannot be a complete sign of a brain tumor. If the patient is receiving constant headaches then it can be a sign but consulting the experienced practitioner to find out if it is really a symptom of this condition or not.
Vomiting and Nausea:
These symptoms are sometimes rare and sometimes frequent in the patient. Vomiting and nausea can be a middle stage symptom of the brain tumor, but for confirmation the patient should consult the neurologist. With the latest research, the experts have declared that there are 22 patients out of hundred who had called Nausea as brain tumor's symptom.
Loss of hearing and vision:
According to the latest report, there are 25% patients who had loss of hearing and vision. But it is also not a true symptom for brain tumor. Sometimes, it depends upon the tendency of the patient as to what sort of symptoms he or she is carrying with the disease.
Stages:
Stage 1:
This is a very primary stage of brain tumor in which the cells are not fully shaped and they do not even start to multiply. The cure is easy in this stage as the cells can easily be separated from the brain through a surgery.
Stage 2:
This is a stage where the cell activates in a slow growth form. This stage requires instant surgery; otherwise there is chance for the disease to go into its third stage which is more dangerous and risky,
Stage 3:
This stage is proficient for the cells to split up. They starts growing more rapidly and it requires a serious attention if the patient is to be recovered.
Stage 4:
This stage is the extreme of all stages where the cure becomes very difficult because the tumor cells have populated the entire brain section. This stage is very difficult to cure but can be cured if an urgent surgery is carried out. Most of the brain tumor's patient die in this last stage as many times the surgery does not remove the disease. That is why many neurologists advice the patients to treat it the very first stage so that the disease stops spreading.
Posted in
Stages Of a Brain Tumor,
The Symptoms