Brain Cancer
By Cameron, Zach, and Chris
What is brain cancer?
- Brain tumors are abnormal growths of cells in the brain.
- Although such growths are mostly called brain tumors, not all brain tumors are cancer. Cancer is a term reserved for malignant tumors.
- Malignant tumors can grow and spread aggressively, overpowering healthy cells by taking their space, blood, and nutrients.
Tumors
Treatment options
Surgery
Craniotomy
Drugs
ChemotherapyTomotherapy and Radiation therapy
Side Effects of Treatment Options
Symptoms
Headache: can be persistent or severe
Muscular: difficulty walking, muscle weakness, problems with coordination, weakness of one side of the body, or weakness of the arms and legs
Whole body: balance disorder, dizziness, fatigue, or vertigo
Gastrointestinal: nausea or vomiting
Sensory: pins and needles or reduced sensation of touch
Cognitive: inability to speak or understand or mental confusion
Speech: difficulty speaking or impaired voice
Screening methods
The one way to find a brain tumor is a brain scan, like a CT or MRI scan. Another way would be a spinal tap or lumbar puncture.
Statistics
More than 78,000 cases of brain cancer are expected to be diagnosed this year
There are 700,000 people in the US living with brain cancer
Around 16,500 men and women will die of brain cancer this year
Prevention
Risk Factors
Only 5% of brain tumors are related to hereditary factors
Studies are now showing that cell phone use is increasing the risk that you may develop a brain tumor
Children or older adults are more likely to develop a brain tumor
New Discoveries
Palliative care: Clinical trial are going on to find better ways of controlling the symptoms and side effects of brain tumor and all cancer treatments so it increases the patients quality of life.
Charities
They are dependent on donations and use they money towards funding research projects, policy agenda in our government, and improving the pace of drug development.