Brain Tumours
What Is It?
Brain tumours can develop anywhere in the brain. They can develop from:- The cells that make up the brain tissue
- The nerves entering or leaving the brain
- The coverings of the brain (the meninges)
- They will cause different symptoms depending on the part of the brain they are growing in
In adults, most brain tumours grow in the:
- Forebrain
- Thin layers of body tissue covering the brain (the meninges) or
- Nerves entering or leaving the brain
In children, the picture is slightly different. 6 out of 10 (60%) childhood
brain tumours are in the hindbrain or brain stem. Only 4 out of 10 (40%) are in
the forebrain.
In adults, most cancers found in the brain are not tumours of brain cells. They
are other types of cancer that have spread to the brain. These are called
secondary brain tumours.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of brain tumour people have when they first go to the doctor are headaches and fits. But do remember, brain tumours are rare causes of both headaches and fits.Other symptoms due to increased pressure in the head:
Bad headaches
Sickness
Drowsiness
Problems with your eyes
Fits
Treatment
The most suitable treatment for any brain tumour depends on the:Type of brain tumour
Position - how near the tumour is to vital or delicate parts of the brain
Size of the tumour
Grade of the tumour
Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are all used to treat brain tumours. New treatments are being developed all the time for brain tumours that respond poorly to treatment, or are in parts of the brain that are difficult to reach. A combination of treatments may be the best way of removing or controlling your tumour.
Links
Brain Tumour UKAmerican Brain Tumour Association