Brain tumors

No need for any citations, this is just an article review from a classmate. Please make comments and any questions you may have.
A brain tumor, which can also be referred to as an intracranial tumor is an abnormal mass of cell tissue where cells grow and multiply at an uncontrollable rate. Brain tumors are divided into two categories. Primary brain tumors and metastatic brain tumors. Each of the two having distinct differences that allow for this categorization. With cancers long run of existence, why has there not been more advances on treatments and cures for it?
Tumors can either be malignant or benign. While neither category is necessarily better than the other and both pose harm on one’s body, the differences are vital in determining how doctors will treat the tumor. A benign tumor is one that is not cancerous, however can cause pain and/or disfigurement.Approximately 71% of brain tumors are benign. While the cells are contained within the tumor they still have capabilities of increasing in size to the point where they may put pressure on nearby organs and structures of the body if they are not treated. Common types of benign tumors include fibroids, lipomas, adenomas and hemangiomas.
Malignant tumors, however, are cancerous and always require treatment. Approximately 29% of brain tumors are malignant. These tumors can grow rapidly and invade nearby tissues. When malignant cells travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, it is called metastasis. In order to determine if a tumor is cancerous or not one must have a biopsy done to get a sample tested of the tumors cells.
As for brain tumors specifically, the two types; primary and metastatic are both different and coke with different treatments and concerns. Primary brain tumors include tumors that originate from the tissues of the brain or the brain’s immediate surroundings. Primary tumors are categorized as glial (composed of glial cells) or non-glial (developed on or in the structures of the brain, including nerves, blood vessels and glands) Whereas metastatic brain tumors include tumors that arise elsewhere in the body (such as the breast or lungs) and migrate to the brain, usually through the bloodstream. Metastatic tumors are considered cancer and are malignant.
The most common type of benign brain tumor is a meningioma tumor. These tumors account for 10 to 15 percent of all brain tumors and originate in the meninges, the the membrane like structures surrounding the brain and spinal cord. These often present no symptoms however, may cause seizures,dementia,difficulty talking,vision problems, weakness on one side of the body or loss of bladder control on occasion. The tumors accessibility determines its treatment. The most common type of malignant tumor are gliomas. These account for 78 percent of malignant brain tumors
Astrocytomas are the most common glioma, accounting for about half of all primary brain and spinal cord tumors. Astrocytomas develop from star-shaped glial cells called astrocytes, part of the supportive tissue of the brain. They may occur in many parts of the brain, but most commonly in the cerebrum. Determining the type of tumor one has, will allow for medical professionals to treat it appropriately.
While there is no way to fully prevent brain tumors, there are things that may put one at higher risk for developing it. The risk factors include exposure to ionizing radiation,family history and being over the age of 50. Ionizing radiation exposure may be from radiation therapy undergone for cancer treatment in the past. There is expected to be 88,790 brain tumor diagnoses in 2022..
Recognizing a brain tumor is not always easy, however there are some signs that may indicate the possibility of one. The signs to be cautious of are headaches, seizures, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, memory loss, depression and mood swings, vision changes, personality and behavioral changes and cognitive changes. While these are all relatively generic symptoms that are present in many conditions, having a combination of these symptoms would be worth getting looked at. The location of the brain tumor may also affect what symptoms may occur. Headaches caused by a brain tumor are a direct result of the tumor pressing against the nerves and blood vessels in the brain. A headache caused by a brain tumor will not show improvement with the use of over the counter medications. Each of these symptoms are caused by the pressure the tumor exerts on different parts of the brain.
The most common treatments for brain tumors include chemotherapy,radiation and surgery to remove the tumor depending on its location. However, the treatments your doctor may suggest will be dependent on your age, overall health, the tumors location, the tumors likelihood to spread or reoccur and your bodies tolerance to certain medications and procedures. The treatment type is also dependent on the tumors grade. Grade 1 and 2 tumors will likely just be monitored and surgically removed if possible. Whereas grades 3 and 4 are more likely to be treated using chemo and radiation due to their heightened chances of spreading. Although these treatments help prolong the length and quality of life, there is still a chance that microscopic cells may be left behind causing the tumor to reoccur over time. If radiation therapy is used as a treatment, specially trained medical professionals will use X-rays and other forms of radiation to destroy tumor cells and/or delay their growth. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill the rapidly dividing cells either orally or intravenously.
Brain tumors are quite complex in terms of diagnosing, treating and preventing. Although there are medical treatments available for these tumors, none of them is 100 percent proven to keep them from reoccurring. Despite how long cancer has been around, there is still no absolute cure. However, the evolution of cancer treatment has grown immensely. Due to its complexity and the abundance of types all affecting different parts of the body there’s no “one size fits all” for treatment. However, since 1970, the survival rate has doubled from 25 percent to now 50 percent due to advancements in treatments and research. There is still a lot of research to be done, however treatment options and success rates have come a long way since the first cancer diagnoses

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