What are the symptoms of a brain tumor in the early and late stages? First signs of brain cancer, diagnosis and treatment

Brain cancer is different from other types of cancer. A tumor that arises in the brain due to abnormal cell growth rarely spreads to other organs, therefore does not metastasize, and has a different development mechanism. But even its growth, limited to brain tissue, is life-threatening.

Brain cancer has no stages and is classified according to the degree of tumor development.

1st degree. The tumor grows slowly and does not invade nearby tissues. Stage 1 brain cancer is treated with surgery.
2nd degree. The tumor grows as slowly as in grade 1, but can already grow into neighboring tissues. After surgery, a relapse is possible, in which the tumor begins to develop faster.
3rd degree. Appearance tumor cells more closely resemble malignant, abnormal cells. The tumor begins to aggressively grow into nearby tissues. Surgery is not enough for treatment, since a significant part of the brain is affected.
4th degree.The tumor quickly increases in size and grows into other brain tissues.

How to detect early stage brain cancer?

Symptoms of brain cancer

The first signs of a tumor in the brain:

headache becomes more frequent and severe, especially in the morning;
unexplained nausea and vomiting;
blurred and/or double vision, loss of peripheral vision;
gradual loss of sensation in the limbs;
difficulty in coordinating movements;
speech problems;
forgetfulness;
problems with the perception of one’s personality;
hearing problems.

Eat specific symptoms, which differ depending on the location of the tumor. The brain is divided into 3 lobes, each responsible for a specific functionality. The tumor leads to disruption of those functions for which the affected lobe is responsible:

Frontal lobe: movements, intelligence, logical thinking, memory, decision making, personality, ability to plan, judgment, initiative, mood.
Temporal: speech, behavior, memory, hearing, vision, emotions.
Parietal: intelligence, logical thinking, difference between right and left, speech, tactile sensations, reading.

Symptoms of early-stage brain cancer are not pronounced, so patients rarely see a doctor during this period. Dizziness and nausea, which appear at the beginning of the development of the disease, can be signs of many other diseases, so they also do not force the patient to see a doctor. Be more attentive to such symptoms and consult a doctor, even if they do not interfere with your normal life.

Which doctors can detect brain cancer and how?

Most often, brain cancer can be detected neurologists, suspecting a tumor during routine examinations or after patients complain of headaches.

If brain cancer is suspected, the doctor examines the patient's medical history and conducts neurological studies that may indicate abnormalities in the functioning of parts of the brain. The patient undergoes reading, arithmetic, balance and memory tests.

Endocrinologist or therapist They will refer you to a neurologist if, after a blood test for hormones, they suspect brain cancer. A tumor in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland may indicate increased values hormones in the blood, since these sections control their production.

Ophthalmologist may suspect a brain mass by checking intracranial pressure.

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Diagnosis of suspected brain cancer

Methods for diagnosing brain cancer are based on tomography: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT).

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the main method for diagnosing brain cancer, which differs high sensitivity and allows the doctor to see detailed, layer-by-layer, high-resolution images of the brain. MRI records even the smallest structural changes.

The highest image accuracy required for diagnosing brain cancer is provided by a 3 Tesla device.

Computed tomography (CT)- a method for visualizing brain structure based on x-ray radiation. Gives a three-dimensional image of the structure of the organ and identifies all types of neoplasms. Allows you to identify circulatory disorders that accompany the tumor process.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) measures magnetic radiation nerve cells, which provides information about the functioning of all parts of the brain and whether there are any disturbances in their functions.

MRI angiography gives an accurate picture of cerebral blood flow and is used in planning surgical removal a tumor containing a lot blood vessels.

Spinal tap. Cerebrospinal fluid is taken from the patient and studied in the laboratory to confirm or deny the presence of cancer cells.

Biopsy. Laboratory testing of tumor tissue for specific genes, proteins and other factors unique to the tumor. A biopsy allows for an accurate diagnosis.

Molecular genetic test- determines the type of pathology (molecular profile of cells) in the taken biomaterial. The analysis helps the doctor decide whether targeted therapy is suitable for treating brain cancer - targeted destruction of tumor cells that does not affect healthy tissue.

What to do if you suspect brain cancer?

When early symptoms brain cancer ( headache, especially in the morning, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting without relief, etc.) consult a general practitioner.
If, after examination, the therapist suspects you have a neoplasm, he should refer you to a specialist - a neurologist or neurosurgeon.
Specialist narrow profile will prescribe a series of examinations to confirm or refute the diagnosis.
It is necessary to visit a neuro-ophthalmologist to conduct a fundus examination. If during the examination the ophthalmologist sees changes in the optic nerve head and fundus characteristic of a large tumor, he will prescribe a CT or MRI.
Tomography (CT or MRI) allows you to see the tumor, its size and location. If a neoplasm is detected, the patient is referred to a neuro-oncologist.
The neuro-oncologist, if necessary, prescribes additional diagnostic procedures and determines the further treatment program.

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Frequency of occurrence malignant tumors brain among oncological diseases is 1.5%. And although they are less common than many other cancers, the first signs of brain cancer are often disguised as ordinary, common illnesses.

Therefore, when symptoms of a tumor appear, especially if they recur frequently, it is necessary to undergo an urgent examination. What are these symptoms, and how many of them can there be? More on this later in the article.

Malignant brain tumors are the most dangerous among oncological diseases

Features of brain tumors

Depending on the type of cells that were the source of the development of the tumor, tumors are divided into subtypes. For example:

meninges;
from cells belonging to the pituitary gland;
directly from brain cells;
tumors of the cranial nerves;
tumors that arise as a result of metastases from other parts of the body.

As the tumor grows, it increases in size and puts pressure on structures adjacent to it, causing symptoms that are called “primary (focal) or “local”. In addition, education leads to the appearance of general disorders in the brain, which manifest themselves as symptoms called cerebral.

General cerebral symptoms

Often education does not manifest itself in any way until serious changes appear in the brain.

It happens that the primary symptoms are so insignificant that they are not paid attention to, or are mistaken for another disease.

General cerebral symptoms of brain cancer

These include headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms occur when intracranial pressure increases or certain brain structures are compressed.

Headache

This symptom appears earlier and more often than others (about 90% of cases). With brain tumors, pain in the head at the beginning of the disease manifests itself in attacks. It is characterized by: constancy, high intensity and immunity to analgesics. It intensifies during coughing or sneezing, defecation, when turning the head, that is, with any physical stress.

Most often, a headache due to brain cancer is accompanied by a bursting sensation.

It is usually removed by lowering intracranial pressure by using medications.

Dizziness

As the tumor grows, it causes blood supply problems brain structures. Lack of oxygen, hypoxia, causes dizziness. This may also be caused by compression of the cerebellum and disturbances in the vestibular apparatus. This is expressed in the form of rotation around its axis, as if a person is turning or, conversely, objects are moving around him. Such sensations can occur systematically, both in the case of a certain position of the head, and suddenly, regardless of the posture.

Vomiting and nausea

If the tumor arose in the midbrain, then, as it enlarges, it can put pressure on the vomiting center. As a result of his overexcitation, a person constantly feels nauseated. When intracranial pressure increases, nausea turns into severe vomiting. Sensitivity of the center different people not the same, so the severity of nausea and the intensity of the gag reflex will also be different. In some cases, a person is unable to even eat or drink water, since any irritation of the mucous membrane oral cavity leads to vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting in brain cancer are especially pronounced in the morning

Focal symptoms of a brain tumor

Symptoms of this group occur when cells grow abnormally in a certain area of the brain.

It should be noted that in each case, some individual symptoms, different from those of other people.

In addition, some of them show themselves so insignificantly that people live with them for a long time.

Autonomic disorders nervous system. Occurs with increasing intoxication of the body, loss of control over tone vascular walls. They manifest themselves as lethargy, weakness, and indifference. It is difficult for a person to get up, move around, and he experiences changes blood pressure and arrhythmia.
Speech disorders (oral and written). They arise due to the destruction by tumor cells of the corresponding areas of the cerebral cortex. In the first stages of the disease, the speech of adults becomes slurred and unintelligible. The same thing happens with handwriting. In the future, there may be a complete loss of the ability to write and speak.

When the tumor affects the speech center, speech impairment occurs

Memory impairment. It also occurs when a tumor grows in the cerebral cortex. Depending on the speed of the pathological process, memory may be lost partially or completely.
Loss of sensation. Expressed in the loss of the ability of human skin to perceive any irritation from the outside. His tactile and pain receptors, he does not feel cold or warm. In addition, a person loses the feeling of himself in space, that is, he cannot determine in what position he is in this moment(with eyes closed).
Visual impairment. A decrease and then loss (complete or partial) of vision occurs when the tumor is located in the area of the optic nerve. In this case, the nerve impulse from the retina does not reach the cerebral cortex. If the neoplasm occurs in the cortex itself, in the place where what is seen is analyzed, then the nerve signals reach the cortex, but are not recognized. In this case, a person may not understand what is written or may not recognize surrounding objects.
Movement coordination disorders. Expressed in instability (especially without visual control), unsteady gait, inability to make precise movements.

A tumor of the cerebellum may cause unsteadiness in gait.

The occurrence of hallucinations. This can be both visual and hearing impairment. Auditory hallucinations manifest themselves as tinnitus, extraneous sounds, or ringing. Visual ones are characterized by: flashes of light, dots, “floaters” or blurry images. The first symptoms occur rarely and, as a rule, are associated not with the disease, but with fatigue or overstrain (nervous or physical), weather, and so on. This leads to a significant loss of time.
Mental disorders. Changes in the psychological and cognitive sphere are expressed by symptoms such as: absent-mindedness, inability to concentrate, memory problems. In addition, a person whose tumor is growing becomes irritable, finds it difficult to communicate with others, and exhibits symptoms of psychopathy.
Manifestation of epilepsy and seizures. On early stage Brain tumors are observed mainly as convulsive contractions of individual parts of the body or muscle groups. As the disease progresses, seizures become more frequent and prolonged, affecting larger areas, and then give way to attacks of epilepsy. Such disorders are caused by prolonged stimulation of a certain area of the cerebral cortex.

At-risk groups

If such signs appear periodically, you should immediately contact a specialist and undergo an examination.

The most informative in this regard are computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

MRI and CT are crucial stages in diagnosing a brain tumor

In case of timely treatment, brain tumors at an early stage of growth are cured in 80% of cases. How long do they live if it comes to stages 2–3? The indicators are halved.

Among adults who are most likely to develop a brain tumor, the following groups are distinguished:

having malignant formations in any organ;
those who have suffered a head injury;
With genetic diseases brain;
having constant contact with carcinogenic substances.

Head cancer is a progressive disease in which the number of people affected increases every year. Today it is diagnosed in 2% of all cancer patients.

The peculiarity of this type of cancer is that it is rarely detected at the initial stages, which often leads to mortality.

Brain cancer is a malignant tumor that affects parts of the brain or the spinal canal. The tumor occurs as a result random division of atypical cells. This pathology is characterized by rapid growth and germination into adjacent tissues. Brain cancer can metastasize to distant sites.

Kinds

Head cancer is divided into several types, each of which has its own specific location. The tumor can form either in fabrics brain, and in its shell, or at nerve fibers. Separately, the type is distinguished by the nature of the formation, since the tumor can be primary or appear as a result of metastasis.

From brain tissue

This type of tumor is localized directly in parts of the brain, and any part of it can be affected. The pathology is prone to metastasis, through the spread of atypical cells along the cerebrospinal fluid outflow channels.

A brain tumor is formed in the form of limited nodule with internal inclusion of smooth-walled cysts. The node does not have clear boundaries, merging with healthy tissues.

Tumors of the membranes

The development of cancer in the lining of the brain is diagnosed in 20% of cases. Tumors develop in the walls of blood vessels and the arachnoid endothelium of the membrane, without affecting hard tissues. Education is horseshoe-shaped or rounded flat knot.

It has a dense consistency without the inclusion of cysts. The tumor itself is enclosed in a capsule, which can reach 15 cm in diameter. When it grows, adhesions with hard tissues are noted.

Neuromas

This type of cancer is formed from Schwann cells, which form the membrane nerve fibers. The tumor is the node is incorrect or oval shape , enclosed in a capsule. The formation is characterized by uneven density and an uneven, bumpy surface.

As it grows, the formation of numerous cysts and gradual degeneration of the entire tumor into a cyst are noted. In this case, adjacent healthy areas are torn by fibrous tissue. It is not typical for neuroma to grow into other tissues and organs, but when it grows extensively, it begins to compress them.

Metastatic

Metastatic brain cancer is classified as a secondary tumor. Usually, brain metastases are formed in cancer of the lungs, intestines, kidneys, mammary glands, as well as in melanoma.

Particularly aggressive in this regard is considered small cell carcinoma, which metastasizes to the head in 80% of cases. In some types of cancer, secondary tumors in the head are detected earlier than the primary tumor.

First signs

Head cancer is considered an incurable pathology. The success of treatment here will depend only on the timeliness of diagnosis and initiation of therapy. Often, smoothness of symptoms and absence differential diagnosis lead to late detection of the disease.

The following symptoms may indicate the onset of the disease:

Headache. Occurs as a result of compression of blood vessels. The greater the growth of the tumor, the more intense and regular the pain. The nature of the pain is local, pulsating and boring in nature.

As the tumor grows, it becomes deep, extending over the entire surface of the head. At the beginning of the disease, the pain manifests itself in paroxysms, and then becomes constant. It is observed to intensify at night, especially in the morning. Also, the pain intensifies with a sudden movement of the head, laughing, coughing, bending.

Nausea and vomiting. Vomiting occurs as a result of the localization of the tumor in the ventricle. The formation puts pressure on the vomiting center, which causes the body to react accordingly.

Nausea occurs due to severe pain syndrome and compression of blood vessels, which provokes an increase in intracranial pressure. Nausea does not depend on food intake, mainly occurring in the morning.

Dizziness. In the early stages of the disease, rare attacks of dizziness are observed, which most often occur when walking, bending or physical activity. The attack is short-term, lasting no more than 3–5 seconds. As the tumor grows, their frequency may increase.
High intracranial pressure. Occurs due to the localization of cancer on blood vessels. Their compression leads to incomplete outflow of fluid. Pressure occurs during or after physical activity. Reception special drugs, gives only a short-term effect.
Pale skin, constant blue under the eyes, weakness. These phenomena are considered common to all types of cancer, and brain damage is no exception. Pathological cells can spread only under conditions of constant iron consumption, which leads to severe iron deficiency anemia. The result of anemia is the listed symptoms.

General signs

General signs of head cancer may vary depending on the location of the tumor. Based on this feature, two groups of symptoms are distinguished: focal and cerebral. Focal include symptoms that arise as a result of damage to individual foci.

General cerebral signs include signs that appear when the formation spreads to adjacent tissues and brain structures of the head.

Focal

With focal localization of cancer, symptoms appear that are characteristic of suppression of the functions of the affected lobe of the brain. Depending on this, the following symptoms may appear:

With damage to the frontal lobe There is a constant severe headache, which can end in convulsions. Also, there is inappropriate behavior and reactions when a person communicates with others.

There is a frequent state of euphoria, hyperactivity and unmotivated actions. Along with this, partial paralysis of the facial muscles occurs, vision deterioration and smell impairment occur. With extensive tissue damage, speech is impaired or completely lost.

Neoplasm in the area of the post- and precentral gyri characterized by the appearance of obsessive chewing and swallowing movements. There is a violation of the sensitivity of the skin of the face.

The muscular system begins to respond weakly to jaw movement. The hypoglossal nerve gradually atrophies, which leads to numbness of the tongue and part of the oral cavity. In the future, this leads to a deterioration in the motor activity of the tongue.

Temporal lobe lesion leads to disruption of taste and olfactory sensitivity. The functioning of the visual and auditory nerve, in connection with which auditory hallucinations are often observed. Epileptic seizures occur. Due to damage to branches trigeminal nerve, sensitivity disappears and a feeling of numbness in the head occurs.

Motor impairment Characteristics for tumor localization in the parietal lobe. A person is not always able to control his movements even with a small growth of the formation.

This is marked by unsteadiness of gait, heavy gripping and holding objects. Also, there is a disorder in writing, speaking, counting and reading. Confusion of thoughts when expressing them and incorrect construction of words and sentences are possible.

For the rarest pathology – tumor, located in the occipital lobe, visual impairment occurs, with the occurrence of hallucinations and impaired color perception. Depending on the intralobar localization, both eyes or one may be affected.
Formation in the pituitary gland characterized by impaired visual perception due to damage to the optic nerve. In the process of its death, retinal detachment is observed. In addition, the main symptoms for this localization are endocrine disorders: amenorrhea, diabetes insipidus, acromegaly.
Cerebellar lesion accompanied by frequent vomiting and headache. There is also a lack of coordination and hypotension of the muscular system of the body. When the tumor grows extensively, hearing deteriorates.
When localizing in the region of the ventricle frequent intracranial pressure occurs, which is accompanied by disruption of the respiratory apparatus and heart. The patient may be bothered by frequent causeless hiccups and poor coordination of movements.

General cerebral

General cerebral symptoms include the following:

Sensory impairment, in which the patient stops responding to thermal and mechanical effects. As a rule, this occurs when the nerve fibers of the brain are overstretched and damaged during tumor growth.
Movement disorders and coordination. They occur in the form of rare, short-term paresis. As you increase pathological formation, paresis is replaced by partial paralysis of a muscle group. With closed eyes, it is difficult for a person to identify the tip of the nose, ears, eyes, etc.
Autonomic disorders resulting from compression of cerebral vessels. They are expressed by frequent short-term dizziness, sudden jumps in blood pressure, weakness, and convulsions.

Mental disorders. The patient has confusion and speech impairment. arise frequent attacks inappropriate behavior of an aggressive nature. Against this background there arise mental disorders with auditory and visual hallucinations.

With extensive tissue damage, personality changes may occur. The patient perceives himself as another person. He is unable to remember the names of loved ones, residential addresses, significant dates, etc.

Almost all symptoms of head cancer occur at the very beginning of the disease, but are of an unexpressed nature. Therefore, they are rarely paid attention to. Paying close attention to your body will allow you to stop pathology in the early stages of its development and ensure a healthy future for yourself.

In this video, a specialist talks about the symptoms:

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For many people, brain cancer sounds like a death sentence. The disease is considered dangerous, how can oncology manifest itself and what can be done in the presence of such a disease?

Types of tumor

Statistically, brain cancer is rare. In total, its percentage is 1.5, but at this time it is extremely dangerous and is fraught with many problems. The disease is not curable, even if stage 1 is diagnosed, there is a high probability fatal outcome. Not all tumors can cause death.

Education in the brain region is divided into two types:

Benign. If such a formation is detected, death is excluded. They can be easily removed surgically, they have a certain size, and tumor cells do not grow. In some cases, complications occur as a result of the location of the formation. With a certain location of the formation, an increase in intracranial pressure is possible.
Malignant. A malignant brain tumor is life-threatening. The cells of the formation begin to grow, they separate from the formation and move to other areas of the brain. All brain tissues are infected, and sometimes pinpoint tumors are observed, the cells of which do not have the opportunity to grow. The reason is the boundaries defined by the bones of the skull or other structures.

Causes of brain cancer

The causes of brain cancer have never been fully understood. Scientists cannot determine for what reason malignancy begins to form on healthy cells; they were not at all predisposed to this. Until now, it has not been possible to obtain an exact answer to this question and there is a lot of debate.

It is impossible to name the causes of brain cancer; doctors are only ready to voice what the precondition may be that contributes to the occurrence of oncology.

These include:

Brain cancer can occur as a result of a person's genetic inheritance. There have been cases when a person suffered from this form of oncology, and his relatives, either immediately or after one generation, again encountered such a disease. Doctors do not claim that the manifestation of the disease will be in the next generation;
exposure to radiation. In brain cancer, man long time exposed to different types irradiation. You can also include in this group of people workers of scientific laboratories, who, due to their profession, have to spend a lot of time studying various reagents;
Brain cancer can occur as a result of long-term exposure to various chemical compounds, including vinyl chloride, lead, mercury. They are the ones who have a negative impact on the body as a whole;
can influence the development of the disease bad habits, in particular smoking cigarettes and regularly drinking alcohol. As a result of harmful compounds of substances, mutation of healthy cells is observed, which causes the development of pathological processes that cause a cancer symptom;
cancer can appear as a result of various concomitant diseases, such as HIV. Long-term treatment with antibacterial drugs can also be dangerous.

When talking about brain cancer, the causes of the disease are of interest to many. It is impossible to determine exactly why the disease occurs; the disease has not been fully studied.

Stages of brain oncology

Speaking about brain cancer, we note that this disease has several stages. Depending on this, the patient exhibits different symptoms, in some cases, it may be impossible to determine the presence of oncology until the moment the disease reaches its final stage.

What are the stages of the disease?

First. Compared to the others, this stage is less dangerous. At this time, the patient develops a small number of malignant cells, and the tumor grows slowly. If there are the first signs of brain cancer, then surgical intervention is possible, with favorable results. At the first stage of cancer, the development of symptoms is not pronounced, a feeling of weakness and slight dizziness is possible. These symptoms are confused with other diseases not related to cancer.
Second. Gradually, the tumor grows and begins to connect with the rest of the brain tissue. Surgical intervention is possible, the outcome of which will be favorable. Symptoms of brain cancer in the second stage include dizziness, headaches, nausea and vomiting, and the latter symptoms have nothing to do with eating. The reason for their appearance is low blood pressure.
Third. At this stage, the growth of cancer cells accelerates. They begin to move to large areas of previously healthy cells. Surgery at this stage cannot improve big picture, therefore it is impossible to cure the disease. To alleviate the condition, the attending physician prescribes drug therapy.
Fourth. This stage is considered the most dangerous. Malignant tumors at this stage are fatal. The tumor affects the patient’s brain, and the person begins to fade before our eyes.

Early stage symptoms

Brain tumors can be divided into two categories:

primary (formations are observed in the tissues of the brain itself);
secondary (occur when metastases spread).

The first signs of brain cancer can appear completely alone, regardless of the type and stage of the disease. The person does not even suspect that he has begun to develop cancer.

In women, the first signs of brain cancer may occur, such as:

headaches. If there are brain tumors, then painful sensations arise in a natural order. In some cases they may be pulsating. Thus, the first symptoms of cancer in the form of a headache usually occur in the morning, going away on their own after a couple of hours. In some cases, against the background of pain in the head, clouding of consciousness and vomiting are observed. Some patients complain of double vision, which is accompanied by muscle weakness. Pain in the head can occur simply when changing body position.

If such symptoms of brain cancer occur, the main thing is not to fall into despair, inventing a disease for yourself. In fact, brain cancer is a very rare occurrence, but to get an accurate diagnosis, it is recommended to see a doctor. Only after a comprehensive study can you accurately answer what the actual reason for poor health is.

If there is head cancer, then there is a constancy and systematicity of pain.

dizziness. Often such oncology is manifested by dizziness. Moreover, it can appear without any reason, regardless of what position the person is in. Severe dizziness occurs if the tumor is located near the cerebellum;
sudden weight loss. Brain tumors lead to rapid depletion of the body, the reason is the damage to healthy cells by patients, thereby disrupting metabolic processes in organism.

Even if the symptom described above or several at once appears, one cannot speak with confidence about the presence of oncology. Such phenomena often occur against the background of completely different diseases.

heat. When oncology occurs, a symptom such as high temperature will appear in any case. The reason is that the immune system is affected by cancer cells, healthy cells begin to fight this, trying to resist the disease with all their might;
feeling tired. Even without doing a lot of work, a person begins to get tired quickly. The reason is the release of waste products by cancer cells, which poison all organs. In case of defeat vascular system anemia is observed;
speaking about primary symptom illness, the appearance of vomiting should be noted. At the onset of the disease, nausea and vomiting are often observed in the morning. As the tumor grows, such symptoms are observed at any time of the day or night, regardless of food intake and body position.

If you don't start timely treatment brain cancer, the picture gets worse. A person experiences hearing loss, vision loss, and possibly a nervous disorder.

Definition of disease

Knowing the symptoms and causes of brain cancer, if you suspect you have cancer, it is recommended to immediately see a doctor and undergo the necessary examinations. The use of modern equipment makes it possible to determine the disease by initial stage when it is still treatable. Diagnostic methods include:

biopsy;
angiography;
positive emission tomography;
spinal tap;
computed tomography;
magnetoencephalography;
magnetic resonance imaging;
single photon emission computed tomography.

Only after all necessary tests, the doctor can detect a brain tumor in the early stages, when it is still treatable.

Methods of therapy

Brain cancer is treated in three main ways: surgical intervention, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is not able to bring results, since treatment is largely carried out through surgery.

It is not always possible to remove a formation with a scalpel. Some tumors are located near tissues important to the person. In this case, it is recommended to undergo a course of radiation, after which chemotherapy will be prescribed.

However, medicine does not stand still and treatment for brain cancer is constantly improving. If there is a brain tumor at an early stage, then a gamma knife and a cyber knife are used to remove it. The principle of operation of this therapy is based on irradiating cancer cells with a strong energy flow, thereby killing them. This technique is used as the main treatment for cancer in the early stages and is extremely effective.

If there is a malignant brain tumor, the technique is also used to treat it ultrasound therapy. Scientists are making every effort to minimize trauma to healthy tissue when treating disease. Carrying out radiation therapy prescribed after surgery. After assessing the nature of the formation, the duration of irradiation is determined. On average, this period ranges from 7 to 21 days.

Speaking of brain cancer, treatment may include cryosurgery. The principle of the procedure in influencing education liquid nitrogen, leading to its freezing. This is an effective way to get rid of cancer in the brain.

Prognosis of the disease and its consequences

When wondering whether brain cancer can be treated, it should be noted that the sooner the patient sees a doctor, the greater the chance of a successful outcome. According to statistics, if the tumor was diagnosed at the initial stage, then over the course of 5 years the number of patients with embroidery reaches 60-80%.

However, a completely different answer is obtained to the question of whether brain cancer at an advanced stage can be cured. In most cases, it is not possible to cope with the disease; all treatment methods are not able to bring desired result. Within five years, about 30-40% of patients embroider. The survival rate depends on the size of the tumor, the nature of the formation, and its location.

How to stop worrying?

Speaking of brain cancer, symptoms may not appear as pronounced as described above. A person may experience distant signs of the disease, and if there is a suspicion that this is happening to the body, it is recommended to see a doctor immediately. If it is not possible to see an oncologist, it is recommended to donate blood for biochemistry. If deviations from the norm are observed, it is recommended to be examined more thoroughly. The first signs of the disease can be determined by an ophthalmologist by observing the condition of the eyeball.

According to statistics, many patients do not pay attention to the first manifestations of oncology. But if there is brain cancer, treatment at the first stage will be most effective. Find out at late stages Cancer is very scary, because it is no longer possible to recover from the disease.

Conclusion

Brain tumors are a general name for all neoplasms that are located inside the skull or in the spinal canal. The collection of cells may be benign or malignant; One of the key differences between a malignant tumor is its rapid growth, which is accompanied by the destruction of healthy tissue.

Benign tumors can be congenital (germinomas, angiomas, chordomas and others), or they can develop in adults from cells of various brain tissues - hemangioblastomas from blood vessels, ependymomas from cells forming the cavities of the ventricles of the brain, and so on.

Malignant neoplasms are divided by origin. Primary ones form directly on brain tissue, for example, glioma grows from cells that surround neurons. Secondary (approximately 40% of all tumors) are metastases of malignant tumors that are located in other parts of the body. Leukemia and lymphoma, breast cancer, lung cancer - these and other types of cancer are characterized by spread through the bloodstream.

Brain tumor symptoms

As the disease progresses, disturbances in blood flow in the brain intensify, intracranial pressure increases and the first signs appear, the so-called cerebral symptoms. In addition, focal symptoms are distinguished; specific clinical manifestations Brain tumors are caused by the pressure it puts on neighboring tissues and the destruction of brain cells.

The severity of symptoms directly depends on the location of atypical cells and the rate of their reproduction. The size of the tumor also matters, but depending on its location, the symptoms of brain cancer can be subtle even with relatively large sizes, while a small tumor can be accompanied by clear clinical manifestations.

General cerebral symptoms

Neurological signs of brain cancer begin to appear with nonspecific symptoms. They are typical for large quantity the most various diseases and cannot directly indicate the presence of a neoplasm. These include:

1. Headache

Since headaches are not caused by vascular problems, but by increased intracranial pressure, they do not become less severe with the use of painkillers. In adults, it usually spreads throughout the entire head, although in some cases it may hurt only in the area where the tumor is located. Most often this is the temporal part of the head, occipital or fronto-orbital. The pain can be completely different:

begins early in the morning and may end by mid-afternoon;
occurs in a dream, accompanied by confusion;
pulsating, observed along with general weakness muscles, numbness of the skin. Possible double vision;
worsens when bending over, coughing.

2. Vomiting

The reason is high pressure tumors in those areas of the brain where the centers responsible for vomiting reflex. The urge occurs at the peak of the headache, usually in the morning. Vomiting is not associated with food intake and does not bring the expected relief, unlike nausea during poisoning. Sometimes the intensity of vomiting is so high that eating is not possible.

3. Dizziness

When the cerebellum area is compressed, serious disruptions in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus occur. Dizziness is considered one of the most characteristic cerebral symptoms of tumors. The patient may have the feeling that he is moving in space, while in fact he is standing in one place. Illusions of movement appear: objects rotate or the ground moves away from under your feet. Dizziness is often accompanied by horizontal nystagmus, an involuntary twitching of the eyeballs from side to side.

4. General weakness

As the tumor grows, the blood supply to the brain is invariably disrupted, the outflow of blood is hampered, or it reaches the brain tissue in insufficient quantities. It leads to fatigue, increased sleepiness, decreased appetite. May be observed elevated temperature bodies over time.

5. Mental disorders

Despite general clarity of consciousness, the following behavioral disorders may be observed:

memory impairment of varying degrees of intensity;
disorders of thinking and perception;
aggression and irritability;
lethargy and apathy;
inability to concentrate.

In rare cases, personality disorders in adults may include disorientation and the inability to say one's name or remember an address, and hallucinogenic delusions may occur.

6. Cramps

As a symptom, they are more often observed with benign tumors or with slowly growing malignant ones. They are uncontrolled muscle tension and movement in the limbs or throughout the body. In most cases, such an attack is preceded by the so-called “aura” - a certain complex of unusual sensations that is caused by irritation of a certain part of the brain. It can be:

hallucinations (visual, auditory), slight muscle twitching;
tingling on the surface of the skin, numbness of the limb;
visual disturbances – sparks or fog before the eyes, “spots”, decreased visual acuity.

7. Photophobia

Unpleasant sensations, pain and sensitivity of the eyes in bright light.

Specific (focal) symptoms

The functions of specific areas of the brain are disrupted under the influence of pressure from an expanding tumor. So, if the focus is located near the area of the brain in which the centers responsible for vision are located, disturbances will be observed specifically in the visual sphere; similarly with all other sense organs and systems of the body. Focal symptoms of brain cancer can be expressed in extremely diverse ways.

Changes and disturbances in sensitivity

The skin stops responding to external stimuli - heat, cold, pain and others. In the most severe cases, the patient ceases to feel the position of the body or its parts in space.

2. Movement disorders

The tumor can exert pressure in such a way that permanent disruptions occur in the process of transmitting impulses between the brain and spinal cord. As a result, the ability to control muscle activity is partially or completely lost. Movement disorders include:

paralysis. The motor activity of a certain area of the body is completely disrupted;
paresis. The ability to control muscles is partially lost.

Paresis and paralysis can affect certain areas of the body (for example, only one limb), or can spread to the entire body.

3. Hearing and speech impairments

If the area of the tumor affects the part of the brain responsible for hearing, deafness gradually progresses until complete absence ability to perceive sounds. Perception may be impaired: if the brain tissue responsible for speech recognition is damaged, a person is unable to receive audio information from the outside. The ability to hear sounds remains, but for the patient they represent meaningless noise.

4. Visual impairment

When tumor damage affects optic nerve, violations can be very different. Most often this is gradual loss of vision and blindness, but there may be other options. For example, if the conduction of impulses between the brain and eyeball a person may not recognize objects that are in motion, or may not perceive text on paper.

5. Speech disorders

Speech functions are gradually lost gradually: at first the patient simply speaks slurredly, and his handwriting is slightly distorted. As the tumor grows, articulate speech disappears completely, and handwritten text cannot be understood.

6. Epileptic seizures

They begin with prolonged and persistent irritation of the cerebral cortex by an overgrown tumor.

7. Autonomic disorders

Violation of the normal regulation of the tone of the vascular walls leads to significant fluctuations in blood pressure and pulse. The patient feels severe weakness and increased fatigue. When trying to quickly change body position, dizziness occurs.

8. Hormonal disorders

Various hormonal disorders appear if the tumor affects areas of the brain and nervous system that are responsible for the production of hormones (hypothalamus, pituitary gland of the brain).

9. Coordination disorder

When the tumor is located directly next to the cerebellum or midbrain, powerful motor disorders. For example, a patient cannot eyes closed touch the tip of your nose. The gait changes; in some cases, a person is unable to take a step without visual control.

10. Psychomotor disorders and personality changes

As a result of damage to the areas of the brain responsible for memory, various disorders associated with the quality of long-term and short term memory. The patient becomes excessively irritable, distracted and uncollected, and his character undergoes strong, sometimes dramatic changes.

Symptoms depending on the location of the tumor

Complex neurological symptoms varies and is directly dependent on in which part of the brain the tumor is located, in which direction it grows and how it puts pressure on neighboring areas:

tumor in the frontal lobe: characterized by a general decrease in intellectual functions, impaired articulate speech (motor aphasia), excessive carelessness, talkativeness, and playfulness appear in the character. Changes in gait are observed;
tumor at the base of the brain: decreased vision and nystagmus, strabismus, pain in the lower half of the face;
tumor in the brain stem: sharp fluctuations in blood pressure, respiratory rhythm disturbances, decreased tone in the extremities, general disorder skin sensitivity, facial and smile asymmetry;
tumor in temporal lobe: a speech disorder in the form of sensory aphasia, the once familiar language is transformed into a jumbled set of sounds. Seizures and loss of one or more visual fields are also observed;
swelling in the back of the head: double vision, serious visual impairment up to complete blindness;
tumor near the subcortical nuclei: pronounced autonomic disturbances (for example, excessive sweating), changes in muscle tone up or down, involuntary movements of the limbs.

If any complex of the symptoms described above appears, you should consult a doctor; Only an experienced specialist will be able to carry out a competent diagnosis and differentiate the first signs of a brain tumor.