A recent study by the World Health Organization has revealed that brain cancer develops in 22,000 new people annually. The death toll associated with cancer has increased too with 13,000 people recorded to have succumbed to the disease every year.
Brain cancer can emanate from other parts of the body and spread to the brain, this is referred to as secondary cancer. Tumors that form in the brain can also be a cause of primary brain cancer. Common symptoms of the disease include speech problems, visual disturbances, weak limbs, and headaches just to mention a few. In addition, seizures and focal neurological deficits may also indicate the presence of the disease.
These two common types of brain cancer require two different types of treatment. Secondary brain cancer requires either Gamma knife surgery, chemotherapy or surgery followed by radiotherapy. On the other hand, primary brain cancer requires surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
While a brain tumor may look like the chief source of brain cancer, not all of them are cancerous. Also, brain tumors vary, none is the same as the other. Headaches are the most common symptom of brain cancer, an increase in their frequency and intensity is enough reason to visit a doctor as fast as possible.
To add to the cancer facts mentioned above, you should also know that family history plays a big part in the spread of brain cancer. Apart from these, here are other facts about brain cancer that you need to familiarize yourself with.
3No Age Limit
Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children. Closely following behind at number two is brain cancer. The most common brain cancer in kids is medulloblastomas, which occurs before 10 years of age. However, there also is another type of brain cancer called Ependymomas that can either be cancerous or noncancerous.
When it comes to adults, gliomas and meningiomas are the two cancers that often appear. Glial cells or neuroglia as they are sometimes called, are responsible for the formation of myelin, providing protection from neurons, offering support to the nervous system, and maintaining homeostasis.
However, the same cells are also responsible for the formation of gliomas, hence the name. Meningiomas, on the other hand, arises from the meningeal tissue on the brain. However, the tumor is often benign and may not result in much. Needless to say, seek medical advice because even a benign tumor can be dangerous if it presses against vital nerves or blood cells.
