What are the symptoms of cancer onset? Much has been said about this. But, unfortunately, the percentage of people living with this terrible disease is high. And often living very briefly. Indeed, in most cases, cancer is diagnosed in the last stages.
Despite the fact that of all cases of oncology, a brain tumor is quite rare, the symptoms at an early stage described in the article will probably make someone seriously think and visit a doctor ...
Just remember that all the signs that will be discussed can characterize a completely different ailment. Therefore, do not reach a verdict on your own! Indeed, even doctors, on the basis of only one symptomatology, never make a diagnosis.
Types of tumors
These phenomena are quite rare. Among all types of tumors, they make up only 1.5%. But, unfortunately, they are fraught with great danger, since they are difficult to treat enough. A brain tumor looks pretty unsightly in the photo. However, it is worth remembering that not every one of them carries a mortal threat.
All tumors are divided into the following types:
- Benign. There are no malignant cells in such neoplasms. They are easily removed surgically. As a rule, such a tumor cannot arise again. Its boundaries are strictly marked. Tumor cells do not penetrate into adjacent tissues. However, even a benign tumor can cause a number of negative consequences. Depending on the location, it affects one or another sensitive area of the brain. As a result, an increase in intracranial pressure is observed.
- Malignant. Such tumors are very life-threatening. They tend to rapidly grow and penetrate neighboring tissues. View the photo below. A brain tumor affects all tissues in its path. Sometimes malignant cells separate. They can move to any other tissue - the unaffected areas of the brain, both the brain and the spinal cord. In some cases, an encapsulated tumor is observed. Metastases of the above type do not affect healthy tissue. The tumor is strictly limited to either the bones of the skull or other structures.
Causes of the problem
Oncological pathology of the brain is the result of abnormal cell division. Why, then, once completely healthy, begin to behave in this way? This question is asked not only by patients, but also by doctors and scientists are trying to find the answer. However, to date, the causes of brain tumors are poorly understood. This issue causes a lot of controversy among specialists.
Only a few factors that can cause a brain tumor are clearly identified. The reasons are as follows:
- Genetic heredity. People whose close relatives had brain cancer are at risk for this disease. However, scientists have not found direct evidence of this. Therefore, the question of the transfer of oncology "by inheritance" remains open. However, quite often there are cases when neoplasms arise precisely in those patients for whom this ailment has already occurred in family history.
- Radiation exposure. Workers whose work is associated with the nuclear industry, harmful production, are at great risk. Employees of scientific laboratories in which they work with radioactive substances, patients undergoing radiation therapy, complement the risk group.
- Chemical industry. Exposure to mercury, lead, vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile on the body can have quite serious consequences. These components are usually used in the manufacture of synthetics, textiles, and plastics.
- Injuries. Sometimes the causes of a brain tumor result from any intracranial injuries, bruises, even those received in early childhood.
- Bad habits. Alcohol abuse, excessive smoking can lead to cell mutations. Often this ends with their degeneration into malignant ones.
- Pathology in the body. Immunodeficiency virus, chemotherapy, organ transplantation sometimes provoke the formation of tumors. Long-term use of antibiotics is unsafe.
Does a mobile phone affect a brain tumor? The reasons may lie in the use of this communication tool. The above factor is not fully understood by specialists.
Stages of the disease
There are 4 degrees characterizing the course of a disease such as a brain tumor. Stages can change very quickly. There are cases when it was not even possible to identify them.
Consider the more pronounced degrees of the disease:
- 1 stage . The initial stage is characterized by a slow development of the neoplasm. Cells affected by the disease, a small number. At this stage, the tumor is subject to surgery. The outcome of the operation is usually favorable.
However, signs of a brain tumor at this stage are very mild. Patients may experience weakness, dizziness, and pain. It is unlikely that someone associates these symptoms, characteristic of many diseases, with oncology. Therefore, most of people do not undergo a complete diagnosis of the body. And only she is able to determine the development of the disease.
- 2 stage. The tumor begins to slowly cover adjacent tissues. Despite this, surgery is still allowed. A patient going to surgery has a great chance to recover.
If we consider the signs of a brain tumor, then nausea is added to the above, vomiting is possible. These phenomena are completely unrelated to the food process. The gag reflex is caused by a change in intracranial pressure. The patient may experience epileptic seizures, convulsions.
It is worth emphasizing once again: if there is a brain tumor, the stages described above (1 and 2) are operable. With them, the chance to get rid of the disease is simply huge.
- stage 3 . The disease is progressing. The disease poses a threat to the life of the patient. Malignant cells rapidly invade the tissue. Doctors often classify this stage as an inoperable brain tumor. Treatment occurs symptomatically with various medications.
- stage 4 . The most dangerous degree of oncology. The forecast is unfavorable. A rapidly growing tumor affects almost the entire brain. The patient "melts" right in front of his eyes.
However, there are cases of successful surgical intervention. For example, if the tumor is located in the temporal region. Further radiation and chemotherapy can stop the division of malignant cells. But often this degree is characterized by an irreversible process. Any treatment can only slow down the course of the disease.
Symptoms of the early stage
According to the accepted medical classification, brain cancer is divided into two types:
- Primary. It is formed directly in the brain tissue.
- Secondary. It occurs as a result of metastatic lesions.
Regardless of the location and type, the first signs of a brain tumor appear exactly the same. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that all the symptoms described below are related to a completely different ailment. But you can verify this only by visiting a doctor. Expand all your doubts, exclude the terrible diagnosis - “brain tumor”.
Symptoms at an early stage:
- Headache. It is this symptom that is detected at an early stage almost always. The intensity and type of such a symptom depends on the location of the tumor.
However, some patterns can be identified:
- Throbbing headache.
- Severe discomfort after sleep. Headache goes away after a few hours. Sometimes unpleasant sensations can accompany vomiting and confusion.
- Headache, to which double vision is connected. Muscle weakness, sometimes a failure of tactile sensitivity, is noted.
- Painful sensation, greatly aggravated by a change in body posture, physical exertion, and even coughing.
Do not rush to reach a verdict. Although headaches are classified as early symptoms of a brain tumor, statistics suggest that only 1% of patients with such symptoms showed an intracranial neoplasm. Based on the diagnosis, only a competent doctor can make the correct diagnosis.
In case of pain as a result of a tumor in the brain, their constancy is noted. As a rule, drugs in the fight against such a problem are powerless. Most often, discomfort can be observed in the morning.
- Dizziness . A fairly characteristic symptom. It is completely independent of the body posture. Dizziness occurs as a result of increased intracranial pressure. If the tumor is located in the cerebellum, it can put pressure on the center of the vestibular apparatus. This is another cause of dizziness.
- Dramatic weight loss. The human body is designed in such a way that slight weight loss is possible. This is especially often observed in the hot period. However, a sharp weight loss should alert you. This phenomenon can talk about the development of oncology. A tumor, synthesizing biological substances, seriously disrupts metabolic processes. As a result, the patient is rapidly losing weight.
It is important to understand that this is not only a brain tumor. Symptoms in the early stages of malignancy in any organ include rapid weight loss.
- Rise in temperature. One of the common symptoms of an ailment. Rising to extremely high marks, it can persist for a long period without falling. This symptom characterizes the functioning of the immune system. Oppressed by cancer cells, she is struggling to resist a formidable enemy.
- weakness. The patient begins to tire quickly enough. He is haunted by a feeling of weakness. This symptom indicates the release into the blood of the waste products of the tumor. The body is intoxicated. Often, this symptom accompanies vomiting. The patient has anemia due to a tumor of the blood vessels. It also leads to a breakdown.
- Vomiting. A brain tumor may manifest nausea. As a rule, in the early stages it occurs in the morning, before eating. Vomiting can occur completely unexpectedly, even with a change in the position of the head.
Subsequently, with the progression of the disease, other more characteristic signs of a brain tumor in adults appear. This is a deterioration in vision, smell, hearing. Mental disorders are even possible.
Tumors in children
Almost 16% of all malignant tumors detected in babies are brain cancer. Most often, children have medulloblastomas. They rarely give metastases. Their symptoms are mainly due to neoplasm pressure.
Brain tumors in young children are manifested by an increase in the circumference of the head, tension and swelling of the fontanel. Discrepancies in cranial sutures are noticeable. On the surface of the head of a newborn, a venous network can appear. In older children, sometimes increased intracranial pressure is not detected as a result of divergence of the sutures of the skull.
The symptomatology of a brain tumor in children is almost the same as in adults. However, the baby is not able to complain of a headache when it comes to the baby. Typically, the problem is determined by the behavior of the child. The baby periodically becomes restless, screaming piercingly. As a rule, children rub their face or head, constantly pull their hands to it.
Morning vomiting may also be characteristic. At the initial stage, this phenomenon is repeated at least 1-2 times during the week.
A common symptom is a change in the fundus. Visually, you can observe small swelling or hemorrhage in the retina. This is fraught with visual impairment, and can often lead to blindness.
Convulsions are infrequent. Their presence indicates a large tumor. Other signs are associated with the localization of the disease.
All of the above symptoms make it possible to suspect a brain tumor. And, despite the fact that the diagnosis of this problem is quite complicated, identifying an ailment at an early stage will give the baby a chance for a full recovery.
Disease detection
Even the most distant and mild signs, somewhat resembling those described above, should be the most serious reason to immediately consult a doctor for a detailed examination. Modern diagnostic methods include many activities.
The most effective ways to detect an ailment are:
- MRI - magnetic resonance imaging;
- MEG - magnetoencephalography;
- CT - computed tomography;
- angiography;
- OFERT - single-photon emission computed tomography;
- lumbar (spinal) puncture;
- PET, or positron emission tomography;
- biopsy.
After the diagnosis, the fate of the patient is decided. We are talking about a possible hospitalization for further examination of the ailment. As a rule, this happens already at the oncology center. The main goal of the further examination is to choose the right methods of treatment.
Methods of dealing with the disease
The elimination of any malignant formation includes three main areas: chemotherapy, radiation and surgical intervention. The fight against this disease has its own characteristics. Chemotherapy is ineffective if there is a diagnosis such as a brain tumor. Treatment is mainly based on the surgical removal of the neoplasm.
However, not all tumors can be completely removed. Much depends on their localization. Sometimes the neoplasm can be located in vital structures. Complete disposal of these tumors will lead to brain damage. In this case, only the permissible part is removed, and the residue is destroyed by irradiation or chemotherapy.
An alternative to surgical intervention are new technologies - cyberknife, gamma knife. Such methods allow a high dose of radiation to overcome a brain tumor. The treatment is so effective that it is often used in the early stages as the main method of control.
Today's medicine is developing and introducing new methods of surgical intervention. These are ultrasonic and laser techniques. The main goal of the development is to minimize injuries.
Radiation therapy is prescribed a week after surgery. The course depends entirely on the size of the malignancy. It varies from seven days to twenty-one.
There is another way to deal with the disease. This is cryosurgery. This method allows you to freeze a brain tumor. Treatment is considered quite effective. Liquid nitrogen is used at freezing temperatures to freeze cancer cells.
Forecast and consequences
Timely, adequate diagnosis is a chance to successfully recover from brain cancer. The treatment carried out in the above three directions guarantees an excellent prognosis. The statistics are as follows: the five-year survival rate of patients who were diagnosed with cancer in the initial stages is from 60 to 80%.
The picture is sad if a brain tumor is late diagnosed. The consequences may be irreversible. The impossibility of surgical treatment leads to disappointing statistics. The survival rate of such patients over a five-year period is only 30-40%. Of course, first of all it depends on the size of the neoplasm.
What to do to sleep peacefully?
If you notice at least one of the alarming symptoms, be sure to go to the doctor. Initially visit a therapist. Carefully collected tests will make it possible to diagnose or congratulate you on good health.
If it is impossible to test, start small - give blood biochemistry. An optometrist will see indirect signs of a possible danger by examining the fundus.
If necessary, you will be advised to undergo a more thorough diagnosis. However, it is completely possible that all your fears are in vain.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, quite often already in the last stages a brain tumor is detected. Symptoms at an early stage - headache and fatigue - are not accepted by people for serious signs of an insidious disease. In most cases, unfortunately, this is what happens. However, it is always important to listen to the signals given by your own body. Sometimes a headache is the first bell that signals the development of a malignant tumor localized in the brain.