Brain tumours are growths of abnormal cells in or near the brain. Brain tumours occur not only in the brain itself, but in nearby tissues. Brain tumours can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Depending on where the tumour is located in the brain and if the tumour is cancerous, the tumour may be noticed early on or it may take a long time for someone with a brain tumour to notice any symptoms at all.
There are several types of brain tumours. Each is defined by the cell type that makes up the tumour. The most common brain tumours include:
Common symptoms of brain tumours include:
Brain tumours are caused by a change, or mutation, in a gene that tells the cells it lives in to start growing quickly and reproducing as fast as possible, leading to an abnormal mass of cells. Some gene changes that cause brain cancer are inherited, but these are rare cases. Most of the time, the cause of the gene change is unknown.
Risk factors include:
Based on a thorough neurological exam and your medical history, your doctor may order further testing if they suspect a brain tumour. Tests for a brain tumour include imaging like a computerised tomography scan (CT) or a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) that will allow your doctor to see any type of abnormal cell growth in or near your brain. They may also want to take a small sample of the tumour tissue for testing.
Complications include:
Treatment will depend on the size, location, and speed of growth of the tumour. It also depends on the current health of the patient and their wishes. Options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted drug therapy. It’s also possible that immediate treatment is not necessary, and that the tumour will need to be monitored over time.