As the name suggests, brain cancer is a condition wherein there is a rapid growth of cancerous cells in your cerebral system. Growth may either be at a faster rate or slower pace; this rate depends on the kind of cancer in the brain. Excessive growth of cerebral cells may lead to formation of lumps or cysts inside your head.  

There are many factors that trigger cancers in your brain. These include a clinical track-record of cancers in brain among close relatives viz., parents, getting old, smoking tobacco-based products for a very long span of time, living with Epstein Barr viral infections, excessively exposed to chemicals such as rubber, plastic or lead, working in places where herbicides or pesticides are manufactured. 

The above fare as primary reasons that may cause cancers in your brain. There are also secondary brain cancers. These show up when you are already having cancer(s) in another part. Cancerous conditions that may spread over or metastasise  onto your cerebral system are – cancers in the urinary bladder, renal cancers, breast cancers, lung-based cancerous conditions, etc. In some cases, skin-related cancers – like melanoma – can also metastasise / spread to brain. 

There are different categories for brain cancers; these are meningioma, astrocytoma, glioma, ganglioglioma, schwannomas, craniopharyngiomas, medulloblastoma, etc. Of these, meningioma may show up on tissues adjoining the brain as well as the spinal column. This is a widely encountered cancerous condition in case of grown-ups. Though it is slow in growing, it is often a benign condition.  

On the other hand, glioma are cancers that occur in your glial cells. This condition accounts for more than 25% of total incidence of cerebral cancers. Astrocytoma is a sub-set of gliomas; however, this form grows at a much faster pace than most other cancers. 

This is in stark contrast to cancers of the brain like craniopharyngiomas – which grows at a very leisurely rate. Craniopharyngiomas are mostly spotted between the brain and your pituitary gland. These cancers apply pressure on visual nerves. As a result, you may have difficulties in seeing objects clearly. Another cancerous condition that grows at a slower rate is a condition called ganglioglioma; this often shapes up on nerve cells of the brain. Such cancers can be treated with surgical interventions. 

Medulloblastoma grows at a faster pace than most cancers of the above categories; these are quite commonly observed among children. These conditions are known to form on younger people’s nerves, and also on the cells of their central nervous system i.e., CNS. 

Among brain cancers of benign nature, schwannomas fares in this list; this condition grows over a period of time; it is considered as one of the slowest growing cancerous conditions. Your nerves and nerves cells of the cranium are affected by such cancers. 

There are a few standard diagnostic procedures to detect the onset of brain cancers. These are radiology and imaging scans, biopsy of tissue samples taken from your cerebral system, puncturing the lumbar, and not to forget a detailed examination / assessment of your nervous system. Radiology and imaging procedures are done with the help of technologies like magnetic resonance imaging, computer tomography, positron emission tomography scan, etc.  

A special mention is needed on how the positron emission tomography scan works; this is also called PET, in short. PET captures data on changes in metabolism within cells of an organ or even a tissue. This is critical as cancers are known to start at the cell-level. Also, such cellular-level clarity is not captured with the help of other technologies like, say – computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans.  

There are instances wherein PET scans are ordered along with other tests like computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. These are labelled as PET / MRI, PET / CT scans, etc. The resultant output is a fusion of imageries. This fusion helps in creating a 3-D output; such outputs are known to divulge more details and thus make way for diagnosis done at high precision levels. 

Biopsies done on tissues of your cerebral system may involve a surgery. Though such an incisive intervention, a tiny part of the cancerous tissues is extracted. The extracted sample is then checked for malignancy. Puncturing your lumbar involves collection of samples of your cerebrospinal fluid – this fluid runs through your spinal column as well as brain. The collected fluid sample is then put under a panel of tests to diagnose the onset of cancers in your brain.