How To Cure Brain Tumor?
How To Cure Brain Tumor?
Introduction
Tumors are known to develop at any time of a person’s life. These can develop at any part of the human body. Earlier diagnosis of autoimmune diseases like cancers can make room for successful treatment. Unfortunately, detection done at a fairly later stage – say, at stages 3 or 4 – severely restrict successful outcomes.
The good news is: rates of long-term survival among people with tumors are gradually increasing. This is chiefly due to greater awareness levels along with the advent of breakthroughs in treatment protocols and pathways.
You are advised to stay wary of the symptoms that are typical of tumors. You may tend to overlook the typical signs. Ignoring the first few signs is a misstep in many cases. This happens primarily because cancers’ signs may take the form of any normal ailment!
What Are Brain Tumors?
You need to know tumors can form at any site in your body. Tumors are an outcome of an exponential growth of cells of a tissue; this tissue may be in your lungs, throat, head, etc. Among the various forms of tumors, brain-based tumors are also an autoimmune disorder. Like all other forms of tumors, here there is an excessive growth of cells inside your cerebrum, cerebellum or the medulla oblongata.
Tumors developing inside the brain can be of several sub-genres. Medical science has grouped them based on which part of your brain is affected; pace at which growth of cells occurs – i.e., slackened pace or at a breakneck speed. Beware of faster multiplication of cells in your brain; these may take the form of a cyst or a lump-type structure within the cerebral system.
What Triggers A Brain Tumor?
The causes underlying onset of a brain tumor are several. Chief among them are people who smoke excessive amount of tobacco products; these include cigarettes, cigars and the like, people who are older than 55 years of age, development of such tumors among close relations in your family tree – to name a few.
In some cases, onset of a few types of viral strands has emerged as a cause for brain tumors. Those who are living with infections caused by a microbe known as Epstein Barr virus may have an added risk of getting a brain tumor. Not stopping with these risks, the place you live may also work as a trigger in some people. Polluting and / or toxic work places like factories where heavy metals like lead is handled; places where you are exposed to breathing pesticides or herbicides, the odds of brain tumors tend to increase.
Within the broader genre of brain tumors, there are several sub-types. One of the most-often occurring sub-type is the glioma type of brain tumors. This name is accorded as it occurs mostly on glial lining of tour brain cells. In fact, brain tumors of this sub-type take a large share in terms of incidence; more than 1/4th of brain tumors belong to this sub-type!
In terms of pace of growth, medulloblastoma takes the top slot – it is known for its exponentially high speed of multiplying. Brain tumors in children often belong to this sub-type. If you are not treating it, this tumor soon spreads (read: metastasises) into the spinal section of your child.
In terms of rate of growth – two sub-types of brain tumors fare at the slowest spectrum of growth. These are conditions such as craniopharyngioma and ganglioglioma. Of these, the former shows up quite near to your pituitary glands. When this starts applying stress on your nerves aiding in eyesight, you may have difficulties seeing things clearly. Craniopharyngioma is known for this excessively slow pace of multiplication. Ganglioglioma is another form of brain tumor, known for its slackened pace of growing. However, this may spread over to neurons linked to your brain.
Diagnosis Of A Brain Tumor
Doctors who treat cancers – also known as oncologists – employ a handful of procedure to detect onset of a brain tumor. Most commonly used diagnostic procedures include radiology scans, puncture of lumbar, biopsy, etc.
Radiology scans are done by using a computer tomography scan (referred to as CT scan), MRI scans – this is an acronym of magnetic resonance imaging as well as positron-emission-tomography – in short, a PET scan.
A PET scan is often conducted along with other scans like say, a CT or an MRI scan. These combinatorial approaches are called PET-CT or PET-MRI diagnostic protocols. Such combinations help create images of a very high resolution; in most cases, there is a fusion of diagnostic images. The three-dimensional (3-D) outputs such combinations produce offer finer insights into your autoimmune condition.
Another most used diagnostic procedure is the biopsy of a brain tissue. This is done with collecting a sample of a tissue off your cerebral system. It is a common thing to take a sample from your brain with the help of a surgery.
It is your team of oncologists that decides on which diagnostic procedure or combination works well for your condition. In order to know more, you are advised to talk to your caregiving team(s).
Brain Tumor Treatment
There are several proven and time-tested ways to treat a brain tumor. Some of them are invasive by nature and the rest are non-invasive. Among the invasive protocols, brain tumor surgery fares as a commonly used approach. Surgical teams take maximum level of care to protect the non-cancerous parts / tissues of your brain. Treatment planning measures spend a sizable amount of time and efforts to ensure the healthier side of your brain tissues remain untouched during your brain surgery.
Apart from invasive pathways, oncologists use non-invasive approaches like radiotherapy, drug-intensive approach called chemotherapy or use of chemo meds. In case of radiotherapy, an equipment known as linear accelerator – in short, linac, is used to transmit powerful, high-intensity rays into the affected tissue.
There are also several cases wherein a combination of radiation therapy, administration of chemo meds as well as use of surgery is used.
Brain Tumor Surgery
Depending on the type of brain tumor, choice of surgery is considered. There are a few clinically established approaches to treat brain tumor via the surgical route.
Among the many approaches, craniotomy is done by opening up your cranium. This indeed is one of the widely practiced surgical protocols for treatment offered to tumors of cerebral system. Some conditions may necessitate a relatively non-invasive option called ablation done with the use of laser. In a few remote cases, surgeries are done through endoscopy – most popular route is the endonasal channel. Thanks to advancements in clinical sciences, there are MRI or CT-guided surgeries to treat brain tumors.
As mentioned, doctors are often resorting to optimally invasive processes like laser-based surgical pathways and endoscopic protocols. Use of laser is done by making a tiny aperture on your head and a source emitting laser-radiations is placed in the cranial chamber(s). Heat coming off the laser-source is used to destroy harmful cancer-causing cells in your brain.
Minimally or optimally invasive procedures such as use of endoscopy – mostly through the endonasal pathway is another popular protocol. This helps surgical oncologists reach your brain via nasal airways.
No two tumors developing inside your cerebral system are of the same form and shape. Hence, each tumor may need a customised treatment approach for treatment. The collective experiences of treating oncologists helps in arriving at what treatment plan works well for your brain tumor. Most forms of brain tumors are removed with needful surgeries. There are also conditions in your brain that may warrant a multi-pronged approach; in such cases, the team of oncologists may evolve a comprehensive treatment plan.
Such plans for brain tumors may include a surgery – either an invasive procedure or a minimally / optimally invasive protocol – before sessions of radiation therapy as well as chemotherapy. There are also cases wherein a surgery and chemo drugs alone may be used. It remains the choice of the treating team to weigh the available options and take an optimal decision.
In sum, if risks of tumors run in your family, you need to stay very alert of even minor changes in your health. Risks tend to get higher when family members get tumors. In such cases, it is a healthy practice to consult with your caregiving team regularly. Your physician may order tests based on blood samples; the most direct test is to check the count of your blood cells i.e., white, red cells and platelets. In order to know more, you are advised to seek needful inputs on brain tumors and how to treat them, from your treating doctor.
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Education: Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai Experience: Agarwal is a seasoned pharmacist with over 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical field. She has worked in various settings, including hospital pharmacies and community clinics, where she has excelled in medication management, patient counseling, and clinical support. Agarwal is known for her expertise in drug therapy optimization and patient safety. In addition to her practical experience, she contributes to health journalism, focusing on pharmaceutical advancements and health policy, and is involved in research projects aimed at improving medication practices and health outcomes. is known for her expertise in drug therapy optimization and patient safety. In addition to her practical experience, she contributes to health journalism, focusing on pharmaceutical advancements and health policy, and is involved in research projects aimed at improving medication practices and health outcomes.