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The first signs and symptoms, stages and treatment of brain cancer

Brain cancer is a dangerous disease that is difficult to treat and can lead to death of the patient. The greatest threat lies in its asymptomatic – stage four brain cancer in which the patient has marked symptoms, poor response to treatment and prognosis for these patients is disappointing.

The symptoms with which the patient can see a doctor, easily confused with manifestations of other diseases. So, headaches, vomiting and dizziness in combination with visual impairments characteristic of cluster headaches, hypertensive crisis. Headache can also be caused by degenerative disc disease. Therefore, in the treatment of brain cancer depends on the skill of the doctor, is accessed for diagnosis – will he be able to detect danger signs and to conduct the necessary inspection that will help identify cancer.

Klassificeret tumors according to the tissues in which they began their growth. So, tumors, developing from the meninges, called meningiomas. Tumors arising in the tissues of the brain – the astrocytoma or ganglioma, common name – neuroepithelial tumors. Neuroma – malignant neoplasm affecting the sheath of the cranial nerves.

Gliomas account for 80% of malignant brain tumors, meningiomas are also common tumors, occur in 35% of cases of primary cancer of the brain.

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Causes of brain cancer

Causes of brain tumors studied enough in 5-10% of cancer is triggered by genetic abnormalities of the genes, secondary tumors arise in the spread of metastases in cancer of other organs.

The following causes of brain cancer:

  • Genetic disease syndrome gorlina, Bourneville disease, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, tuberculosis sclerosis, and disorders of the APC gene can cause the development of brain cancer.
  • The weakened immune state that can occurafter organ transplantation, patients with AIDS increases the likelihood of cancer tumors in the brain and other organs.

  • Brain cancer is more common in women than in men. With the exception of meningiomas – tumors of the arachnoid of the brain. Racial identity also plays an important role – skinned people are more likely to suffer from the disease than other races.
  • Exposure to radiation and carcinogenic substances also carries oncogenic risk and is a risk factor for the development of brain cancer. The risk group includes people involved in hazardous occupations, for example, in the industrial manufacture of plastics.
  • Brain cancer is more common in adults, with age, the risk of malignant neoplasms increases and the disease harder to treat. Children also have the risk of cancer, but typical places of localization of tumors differ: in adults, the cancer often affects the lining of the brain, whereas in younger patients suffering the cerebellum or the brain stem. In 10% of cases of brain cancer in adults tumor affecting the pineal body and the pituitary gland.

Secondary tumors are the result of other cancer processes in the body – metastases penetrate into the skull through the circulatory system and give rise to malignant tumour in the brain. Such tumors are frequent in breast cancer and other cancers.


The first signs of brain cancer

For tumors of the brain symptoms are of two types: focal and cerebral. Cerebral characteristic of all cases of cancer of the brain, whereas focal depend on the localization of the tumor.

Focal symptoms can be very diverse, their type and severity depend on the area of the brain that affected the disease and the functions for which he is responsible – memory, oral and written language, account, etc.

Among the focal symptoms of brain cancer are:

  • The partial or total disruption of the mobility of certain parts of the body, disturbance of sensation of the limbs, distorted perception of temperature and other external factors;
  • Changes associated with the personality – changing character of the patient, the person may become short-tempered and irritable, or, conversely, too relaxed and indifferent to everything that previously bothered him. Lethargy, apathy, carelessness in the makingimportant decisions affecting the life, impulsive actions – all of which can be a symptom of mental disorders that occur in cancer of the brain.
  • The loss of control over the bladder, difficulty urinating.

For all brain tumors, common symptoms associated with increased intracranial pressure, and mechanical effects of tumors at various centers of the brain:

  • Dizziness, loss of balance, feeling that the ground was slipping from under his feet – arise spontaneously, are an important symptom that requires diagnostic studies;
  • Pain in the head, often stupid and unbearable, but can have a different character; usually occur in the morning before the first meal and in the evening, or after emotional stress, aggravated by physical exertion;
  • Vomiting – appears in the morning or unchecked occurs when a sudden change in head position. Can occur without nausea, not associated with meals. Under intense vomiting the risk of dehydration, due to which the patient is forced to take drugs that block stimulation of the respective receptors.


Other symptoms of brain cancer

Symptoms of brain cancer that appear in the later stages:

  • Partial or complete loss of vision, "flies" before the eyes is a symptom triggered by the pressure of the tumor on the optic nerve that, in the absence of timely treatment can lead to death. To restore vision in this case would be impossible.
  • By displacement of the tumor of the auditory nerve causes hearing loss in a patient.
  • Epileptic seizures that occur suddenly in young people is a dangerous sign, which should immediately consult a doctor. Characteristic for the second and later stages of brain cancer.
  • Hormonal disorders are frequently observed in adenomatous tumors of glandular tissue that can produce hormones. Symptoms can be very diverse, as in other diseases associated with hormonal imbalance.
  • Lesions of the brain stem are characterized by the dysfunction of breathing, swallowing, distorted sense of smell, taste, sight. When the seriousness of the symptoms, which can significantly lower quality of life and make a person unhealthy and dependent, brain damage can be minor and benign. But even a small tumor in this area canlead to serious consequences, displacement of brain structures, which raises the need for surgical intervention.
  • Tumors in the temporal area of the brain manifest themselves in visual and auditory hallucinations, tumors in the occipital region are characterized by disorders of color perception.

Diagnosis of brain cancer

The diagnosis of brain cancer include:

  • Personal medical examination. During the initial examination, the doctor asks the patient to perform a number of tasks that allow you to detect problems with coordination, tactile and motor functions: touch your fingers to your nose with your eyes closed, take a few steps right after rotation around itself. The neurologist checks the tendon reflex.
  • MRI with contrast is administered in the presence of deviations from the norm that allows to detect brain cancer early, determine the localization of the tumor and develop the best treatment plan.
  • Puncture of brain tissue to determine the presence of abnormal cells, the rate of change of tissue to determine the stage of the cancer process. However, the biopsy tissue is not always possible due to the inaccessible location of the tumor, so this analysis is most often performed when a malignant neoplasm.
  • Radiography – to determine the presence and localization of the tumor shown in the picture the blood vessels for which the patient is pre-administered contrast agent. Craniography allows to determine the changes in bone structure of the skull, abnormal layering of calcium provoked by the cancer process.

After a diagnostic examination, the doctor makes an individual treatment plan.


Stage of brain cancer

In view of the almost asymptomatic course of the disease to accurately determine the stage of cancer is difficult, especially because the transition from one stage to another occurs rapidly and unexpectedly. Especially true for cancers in the brain stem. Accurately determine the stage of the disease only after post-mortem autopsy, therefore, to the slightest manifestations of pathology must be treated carefully since the first days – at the latest stages of cancer not amenable to surgical treatment, poorly responds to medications and other therapies.

Stage 1 brain cancer

In the first stage the cancer affects a small number of cells, surgical treatment is oftengoes successfully with minimal risk of relapse. However, to detect ekoobrazovanie at this stage is very difficult – the symptoms of other diseases, so to detect cancer only when a special diagnosis. For the first stage of cancer the characteristic weakness and sleepiness, periodic pain in the head and dizziness. Such symptoms rarely go to the doctor, as these manifestations is attributed to the weakening of the immune system due to climate change or to chronic diseases.

Stage 2 of brain cancer

The transition of the cancer process at the second stage is accompanied by tumor growth that captures the surrounding tissue and begins to compress brain centers. Dangerous symptoms include convulsions and seizures. In addition, the patient may experience digestive disorders – problems with bowel movements and recurrent vomiting. At this stage, the tumor is still operable, but the chances of a full recovery decrease.

Stage 3 brain cancer

The third stage of brain cancer is characterized by rapid tumor growth, and malignant degeneration of cells affect healthy tissue, making it virtually impossible surgical removal of the tumor. Nevertheless, surgical treatment can give good results if the tumor is in the temporal lobe.

The symptoms of the third stage of brain cancer – amplified symptoms of the second stage, hearing, vision and speech become more pronounced, patients have problems with the selection, "remembering" words, it's hard to concentrate, distracting and impaired memory. Limbs numb, they felt a tingling sensation, impaired mobility of the hands and feet. Upright and walking becomes impossible to maintain balance due to dysfunction of the vestibular apparatus. A characteristic symptom of the third stage – horizontal nystagmus – the person has shifty eyes, even if the head remains stationary, the patient himself does not notice.

Stage 4 brain cancer

At the fourth stage of cancer surgical treatment not carried out because the tumor involves the vital parts of the brain. Use palliative techniques, radiation treatment, drug treatment aimed at reducing the suffering of the patient with the help of strong painkillers. The prognosis is not good, but a lot depends on the condition of the immune system of the patient and his emotional state. The symptoms of brain cancer at this stage due to the loss of the main functions in the propagationmalignant process in the relevant parts of the brain. At low efficiency of treatment, the patient falls into a coma from which more comes out.


How I live with brain cancer?

For prediction of disease development and assess the health status of patients with cancer of the brain people use the term "five year survival". Estimated people who have been diagnosed with the disease regardless of the treatment they undergo. Some patients after successful therapy live longer than five years, others are constantly forced to undergo medical procedures.

The average survival of patients with tumors in the brain is 35%. For malignant brain tumors, most of which are gliomas, the survival rate is about 5%.

Treatment of brain cancer

Treatment of brain cancer requires the cooperation of specialists in different fields – oncologist, internist, neurologist, neurosurgeon, radiologist and physiotherapist. Diagnosis of the disease usually starts with a visit to the doctor-the therapist or the neuropathologist, where the patient is sent to other specialists for further examination.

Further plan of treatment depends on the age of the patient (therapy of cancerous tumors in the younger age groups 0-19, middle and high different). In addition, in the preparation of course of treatment take into account the overall health of the patient, type of tumor and its location.

In the treatment of high-risk brain tumors used radiation therapy, radiotherapy, surgery. The most reliable method is surgery to remove the tumor, however, its implementation is not always possible due to the remote location ekoobrazovanie. Surgical intervention is rarely held on the third and fourth stages of cancer, as it carries large risks and does not give the desired result – at this stage of the disease, the tumor involves the vital parts of the brain, deeply embedded in healthy tissue and its complete removal is not possible.

Surgical treatment

Surgical removal of tumors is an effective method of treatment of brain cancer in the early stages, especially if we are talking about benign tumors. Surgical intervention in this case is different from abdominal surgery in which the surgeon can grab a portion of the surrounding tissue to prevent the spreadthe cancer process.

During surgery on the brain need to be as accurate as possible – an extra millimeter of tissues damaged during surgical manipulation, can cost a person vital functions. Therefore, in the terminal stages of cancer surgical treatment is ineffective to remove the tumor completely impossible, the pathological process extends further. Palliative techniques allow to reduce the pressure that the tumor exerts on neighboring sections, and medical treatment, radio - and chemotherapy slow the growth of tumors.

On the first and second stages of the cancer while removing a benign tumor, the symptoms completely eliminated. Therefore, with early diagnosis the prognosis for the patient is favorable. When a remote location of the tumor surgery requires additional research to determine the exact localization of the tumor. For the classification of tumors and determine the stage of the cancer, the doctor does a biopsy of the tissue.

To reduce tissue damage that may occur during the operation, apply modern techniques – tireostaticescoe radiosurgery. It's a surgical operation, which ensures high-precision delivery of radiation gamma rays or x-ray radiation in large doses to destroy the tumor. While healthy tissue is minimally affected either remains intact. The possibility of using the technique depends on the location and size of the tumor. This treatment the least traumatic for the patient, reduces the rehabilitation period and minimizes the risk of complications after surgery.

Conservative or medical therapy is performed before surgery and include:

  • Anticonvulsants – reduce the symptoms of the second and later stages of cancer, reduces the likelihood of a seizure;
  • Steroid anti-inflammatory drugs in this group relieve swelling of tissues of the tumor, which reduces mechanical pressure on healthy portions; common means – dexamethasone;

To reduce intracranial pressure may require shunting operation, the purpose of which is to withdraw the excess cerebrospinal fluid, the diversion of which is hampered due to compression of the tumor of cerebrospinal fluid pathways. The withdrawal of fluid through the catheter in the process ventriculo-peritoneal shunt – a plastic tube through the lateral ventricle connect with the abdominal cavity.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy of cancerous tumors is used in two cases: if patient's state of health contraindicated surgery or after removal of the tumor toprevent recurrence. Surgical removal of the tumors is ineffective in the later stages of brain cancer, then radiation therapy is used as the main method of treatment. The presence of concomitant chronic diseases, pathologies of the cardiovascular system may be a contraindication to surgical intervention. In other cases, radiation therapy can be used to destroy the abnormal cells that can cause cancer after a tumor was removed surgically.

Dose specialist assigns, individually, the impact is conducted locally, to minimize damage to the surrounding tumor tissues. For radiotherapy it is important to consider the type of tumor, its location and size of tumors. Apply two methods of radiotherapy:

  • Brachytherapy – performed during in-patient treatment; in the fabric of tumor formation by injected radioactive substance that destroys it from the inside. Dose of grain is calculated in such a way as to destroy the tumour, but healthy tissue remains intact.
  • External beam radiation therapy course in a few weeks, during which the patient a few minutes exposed to high doses of radiation. Sessions are conducted five days a week, to visit the hospital only at the appointed time, then the patient goes home.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is not used as the primary method of cancer treatment, given that its impact affects not only tumor tissue, but affects the body as a whole. The scheme of treatment is the doctor to include drugs of a certain group – antimetabolites, drugs alkiliruushim group of synthetic antibiotics, etc. the Treatment is a course of several cycles, between which you want to pause. Drugs taken orally or administered by injection or via a shunt liquarry. After three or four cycles take a break to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy.

The danger of chemotherapy is its negative impact on the organs of hematopoiesis and the epithelium of the digestive tract.

Endoscopic treatment

Endoscopic surgery is less traumatic than traditional methods of neurosurgery, as is done using a special equipment without extensive incisions. In the course of normal operations in the brain accessed by trephination, in which the skull is opened, which further injures the patient, prolonging the recovery period. Endoscopic techniques minimizes damage to nerves and tiny blood vessels, which is especially importantwhen working with brain tissue. Thus, endoscopic surgery is used for the treatment of hydrocephalus in children caused by stagnation of fluid in the ventricles of the brain, this activity is called ventroscopy. A pituitary adenoma is also possible to remove endoscopic methods, by the introduction of endoscopic instruments through the nose transnasal endoscopy.

Endoscopic surgery is also used in traumatic brain injuries, cysts and hematomas.


Is there a cure for brain cancer?

Oncology brain is the most complex treatment, as nerve cells of the cerebral hemispheres and the connections between them depends on the quality of processing of incoming and outgoing from the person information. Simply put, trying to destroy the cancer cells, it is easy to hurt a healthy, and in the localization in the brain, this means a greater risk of loss of memory, intellect, communication between the various organs and muscles.

In this regard, neurosurgeons Excel in developing new microscopic methods of intervention to reduce this risk, and in the meantime Japanese scientists have found an alternative means of combating cancer and other diseases. In Japan, the quality control of medical care is at a very high level, so any means of treatment are subject to rigorous testing.

Alternative medicine in Japan is not a way to cash in on naive and trusting patients in a desperate situation, and attempt to prove that all ingenious – is simple, and even complex diseases it is possible to overcome with the resources of the human body.

10 years ago, Japan had begun testing the action of atomic hydrogen on the man to create a universal medical appliance. In 2011, the Institute of Cancer Research in Osaka, began the experiments which confirmed the high efficiency of therapeutic action of hydrogen with various diseases, including tumorous brain lesions and metastases.

Of course, the speed of treatment with atomic hydrogen is incomparable with surgery, but as a result of experiments, scientists have found that 5 months of regular treatments, the tumor in the brain can be reduced to negligible size and completely removed in the future, talking about demonstrating x-ray and magnetic resonance images.

The technology on which the therapy based on the Soviet experimental treatment of viral and bacterial diseases by heating the body to a temperature of 41-42 degrees with a purposethe selection of special protein heat shock (eng. Heat Shock Protein), which helps to find the lymphocyte T-killers are cancer and other changes in the body. A significant disadvantage of this method, which was stopped all work is a high risk of denaturation of vital proteins. The Japanese use not only hot water but also atomic hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water.

By combining the so-called "active hydrogen" with artificial hyperthermia is obtained the possibility to heat the patient's body to 41.5-41.9 degrees without any health effects. In addition, this procedure can be done with the elderly patient, in contrast to the Soviet of the heating bath. This is very important since most of the patients with cancer is older age.

It is a device made for this procedure in Japan, is a comfortable armchair enclosed within a high bathtub. The patient sits in a chair, in the bath water is typed with AFP -560 mV. The water gradually heats up. The patient, depending on the severity of the tumor, age and other parameters, is assigned to stay in such chamber (20 minutes).

This kind of rest is available only to the Japanese in a specialized clinic, so it is worth mentioning the special Spa capsules, which activate the water to -150-200 mV and allow to restore the health of your body at home.

Lecture given by Yuri Andreevich Frolov: ufrolov.blog