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How to treat Brain tumors?

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The treatment of brain tumors depends on their type and location where they are localized.  It also depends on the patient’s age, gender, general physical health, and other risk factors associated with the treatment type. The type of treatment chosen can be used independently or usually a combination treatment protocol is designed according to each patient’s condition and health. Various brain tumor treatment options are explained in this post by Dr. Kalyan Bommakanti India’s best neurosurgeon.

  1. Chemotherapy:

It is a treatment protocol specifically used to kill cancer cells. It includes a combination of one or more drugs that work together to prevent cancer cells from growing and to prevent symptoms. These drugs can be taken orally or intravenously. The most common type of drug used is temodar.

Chemotherapy also possesses various side effects that include nausea, fatigue, vomiting, compromised immune system, and hair loss. These effects depend on the type of drug and dosage. Chemotherapy is considered to be more effective in lymphomas and tumors in children.

2. Radiation therapy:

The use of radiation to kill cancer is an effective treatment option. It uses x-rays and high-energy beams for this purpose. High-energy beams allow the doctor to take more precise control over the radiation. This treatment can be done via external beem radiation or internal beem radiation. In external beem radiation, the radiations come from a machine and pass through the body from outside. However, in rare cases, brachytherapy is used in which radiations are placed inside the body close to the targeted brain tumor. The side effects usually include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, memory issues, and scalp irritation.

3. Surgery:

Removal of brain tumors through surgical approach is also common however it is a challenge for the neurosurgeon to precisely remove the tumor leaving behind the healthy brain tissues intact. The aim is to remove the tumor cells as much as possible and to make sure that the patient’s vital neurological functions such as speaking, walking, etc. are preserved. The surgical approach to removing tumors has side effects such as bleeding and infection.

4. Rehabilitation:

Depending on the part of the brain where the tumor is located, various motor skills can be impaired such as vision, speech, and listening. Due to this reason, your doctor may refer you to a physical therapist, speech therapist, or occupational therapist to regain lost motor skills.


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How are Brain tumors diagnosed?

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A brain tumor is an abnormal mass of uncontrolled growing tissues, these tumors can develop in any part of the brain such as in its base or the lining. The brain is the control center of the body, these tumors may affect different neurological functions depending on the part of the brain being affected. There are over 120 types of brain tumors. Generally, brain tumors are categorized into two broad categories i.e. primary and secondary tumors. Primary tumors are non-cancerous and develop within the brain however secondary tumors are cancerous and are metastasized from tumors of any other part of the body. There are various ways to diagnose these tumors depending on their location, size, and type. These diagnostic tools and measures are briefly explained here by India’s best neurosurgeon Dr. Kalyan Bommakanti.

  1. General health investigation:

Normal functioning of the body is checked according to the symptoms being noticed. It also includes family history, past medical and surgical history, and current and past medication history.

2. A neurological examination:

The normal functioning of cranial nerves such as balance, hearing, vision, reflexes, and coordination are examined through special tests to rule out any neurological deficits. Any abnormality seen in one or more functions may indicate the presence of a tumor affecting the particular part of the brain responsible for that function.

3. Diagnostic imaging:

The diagnosis of tumors can be a complicated process, it requires a team of different specialists. Usually, a brain tumor is discovered while performing diagnostic tests for some other medical issues. Imaging includes an MRI, a CT scan, or a PET scan.

4. Biopsy:

To perform a biopsy, a part of the brain tissue needs to be obtained during an operation or can be performed using a needle. The brain tissue is extracted through the needle by drilling a hole in the skull, this tissue is then frequently guided by CT or MRI. The biopsy is done to see if the tissue is cancerous or not.

5. Spinal tap:

Lumbar puncture is done using a small needle to extract CSF from the spine. Laboratory tests are done on that fluid to look for cancerous material.


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What are various types of Brain Tumors?

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The abnormal growth and multiplication of cells in an abnormal mass of tissue present in the brain is called brain tumor or an intracranial tumor. These tumors divide at an uncontrollable rate and can be very dangerous if left unchecked. Usually they are not detected by the mechanisms of the body that keep a check on normally growing cells. The rate at which it grows vary from person to person. However these tumors can seriously compromise a person’s nervous system, it depends upon the location and the division rate. These tumors have multiple treatment options that too depend on the general physical health of the patient, size, location and type of the tumor.

Here in this article, India’s best neurosurgeon Dr. Kalyan Bommakanti has briefly explained the various types of brain tumors:

Primary brain tumors:

Brain tumors that originate within the brain cells are called primary or benign tumors. These tumors are not cancerous. These tumors usually grow at a slow rate. They don’t spread to other parts of the brain but still can be life-threatening. They can compromise vital parts and functions of brain by compressing them. Some serious neurological disorders can occur by this.

Some of the common examples of primary brain tumors are:

  • Meningioma
  • Chordomas
  • Pineocytomas
  • Pituitary adenomas
  • Schwannomas
  • Craniopharyngiomas
  • Gangliocytomas
  • Germ cells tumors

Secondary brain tumors:

Tumors that are spread from any other part of body are called secondary or metastatic tumors. These tumors are considered cancerous and are spread usually through the bloodstream. Some common cancers that can spread to brain are lung cancer, breast cancer, kidney cancer, skin cancer or colon cancer. These tumors are very dangerous in nature as they have a high growth rate and are metastasizing rapidly.

Types of malignant brain tumors are as follows:

  • Oligodendroglioma
  • Astrocytoma
  • Ependymomas
  • Glioblastomas
  • Medulloblastomas.

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What are the symptoms of Brain Tumors?

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The abnormal and uncontrolled growth of the brain tissues leads to tumors that may be cancerous or non-cancerous. These tumors affects functioning of the brain, which depends on the size and location of the tumor and also its type. Primary tumors are those which originate within the brain cells while secondary tumors are those which have been spread from any other cancerous part of the body. Early detection and proper treatment is a key to good prognosis.

Here are signs and symptoms caused by brain tumors explained by the best neurosurgeon in India Dr. Kalyan Bommakanti:

  • Frequent headaches:

Headaches that maybe intense in the morning or may get worse at night.

  • Restlessness:

General fatigue and restlessness may follow throughout the day without any known cause.

  • Nausea:

Gut problems may occur causing nausea frequently.

  • Vomiting:

Severe or mild vomiting may be seen.

  • Balance and coordination disturbance:

Body may seem to lose control over balance and coordination.

  • Visual defects:

The eyes are a common target for brain tumors. Partial or severe visual field loss is noted.

  • Sensational loss:

Complete or partial loss of sensations in the arms or legs.

  • Hand tremors:

Tremors in hands which may be resting or intentional are a common symptom.

  • Generalized weakness:

Overall body aches and weakness may be experienced.

  • Speech difficulties:

Difficulty in speech is seen when the respective part of the brain is affected.

  • Behavioral changes:

Sudden mood swings and irritability can be seen.

  • Seizures:

People who didn’t experience seizures before may experience in this time period.

  • Hearing loss:

Temporary and partial or severe loss of hearing is one of the common symptoms.

  • Memory issues:

The changes in brain leads to a major deficit in memory.

  • Confusion:

The person may seem confused and may be unable to make decisions as before.

  • Bladder or bowel control problems:

The incontinence of bladder and bowel is also a symptom of brain tumors. In extreme cases, there may be loss of control of these systems.


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Health

What are Brain Tumors?

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A brain tumor is an abnormal mass present in the brain tissue which tends to grow at an uncontrollable rate compromising the functions of the part of the brain being affected. These tumors are also called intracranial tumors. The brain is a complex structure with numerous complicated systems and functions. There are over 150 types of tumors documented, all being different in nature from each other because of the diverse and complicated anatomy of the brain.

Brain tumors are generally categorized into two main types, i.e. primary and secondary. Primary brain tumors are benign and originate within the brain however the tumors that have been spread from any other part of the body are called secondary tumors. Primary or benign tumors are non-cancerous in nature while secondary or metastatic tumors are cancerous.

The growth rate and severity of these tumors depend upon the location and size of the tumor. It also depends on how deeply it has affected the area. It may or may not include the lining of the brain that plays a protective part. All of these factors determine the extent of the nervous system damage the tumor may cause. This damage is also dependent on the general physical health of the individual. The growth rate may be fast in some individuals and slow in others. It may vary greatly according to the type of tumor and the gender, age, and physical health of the individual.

The cause of these tumors can be determined by their type. Risk factors may include family history, age, gender, and chemical exposure. It may have some connection with the environment. The treatment options depend upon the size and location of the tumor. However the treatment may be effective when the tumor is diagnosed at an early stage, then the prognosis may be good.


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How fast do Spinal cord Tumors Grow?

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A spinal cord tumor is an abnormal growth of cells around the spinal cord usually in the lining of the spinal cord called the dura. The nature of these tumors may be primary or secondary. Primary tumors (benign) are produced within the spinal cord however secondary tumors (malignant) have spread from cancer in any other part of the body. These tumors may or may not be cancerous. It depends upon the type of tumor, its cause, and the patient’s health status.

The best neurosurgeon in India Dr. Kalyan Bommakanti has explained in this article the rate at which these tumors spread. It depends upon their type as primary tumors that are non-cancerous grow slowly and secondary tumors that are cancerous spread rapidly. Secondary tumors are spread from other parts of the body when the cancer cells enter the bloodstream or the lymphatic system.  These systems while exchanging the fluids to the spine or the spinal cord, causes the secondary tumor to occur in the affected site. The damaged lymphatic system also affects the body’s ability to fight infections.

The pain and discomfort caused by metastatic tumors are usually constant and are not relieved by rest and may actually aggravate at night. Some other symptoms may also be seen such as nausea, vomiting, or weight loss. Spinal cord tumors may occur in any area in the spine such as the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, or coccygeal regions. It also causes symptoms like numbness, weakness, urinary incontinence, sensory or motor loss, and muscle weakness. It may also cause semi or complete paralysis or even death in severe cases.

These tumors may result in paralysis and may be life-threatening in some cases. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are necessary in order to figure it out in time and cure it completely.


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