A tumour is an abnormal mass of tissue that arises when cells begin to divide and grow uncontrollably. Tumours can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). A benign brain tumour does not spread into surrounding healthy tissue, whereas a malignant one may do so.
Brain tumours can affect adults and children, although these are rare in infants because their brains go through many more mitotic (cell division) cycles before maturing.
In this article, we will help you understand brain tumour causes and brain tumour treatment options.
What Are the Types of Brain Tumour?
There are many different types of tumours, each with its cause. The most common type of brain tumour is an astrocytoma (astrogliosis), which begins in the supporting cells called neuroglia. They grow slowly and can be cured if diagnosed early enough by surgery or radiotherapy. Astrocytoma accounts for 70% of primary brain tumours. Other common types include meningiomas (benign), ependymomas, oligodendrogliomas and malignant glioblastoma multiforme.
Meningiomas are benign tumours that originate in the central nervous system membranes. They develop from cells called arachnoid cells. They account for 15% of primary brain tumours.
Oligodendrogliomas are rare, slow-growing benign tumours arising from the supporting cells in the central nervous system called oligodendrocytes. These develop more often during adulthood and tend to affect people between 30–50 years old. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a malignant brain tumour, an astrocytoma that can be fast-growing and life-threatening.
Ependymomas are the second most common type of primary brain tumour in children. They develop from ependymal cells surrounding fluid-filled spaces deep inside the brain and spinal cord called ventricles.
Brain Tumour Treatment
Based on your health conditions, the doctor may recommend the following brain tumour treatment options.
● Surgery: Surgical treatment for brain tumour removal is one of the most common options available. In some cases, doctors may be able to altogether remove a benign or malignant tumour.
● Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation is often used in combination with chemotherapy to treat brain tumours, as it can help to reduce the size of a tumour before surgery.
● Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy alone is less successful at controlling the growth of tumours, but when combined with surgery, this treatment option may improve patient outcomes.
● Radiosurgery: Radiosurgery uses focused beams of radiation to destroy cancer cells. Radiosurgery is often used in combination with chemotherapy, surgery, or immunotherapy for brain tumour treatment.
● Rehabilitation: Patients who have undergone surgery for their brain tumour often require rehabilitation services to help them recover. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical or physiotherapy are all parts of brain tumour treatment. Rehabilitation can also provide support for patients who have suffered a stroke after receiving treatment for their brain tumour.
Conclusion
Regular check-ups can be used to screen for brain tumour treatment at their earliest stage of growth. This allows treatment to begin as soon as possible, which increases the chances of a successful outcome after surgery or other therapies have been carried out.