What is Brain Tumor ?

A brain tumor is a growth of cells in or near the brain. Brain tumors can develop within the brain tissue itself or in nearby areas such as the nerves, the pituitary gland, the pineal gland, and the membranes covering the brain’s surface.

Brain tumors that originate in the brain are called primary brain tumors. Sometimes, cancer from other parts of the body spreads to the brain, resulting in secondary brain tumors, also known as metastatic brain tumors.

For those seeking specialized care, Brain Tumor Treatment in Nanakramguda, Hyderabad offers advanced options including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy tailored to the type and location of the tumor, aiming to improve outcomes and quality of life.

Symptoms

General signs and symptoms caused by brain tumors may include:

The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor depend on the brain tumor's size and location. Symptoms also might depend on how fast the brain tumor is growing, which is also called the tumor grade.

Symptoms to Watch For

• Headache or pressure in the head that is worse in the morning.
• Headaches that happen more often and seem more severe.
• Headaches that are sometimes described as tension headaches or migraines.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Eye problems, such as blurry vision, seeing double, or losing sight on the sides of your vision.
• Losing feeling or movement in an arm or a leg.
• Trouble with balance.
• Speech problems.
• Feeling very tired.
• Confusion in everyday matters.
• Memory problems.
• Having trouble following simple commands.
• Personality or behavior changes.
• Seizures, especially if there is no history of seizures.
• Hearing problems.
• Dizziness or a sense that the world is spinning, also called vertigo.
• Feeling very hungry and gaining weight.

Brain tumors that aren't cancerous tend to cause symptoms that develop slowly. Noncancerous brain tumors also are called benign brain tumors. They might cause subtle symptoms that you don't notice at first. The symptoms might get worse over months or years.

Cancerous brain tumors cause symptoms that get worse quickly. Cancerous brain tumors also are called brain cancers or malignant brain tumors. They cause symptoms that come on suddenly. They get worse in a matter of days or weeks.

Types of Brain Tumors

Types of brain tumors include:

• Gliomas and related brain tumors: Gliomas are growths of cells that look like glial cells. The glial cells surround and support nerve cells in the brain tissue. Types of gliomas and related brain tumors include astrocytoma, glioblastoma, oligodendroglioma, and ependymoma. Gliomas can be benign, but most are malignant. Glioblastoma is the most common type of malignant brain tumor.
• Choroid plexus tumors: Choroid plexus tumors start in cells that make the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid. Choroid plexus tumors are located in the fluid-filled cavities in the brain, called the ventricles. Choroid plexus tumors can be benign or malignant. Choroid plexus carcinoma is the malignant form of this type of brain tumor. It's more common in children.
• Embryonal tumors: Embryonal tumors begin in cells that are left over from fetal development. The cells, called embryonal cells, stay in the brain after birth. Embryonal tumors are malignant brain tumors that happen most often in babies and young children. The most common type of embryonal tumor is medulloblastoma. It's usually located in the lower back part of the brain, called the cerebellum.
• Germ cell tumors: Germ cell tumors start in reproductive cells, called germ cells, that go on to become the sperm and egg cells. Germ cells are mostly in the ovaries and testicles. But sometimes they're in other parts of the body, including the brain. When germ cell tumors happen in the brain, they're often located near the pineal gland or the pituitary gland. Germ cell tumors are mostly benign. They're more common in children.
• Pineal tumors: Pineal tumors start in and around the brain's pineal gland. The pineal gland is located in the center of the brain. It makes a hormone called melatonin that helps with sleep. Pineal tumors can be benign or malignant. Pineoblastoma is a malignant type of pineal tumor that's most common in children.
• Meningiomas: Meningiomas are brain tumors that start in the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Meningiomas are usually benign, but sometimes they can be malignant. Meningiomas are the most common type of benign brain tumor.
• Nerve tumors: Nerve tumors are growths that happen in and around nerves. The most common type that happens in the head is acoustic neuroma, also called schwannoma. This benign tumor is located on the main nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain.
• Pituitary tumors: Brain tumors can begin in and around the pituitary gland. This small gland is located near the base of the brain. Most tumors that happen in and around the pituitary gland are benign. Pituitary tumors happen in the pituitary gland itself. Craniopharyngioma is a type of brain tumor that happens near the pituitary gland.
• Other brain tumors: Many other types of rare tumors can happen in and around the brain. Tumors can start in the muscles, blood vessels, and connective tissue around the brain. Tumors can form in the bones of the skull. Malignant brain tumors can start from the germ-fighting immune system cells in the brain. This type of brain cancer is called primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Brain Tumor Headaches

Headaches are the most common symptom of brain tumors. Headaches happen in about half of people with brain tumors. Headaches can occur if a growing brain tumor presses on healthy cells around it. Or a brain tumor can cause swelling in the brain that increases pressure in the head and leads to a headache.

Headache pain caused by brain tumors is often worse when you wake up in the morning. But it can happen at any time. Some people have headaches that wake them from sleep. Brain tumor headaches tend to cause pain that's worse when coughing or straining. People with brain tumors most often report that the headache feels like a tension headache. Some people say the headache feels like a migraine.

Brain tumors in the back of the head might cause a headache with neck pain. If the brain tumor occurs in the front of the head, the headache might feel like eye pain or sinus pain.