Brain Cancer

Brain cancer is a malignant group of cells that quickly multiply to create a mass in the brain. All brain cancers are tumors, but not all brain tumors are cancerous.

Brain tumors can be very complex to diagnose and treat due to the anatomy of the brain. Brain cancer is not one disease but includes primary brain tumors (e.g., glioblastoma) and secondary (metastatic) tumors from other sites in the body (e.g., lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma). 

• In adults, brain metastases are more common than primary brain tumors.
• Glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of primary brain cancer, has a median survival of about 15 months with treatment.

Symptoms

• Persistent headaches, especially if they are worse in the morning
• Nausea or vomiting
• Vision problems
• Loss of sensation or movement in the limbs
• Difficulty balancing
• Trouble speaking and forming coherent sentences
• Confusion
• Trouble hearing
• Changes in personality
• Memory loss
• Seizures

Risk Factors

• Exposure to radiation
• Family history of brain tumors
• Certain genetic syndromes
• Age can be a risk factor for certain types of brain tumors

Prevention

While many brain tumors have unknown causes, minimizing exposure to ionizing radiation and managing inherited risk factors can be beneficial.

While only a small percentage of individuals with brain tumors have family history of brain tumors, it is important to understand the risks and work with doctors to get the best outcomes.

Screening

There are no routine screening tests for brain tumors. Individuals experiencing persistent neurological symptoms should consult a healthcare provider for an evaluation.

If suspected, your doctor might perform a neurological exam which evaluates vision, reflexes, hearing, balance and coordination, and mental status. Further imaging, like an MRI, would need to be ordered to identify a brain tumor.

Treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or clinical trials, depending on tumor type and location.