Posts Tagged ‘Benign’

How do Brain cancers grow over a period of time?

Cancer is a collection of many related diseases that are all characterized by one common feature. Some of these tumors do not spread beyond their point of origin. Others are capable of spreading large distances, often to other organs and tissues. This process is called “metastasis”, and tumors which can metastasize are called “cancers”.

What is Brain Tumor?
Brain tumors can either originate from within the brain (“primary brain tumors”). From cancer cells that have metastasized from other organs or tissues (“secondary brain tumors”). Primary brain tumors can be derived from the over twenty different cell types that make up the brain and its linings.

What are Primary Brain Tumor?
Primary tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or benign. These tumours start in the brain and do not spread. They rarely spread beyond the central nervous system. The tumor is still taking up space in the skull. They can cause serious complications and symptoms.

Primary Brain Tumor Types in Adults

- Gliomas
Tumors derived from astrocytes:
- Anaplastic astrocytoma (“grade III”)
- Glioblastoma multiforme
Tumors derived from oligodendrocytes:
- Oligodendrocytes
- Oligodendrogliomas
Tumors derived from ependymal cells:
- Ependymomas
- Anaplastic ependymomas
Meningiomas
- Consequences of intracranial hypertension.
- Dysfunction Irritation.

What are Secondary Brain Tumor?
- These tumours are often called metastatic tumors.
- They are the result of cancer cells originating from another part of the body.
- They are spread to the brain.
- Secondary brain tumors often indicate advanced stages of disease.
- Both cancerous primary and secondary tumors are life threatening.
- These types of tumors are usually very aggressive.
- Secondary tumors means a cancerous neoplasm that has developed in another organ elsewhere in the body
- These cancer cells have leaked from that primary tumor and then entered the lymphatic system and blood vessels.
- They then circulate through the bloodstream.
- They are then deposited in the brain.
- These cells continue growing and dividing.
- They become another invasive neoplasm of the primary cancer’s tissue.
- Secondary tumors of the brain are very common in the terminal phases of patients.

Other Types of Growth
1. Low-grade vs. high-grade:
- Low-grade tumors are slow-growing.
- High-grade tumors are fast-growing and aggressive.
- High-grade tumors can invade nearby tissue or spread elsewhere in the body.
- They are also more likely to recur after treatment.
- They are generally associated with a worse outlook.

2. Localized vs. Invasive:
- Localized tumor is confined to one area.
- It is generally easier to remove.
- It’s in an accessible part of the brain.
- An invasive tumor has spread to surrounding areas.
- It is more difficult or impossible to remove completely.

Signals and Causes
Signal Number 1:
- First headache complaint from person over 50 years old.
Possible Cause:
- Brain tumor, arteriïtis temporalis.

Signal Number 2:
- First migraine attack in person over 40 years old.
Possible Cause:
- Brain tumor.

Signal Number 3:
- Headache in person under 6 years old.
Possible Cause:
- Brain tumor, hydrocephalus.

Signal Number 4:
- Person over 50 years old with pain at temples.
Possible Cause:
- Arteriïtis temporalis

Signal Number 5:
- Pregnancy with unknown headache.
Possible Cause:
- Pre-eclampsia.

Signal Number 6:
- Increased headaches after trauma.
Possible Cause:
- Sub/Epidural hematoma.

Signal Number 7:
- Severe headaches and very high blood pressure.
Possible Cause:
- Malignant hypertension.

Signal Number 8:
- Acute severe headache.
Possible Cause:
- Meningitis, CVA (Cerebrovascular accident or stroke), subarachnoidal hemorrhage.

Signal Number 9:
- Headache and fever (with reduced consciousness).
Possible Cause:
- Meningitis.

Signal Number 10:
- Stiffness of the neck/neurological dysfunction.
Possible Cause:
- Meningitis, brain tumor.

Signal Number 11:
- Headache with signs of elevated intracranial pressure.
Possible Cause:
- Brain tumor.

Signal Number 12:
- Focal neurological dysfunction.
Possible Cause:
- Brain tumor.

Signal Number 13:
- Early morning vomiting or vomiting unrelated to headache or other illness.
Possible Cause:
- Brain tumor.

Signal Number 14:
- Behavioral changes or rapid decline in school results.
Possible Cause:
- Brain tumor.

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What is the difference between primary tumors and secondary tumors?

A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm a solid or fluid-filled(cystic)lesion.
- This may or may not be formed by an abnormal growth of neoplastic cells.
- This appears enlarged in size.
- Tumor is not synonymous with cancer.
- A tumor can be benign, pre-malignant, or malignant.
- It may represent a lesion with no cancerous potential whatsoever.
- The nature of a tumor is determined by imaging, by surgical exploration, by a pathologist after examination of the tissue from a biopsyor a surgical specimen.

Causes
A neoplasm can be caused by:
- an abnormal proliferation of tissues.
- genetic mutations.
- encapsulated glandular swellings (thyroid, adrenal gland, and pancreas).
- encapsulated hematomas.
- encapsulated necrotic tissue (from an insect bite, foreign body, or other noxious mechanism).
- keloids.
- granulomas (discrete overgrowths of scar tissue).

Enlargements of normal structures like:
- ureters,
- blood vessels,
- intrahepatic
- extrahepatic biliary ducts
- pulmonary inclusions
- gastrointestinal duplications

Tumours can be primary and secondary.

Primary Tumors

- Primary tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or benign.
- These tumours start in the brian and do not spread.
- They rarely spread beyond the central nervous system.
- The tumor is still taking up space in the skull.
- They can cause serious complications and symptoms.

Benign Brain Tumors
- These are tumors that remain in the part of the brain in which they started.
- They don’t spread into and destroy other areas of the brain.
- They do not spread to other parts of the body.
- A benign tumour can be removed successfully.
- This shall cause no more problem once removed.
- Some benign tumours will regrow slowly.
- These tumours are treated with radiotherapy or further surgery may be needed.

Malignant Primary Brain Tumors
- These are most likely to cause problems by spreading into the normal brain tissue.
- This causes pressure and damage to the surrounding areas of the brain.
- These tumors rarely spread outside the brain to other parts of the body.

Secondary Tumors

- These tumors are often called metastatic tumors.
- They are the result of cancer cells originating from another part of the body.
- They are spread to the brain.
- Secondary brain tumors often indicate advanced stages of disease.
- Both cancerous primary and secondary tumors are life threatening.
- These types of tumors are usually very aggressive.
- Secondary tumors means a cancerous neoplasm that has developed in another organ elsewhere in the body.
- These cancer cells have leaked from that primary tumor and then entered the lymphatic system and blood vessels.
- They then circulate through the bloodstream.
- They are then deposited in the brain.
- These cells continue growing and dividing.
- They become another invasive neoplasm of the primary cancer’s tissue.
- Secondary tumors of the brain are very common in the terminal phases of patients.

The most common types of cancers that bring about secondary tumors of the brain are:
- lung cancer
- breast cancer
- malignant melanoma
- kidney cancer
- colon cancer
- cervical cancer

Signs and Symptoms of secondary tumors:
- In lymph nodes, a common symptom is lymphadenopathy.
- Lungs: cough, hemoptysis and dyspnea (shortness of breath).
- Liver: hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) and jaundice.
- Bones: bone pain, fracture of affected bones.
- Brain: neurological symptoms such as headaches, seizures, and vertigo.
Secondary tumor is occurred by four routes:
- Transcoelomic
- Lymphatic spread
- Haematogenous spread
- Transplantation or implantation

What is breast cancer? How to do breast self examination?

Cancer starts when the cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. The growth of a cancer cell is different from normal cell growth. Cancer cells do not die but they continue to grow and form new, abnormal cells. They can harm other tissues also. The normal cells become cancer cells when there is a damage to DNA. Most cases, cancer cells can become tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia, rarely form tumors.Cancer cells spread to other parts also. It does not matter where does cancer spread, they are always named from where it started. Not all tumors are cancers.

A simple Breast Self Examination (BSE) can be done to detect any chances of breast problems like lumps or change in appearance. The breast self examination should be done about a week after your periods end. Breast self-exam should be performed on the same day each month.

Breast self examination involves the following steps :
- Use left hand for right breast and right hand for left breast.
- Remove all your clothes and stand in front of mirror.
- Observe the size, shape, color, symmetry and texture of your breasts.
- Observe for any kind of discharge or puckering of the nipple.
- Observe for sores or scaly skin.
- Examine the breasts in four different postures.
- First, both arms folded down.
- Second, both arms over the head and check for any swelling or puckering of the skin.
- Third, both arms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles.
- Fourth, bent forward to examine each breast for change in outline or dimpling of the skin.
- Lie down, check the entire right breast area with your left hand. Make small circles and follow an up and down pattern with light, medium and firm pressure over the area of the breast.
- Feel the breast surface with second, third and fourth fingers of the hand making circular motions.
- Also, squeeze the nipple for any kind of discharge.
- Repeat the same steps with left breast but with right hand.
- During shower, examine the breast tissue in the underarms.
- Feel for lumps under and along the top of the collar bone.

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