Posts Tagged ‘Cancerous’

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

Colon Cancer : Diagnosis and Treatment of Colon Cancer

If your signs and symptoms indicate that you could have colon cancer, your doctor may recommend one of more tests to be done:
- Blood Tests
- Using a scope to examine the inside of your colon.
- Using dye and X-rays to make a picture of your colon.
- Using multiple CT images to create a picture of your colon.
- Manual examination by inserting a gloved finger into the rectum in order to identify lumps or adenomas.
- Biopsy is a painless procedure when a tiny sample of the affected tissue is taken and used to trace the cancerous cells.
If cancer is present, the next step is to determine how advanced the tumour is and how far it has spread. Staging helps determine what treatments are most appropriate for you.
- Stage 0: Cancer is in the earliest stage.
- Stage 1: Cancer has grown through the mucosa but hasn’t spread beyond the colon wall or rectum.
- Stage 2: Cancer has grown to the wall of colon or rectum but has not spread to lymph nodes.
- Stage 3: Cancer has affected lymph nodes but not other parts.
- Stage 4: Cancer has spread to other parts and organs.
- Recurrent: This means your cancer has come back after treatment.

TREATMENT FOR COLON CANCER

The main focus is removing the primary tumour that caused the cancer and preventing the spread of malignant cells further into the body. Depending on the stage, there are three primary treatment options are: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
SURGERY
- Surgery involves removing the affected part and conjoining the healthy parts of the colon.
- How much of your colon has to be removed depends on the location and particular characteristics of your tumor.
- The surgeon can recommend colectomy if your colon cancer has grown into or through your colon in which colon is removed along with a margin of normal tissue on either side of the cancer. Nearby lymph nodes are usually also removed and tested for cancer.

CHEMOTHERAPY
- Chemotherapy can be used to destroy cancer cells after surgery, to control tumor growth or to relieve symptoms of colon cancer.
- It uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.

RADIATION THERAPY
- It uses powerful energy sources, such as X-rays, to kill any cancer cells that might remain after surgery.
- It helps to shrink large tumors before an operation so that they can be removed more easily.
- It can also be used to relieve symptoms of colon cancer and rectal cancer.