Brain Cancer
Brain Cancer- an Overview
The Brain is one of the biggest and the computing center of the human body. The Brain and the spinal chord make up the central nervous system (CNS), and it responsible for most of the actions and reactions that the body makes. Speech, thought, sight, hearing and movement and a lot more is directly controlled by the brain. The brain and the spinal chord is placed inside perfectly fit spaces surrounded by bones with no space to spare, that is why even small growths in any place the CNS adversely affects the persons, thoughts, speech or some other bodily functions.
Brain tumors
Any cell abnormality can quickly become larger and expand in size, forming tumors that spread and get larger. Tumors are of two types- benign and cancerous; benign tumors do not spread, but cancerous tumors spread. Usually brain tumors do not metastasize, that is, they do not spread anywhere outside the CNS, they are contained. Cancers that travel to the brain, however, are much more common and are deadly. Brain tumors take up space and directly affect the tissues in the brain and spine, this has direct and drastic outcomes and there will some noticeable effect early on. Deaths caused by brain tumors are also a result of growing within the confines of the skull or the spine. The mortality rate of brain tumors is high as they grow quickly and are invasive.
Prevalence of brain cancer
Primary brain cancer is the most common cancer among children between the ages 0 to 19 and it expected to affect 4600 children this year. There will 70,000 new diagnoses of brain cancer this year.
Types of brain cancer
The Brain is one of the biggest and the computing center of the human body. The Brain and the spinal chord make up the central nervous system (CNS), and it responsible for most of the actions and reactions that the body makes. Speech, thought, sight, hearing and movement and a lot more is directly controlled by the brain. The brain and the spinal chord is placed inside perfectly fit spaces surrounded by bones with no space to spare, that is why even small growths in any place the CNS adversely affects the persons, thoughts, speech or some other bodily functions.
Brain tumors
Any cell abnormality can quickly become larger and expand in size, forming tumors that spread and get larger. Tumors are of two types- benign and cancerous; benign tumors do not spread, but cancerous tumors spread. Usually brain tumors do not metastasize, that is, they do not spread anywhere outside the CNS, they are contained. Cancers that travel to the brain, however, are much more common and are deadly. Brain tumors take up space and directly affect the tissues in the brain and spine, this has direct and drastic outcomes and there will some noticeable effect early on. Deaths caused by brain tumors are also a result of growing within the confines of the skull or the spine. The mortality rate of brain tumors is high as they grow quickly and are invasive.
Prevalence of brain cancer
Primary brain cancer is the most common cancer among children between the ages 0 to 19 and it expected to affect 4600 children this year. There will 70,000 new diagnoses of brain cancer this year.
Types of brain cancer
- Gliomas- They are the most common type of cancer and grows from a glial cell, a type of brain cell. The different types of gliomas are Oligodendroglioma, Brain stem glioma, Mixed gliomas and Ependymomas.
- Non glioma brain tumors- These are tumors that are originate from other brain cells that are not supportive. The types of non gliomal tumors are Meningioma, CNS lymphoma, pituitary gland cancers, and Medulloblastoma
Primary brain tumors account for only 50% of the total brain cancer cases and the remaining half is cancer that has metastasized to the brain. The annual incidence of brain cancer is 3 per 100,000 population. The survival rate after diagnoses of brain cancer at a relatively early stage averages around 34%.