Brain Tumor Symptoms and How They Lead to Brain Cancer Diagnosis

Brain Tumor Symptoms and How They Lead to Brain Cancer Diagnosis

There are a lot of possible brain tumors symptoms, and most of them can also be found in people who do not have this ailment. Thus, some people tend to dismiss the signs they experience without knowing that they can lead to a cancer diagnosis. Knowing the common symptoms of brain cancer can help by alerting patients who experience these so that they would undergo a brain scan to determine whether a cancer is present.

Brain Tumors Symptoms

Headaches. The most common symptom is a persistent headache. Over 46% of patients with brain cancer experience headaches, although they usually experience them differently and with no defined pattern. Headache that may be due to a tumor is usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and can get worse when you bend over.

Seizures. Seizures are the second most common among all brain tumors symptoms, with 33% of patients reporting a seizure prior to a diagnosis. Seizures are also linked to other diseases such as stroke or epilepsy. If a person is diagnosed with epilepsy or hypertension, seizures should still be brought to the attention of a doctor. However, if it is a persons first time to have a seizure, it is usually indicative of a new illness that he might not be aware of. One of the possible illnesses this may point to is a brain cancer. Thus, a person should get a brain scan immediately after the incident.

Vision or Hearing Problems. A person with a brain cancer will also most likely experience some problems or abnormalities in vision or hearing. Around 25% of patients experience vision problems. These problems occur when a tumor is causing an increased intracranial pressure on the areas of the brain that control hearing and vision.

Behavioral and Cognitive Abnormalities. Some changes in behavior and cognitive ability have been reported among patients with brain tumors. These include problems in short-term memory, inability to concentrate, inability to find the right words to use, and abnormal behavior such as uncharacteristic lack of patience or loss of inhibitions.

Strange Sensations. Since the brain controls much of the body, a tumor can also cause some problems with any body part. Usually, these manifest in strange sensations or a weakening feeling in the legs, arms, facial muscles, head, or hands. These symptoms have been reported in 25% of patients. However, these are also signs of a stroke. When these suddenly occur, the patient must be brought to the doctor. If a stroke is ruled out, then the patient will be advised to get a brain scan to check for tumors.

Brain tumors symptoms and diagnosis can be tricky. When doctors are faced with these, they usually consider the more common causes first before they consider brain cancer. However, some doctors tend to take too long testing different diagnoses, and this may lead to a delay in treatment. Thus, trust only a cancer specialist experienced in dealing with the symptoms.

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Beware Dental X rays Can Trigger Brain Tumor

Dental X-rays Can Trigger Brain Tumor | For those of you who frequent dental check using x-ray, should be wary. A recent study in the United States, published on 10 April 2012 in journal Cancer indicates, they often undergo X-rays of the teeth have a greater risk of tumors in the head commonly called a meningioma cancer.

These tumors grow on the inner lining of the skull. Most growing slowly, but they can cause problems and can even be deadly, if it begins to put pressure on the brain.

In his study, scholars from Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, Mass., make the observation of two methods of radiation (x-ray) is called a "bitewing" and Panorex.

The research involved nearly 3,000 adults aged 20-79 years, about half (1433 people) among those diagnosed with tomor. Researchers found that patients often undergo radiation x-ray or dental X-rays in the area associated with a higher risk of developing cancer.

Specifically, patients who have had a Panorex checks once a year or more, have a risk 2.7 to 3 times greater meningoma cancer, depending on age, rather than people who have never done this x-ray. While participants who had X-rays "bitewing" at least annually, the risk is 1.4 to 1.9 times greater with meningioma cancer.

Meningioma is a tumor of the membranes that cover the brain, which is more common in women than men, especially in the age of 50-60 years. But, most meningiomas are benign.

Study author Dr. Elizabeth Claus, said although the patients with dental problems currently getting a lower radiation exposure than in the past, but the researchers asked the dentist and patient to consider when and why it is necessary X-rays.

"I hope this research will help to raise awareness about the optimal use of dental x-rays," he said.

Guidelines from American Dental Association says, kids can get a one-time exposure every 1 or 2 years; for teenagers once in the period from 1.5 to 3 years, while adults can get the exposure once in three years 2-3.

Meanwhile, Michael Schulder, vice chairman of the department of neurosurgery of Cushing Neuroscience Institute, is not surprised by these findings.

"The possibility of tumor in patients undergoing dental radiation is low. However, dentists and patients should consider again that too much radiation each year, unless there are symptoms in dental patients who really need radiation," he concluded.