Brain Cancer

Question: What is the difference between metastasized brain cancer and cancer that started in the brain? My mother had lung cancer a year ago and although it has not returned, she now has a tumor in her brain the size of a dime. It is cancerous .... so what is the prognosis and what is the difference between this type of brain cancer (where it originated in the lungs) and brain cancer that originiates in the brain. Also, what is the prognosis?

Answer: Cancer originating in a particular organ for the first time is called Primary neoplasm. Metastasis is its secondary spread through blood or lymph. Prognosis really depends on histological type of the cancer but metastasis generally requires more aggressive treatment in the form of chemo & radio because it is wide-spread. My best wishes are with your mother and you as her family in the battle against this cancer.

Question: What is to come next with a brain cancer diagnosis? Back in June we found out that my father has brain cancer. He originally had melanoma which then spread to the rest of his body, but the brain is the doctors' main focus. In July he had a Grand Mal seizure and was hospitalized for some time, then went to a nursing home for about 6 weeks while he underwent radiation therapy. He is now at home with me and I am caring for him 24/7. He's also currently taking Temodar (chemo) but the doctors are not very optimistic. I am just wondering what is to come, what do I need to be thinking about? What will happen mentally and physically to him? How do I know when things are really getting bad? I have a little bit, but not much of an idea of what will happen, as he already is having short term memory loss, vision loss, etc. I am interested in hearing from people who have been through this before with their own families. Thanks!

Answer: I'm sorry for your situation, very sorry. He's probably dying. Mets to the brain are usually the terminal stage for people with cancer. Melanoma in particular is very dangerous because it metasticizes to the brain easily compared to other cancers. The chemo may help, but brain mets are usally a very bad sign, and show that the cancer is very advanced. Depending on where it is in the brain, he may lose much of his cognitive function, he may forget things, he may not be able to do simple tasks. It's very hard to tell you what to expect, but you could be looking at him getting what looks like dementia. And then again, you may not--brain tumors can be very strange. He most likely will deteriorate though, and as the tumors spread and grow, whatever you're seeing in his behavior or inability to function will get worse. I recommend you look into hospice or a visiting nurse program eventually, as caring for someone 24/7 is so much for one person to handle--you need to have a life of your own, consider hospice.

Question: Can a traumatic brain injury lead to brain cancer? And what environmental factors, if there's any, that can cause brain cancer? How can someone have brain cancer even if there are no history of brain cancer in his family?

Answer: Exposure to certain toxins can increase the chances of developing cancer (such as in smoking) but injury is generally not associated with cancer.

Question: How long does it take to diagnois a brain tumor/cancer? Hi I am doing a report about brain tumors and brain cancer and I am wondering how long the diagnois proccess takes. I know the symptoms of each and I know the first step they take, which is giving a CT scan to look at the brain, but how long do the symptoms of brain cancer/tumor last, and how long does it take to diagnois?? Thanks for the help!!

Answer: I had it too easy the whole time mine was growing. I never had migraines, or any balance issues. I had a tingly arm that would come and go, for almost 2 yrs. That shoulder had been injured years ago, so I thought it was just a pinched nerve. Then the last few months I had a "funny" feeling in the pit of my stomach. (the aura). I also had a strong sense of deja vu a few times. Then the last week in aug 08, I had a migraine that lasted a couple hours. It went away and I got up and went to work. My boss fussed at me for coming in because I was "out of it." I didn't realize that though. I was off the next day and I was fine. Thought I was coming down with a bug or something. The next day, friday, I went to work and was fine for a few hours, I thought. Then I started feeling odd and got someone to go outside with me. My face was going numb and I had trouble forming my words. By the time I got outside, I couldn't speak. My boss called 911 and they kept asking me what drugs I was taking! I was saying dayquil in my head but it wouldn't come out! My sugar was low, so they tried to give me OJ and when I put the straw in my mouth, I started seizing. I don't remember the ambulance ride, so they must've given me something. First hospital, ct scan. They contacted a teaching hospital 3 hours away and took me there, knocked out. Mri there confirmed tumor and I was operated on 2 days later. That was a monday and I was home on friday. Back to hospital 2 weeks later to get sutures out and that's when I was told it was cancer, oligoastrocytoma grade 3. Went through the standard treatment of chemo/radiation for 6 weeks. Then 6 months of temodar. Mris every 2 months.

Question: Can a stuttering disorder be a symptom of brain cancer? I forgot where, but I read that a stuttering disorder could be caused by brain cancer. If this is true, is it a specific type of brain cancer? If anyone has any idea,could you explain this in an easy understandable way?

Answer: My husband has Stage 4 Brain Cancer "Glioblastoma Multiforme" and currently lost his ability to speak due to 17 brain surgeries, scare tissue built up on the brain, and his cancer (the tumor's location). It is actually not considered "stuttering", they either have slurred speech or have trouble "Word finding" or forming the words. One would mistake "slurred speech" or "trouble with word finding" as stuttering, it is the first word that best describes the problem if we are unfamiliar with the difference. It doesn't hurt to get things checked out, an MRI scan will rule out a brain tumor or maybe there is some type of pressure pushing on that perticular part of the brain that controls one's speech (there are actually 2 sections of the brain which controls speech, a section in the front of your brain, and a section in the back of your brain). Sometimes excessive amounts of fluid or swelling of the brain can cause pressure on those parts which could make one "stutter". Be safe, get whoever is having the issue checked out. Good Luck

Question: Can a person with terminal brain cancer obtain life insurance? Recently my sister has been diagnost with terminal brain cancer. She has been given 6-12 months to live. She is a 50 year old living in Michigan. We are wondering if there is any chance of her obtaining life insurance. If so from whom?

Answer: Not likely. And if you did find one that agreed, I would be very hesitant to trust them. Recently upgraded my term-life policy from work, (before knowledge of brain tumor) and they wanted "eligibility of insurability" forms (about two weeks after surgery). First question was "Are you currently receiving medical treatment for...." Declined increase in benefits, dropped coverage. Imagine that.

Question: How can I make a patient with lung and brain cancer more comfortable? My mom has lung cancer that has spread to the brain. Her head is titled down and can't lay down right or eat a lot.

Answer: What a great responsibility you have. Get into contact with Hospice. They will help you and show you what you can do for her. They will also be able to assess whether she needs help with nutrition or pain relief.

Question: What color is the ribbon for brain cancer? I need to know because my Baby cousin Is about 10 or 9 months old and has brain cancer, brain tumor, an water in his brain. If you can please add a picture

Answer: Gray - I tried to paste mine here and it will not let me. I have on in my signature for my email that's automatic. If you want to email at this address below you can copy and paste mine. WVLYNNSUMMERS74@AOL.COM I also have a link to a site with ribbons for most cancer types. For some reason its not working but I'll try and get the info for you. Its got lots of them. Please put BT in the title so I'll know its not spam. i can also give you some sites for support and infomation. I am so sorry for your families problems. the choose hope site has many great products . I have purchased my metal BT ribbons from them that I wear daily. Plus my bracelets. Any one else that wants to talk about BT issues feel free to email me. My husband is the patient. He's a 20year survivor, AAIII. I use my AOL account for most email. Yahoo hates me when it comes to email.

Question: Does anyone know the odds of a boxer getting brain cancer? We lost a boxer to brain cancer last August and now I'm really scared our remaining boxer will get it. So I was wondering what the exact odds are, if anyone knows them.

Answer: I was looking for a Boxer last summer and I decided against it. I have a very good friend that is a retired vet tech, and she told me that in her vet clinic, she only saw one Boxer in over 20 years that didn't die of cancer, usually before the age of 7. I'm not sure if brain cancer was the common thing, but it sure scared the poop out of me about that breed. I surely don't mean to discourage you, I just wanted to state what she told me. Also, there are many other breeds that are "prone" to cancer at a fairly young age. I don't know what the odds are, but I sure hope your odds are good. Sorry to hear about your other Boxer.

Question: What are the chances of a teenager to have brain cancer? I was wondering what the chances of a teenage girl are 13-14 of getting brain cancer? Could someone answer my question for me please? Oh yeah, only true answers please. like what precentage?

Answer: I wouldn't lie to you, honey. I'm a nurse & I can honestly tell you it is very very rare. At your age your body goes through a lot of changes & you may be getting minor symptoms & we all think we've got the worse thing possible. You get a few headaches or a dizzy spell & watching TV (esp. MD shows like House) & we've got the same thing as on TV. I thought I had cancer a few times. I didn't. Not ever. Please try not to worry.But if you do have some problem that really doesn't go away, it wouldn't hurt to see your MD.Good luck.

Question: Brain Cancer? I am doing a report on brain cancer and i need some help. If u know anything interesting about brain cancer, please tell it to me. And if possible, please include ur references.

Answer: Primary brain cancer rarely spreads beyond the central nervous system, and death results from uncontrolled tumor growth within the limited space of the skull. Metastatic brain cancer indicates advanced disease and has a poor prognosis. Primary brain tumors can be cancerous or noncancerous. Both types take up space in the brain and may cause serious symptoms (e.g., vision or hearing loss) and complications (e.g., stroke). All cancerous brain tumors are life threatening (malignant) because they have an aggressive and invasive nature. A noncancerous primary brain tumor is life threatening when it compromises vital structures (e.g., an artery). Incidence and Prevalence In the United States, the annual incidence of brain cancer generally is 15–20 cases per 100,000 people. Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in patients younger than age 35. Primary brain tumors account for 50% of intracranial tumors and secondary brain cancer accounts for the remaining cases. Approximately 17,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with primary cancer each year and nearly 13,000 die of the disease. The annual incidence of primary brain cancer in children is about 3 per 100,000. Secondary brain cancer occurs in 20–30% of patients with metastatic disease and incidence increases with age. In the United States, about 100,000 cases of secondary brain cancer are diagnosed each year. Causes and Risk Factors Aside from a known association with exposure to vinyl chloride, there are no known chemical or environmental agents that lead to the development of brain tumors. Genetic mutations and deletions of tumor suppressor genes (i.e., genes that suppress the development of malignant cells) increase the risk for some types of brain cancer. Inherited diseases that are associated with brain tumors include the following: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (pituitary adenoma) Neurofibromatosis type 2 (brain and spinal cord tumors) Retinoblastoma (malignant retinal glioma) Tuberous sclerosis (primary brain tumors) Von Hippel-Lindau disease (retinal tumor, CNS tumors) Patients with a history of melanoma, lung, breast, colon, or kidney cancer are at risk for secondary brain cancer. Exposure to vinyl chloride is an environmental risk factor for brain cancer. Vinyl chloride is a carcinogen, that is, a cancer-causing substance. It is used in manufacturing plastic products such as pipes, wire coatings, furniture, car parts, and housewares, and is present in tobacco smoke. Manufacturing and chemical plants may release vinyl chloride into the air or water, and it may leak into the environment as a result of improper disposal. People who work in these plants or live in close proximity to them have an increased risk for brain cancer. Signs and Symptoms A brain tumor can obstruct the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which results in the accumulation of CSF (hydrocephalus) and increased intracranial pressure (IICP). Nausea, vomiting, and headaches are common symptoms. Brain tumors can damage vital neurological pathways and invade and compress brain tissue. Symptoms usually develop over time and their characteristics depend on the location and size of the tumor. A brain tumor in the frontal lobe may cause the following: Behavioral and emotional changes Impaired judgment Impaired sense of smell Memory loss Paralysis on one side of the body (hemiplegia) Reduced mental capacity (cognitive function) Vision loss and inflammation of the optic nerve (papilledema) Article continues below ↓ Advertising Disclaimer A tumor located in both the right and left hemispheres of the frontal lobe often cause behavioral changes, cognitive changes, and a clumsy, uncoordinated gait. A tumor in the parietal lobe may cause the following symptoms: Impaired speech Inability to write Lack of recognition Seizures Spatial disorders Vision loss in one or both eyes and seizures may result from a tumor located in the occipital lobe. Tumors that develop in the temporal lobe are often asymptomatic (i.e., without symptoms), but some may cause impaired speech and seizures. A tumor in the brainstem may produce the following symptoms: Behavioral and emotional changes (e.g., irritability) Difficulty speaking and swallowing Drowsiness Headache, especially in the morning Hearing loss Muscle weakness on one side of the face (e.g., head tilt, crooked smile) Muscle weakness on one side of the body (i.e., hemiparesis) Uncoordinated gait Vision loss, drooping eyelid (i.e., ptosis) or crossed eyes (i.e., strabismus) Vomiting Ependymoma originates in the lining of the ventricles and the spinal canal and may damage cranial nerves. When this happens, hydrocephalus, stiff neck, head tilt, and weakness may result. Symptoms produced by a tumor of the meninges (meningioma) depend on which area of the brain is being compressed. They include: Headache Hearing loss Impaired speech (i.e., dysphasia) Incontinence Mental and emotional changes (e.g., indifference, disinhibition) Prolonged drowsiness (somnolence) Seizures Vision loss A tumor located in the pituitary gland (i.e., pituitary adenoma) may increase the secretion of hormones and cause discontinuation of menstruation (i.e., amenorrhea) and excess secretion of milk (i.e., galactorrhea) in women. Impotence may occur in men. Metastatic brain cancer tends to invade the brain tissue indiscriminately. Some symptoms include the following: Bleeding Headache Impaired mental function Motor dysfunction Nausea Seizures Swelling Vomiting Complications Drastic and sometimes life-threatening complications can develop with brain cancer. Obstructed flow of cerebrospinal fluid from the third ventricle may cause sudden death. Cerebral hernia is a progressive, fatal condition in which the brain is forced through an opening in the skull. Hemorrhagic stroke produces sudden loss of vision and/or speech, unconsciousness, and paralysis.

Question: Can anyone give me sone details about metastatic brain cancer and life expectancy? My mother is 70 years old and was diagnosed with metastatic brain cancer. We would like some idea of a timeframe as to how long we will have her with us. We have not found the original source of the cancer at this time as we are awaiting test results. Any information is greatly appreciated.

Answer: Detailed Guide: What Is Metastatic Cancer? Local, Regional, and Distant (Metastatic) Spread of Cancer Metastatic cancer is a cancer that has spread from its primary site (the part of the body in which it developed) to other parts of the body. If cells break away from a cancerous tumor, they can travel to other areas of the body. There, they may settle and form "colony" tumors. In their new location, the cancer cells continue growing. The spread of a tumor to a new part of the body is called metastasis. It is important to understand the difference between metastasis and local spread, because they affect a patient's prognosis (the outlook for chances of survival) and treatment options in different ways. Local spread means that a growing cancer extends beyond the organ in which it developed, into nearby organs and tissues. For example, the cervix (lower part of the uterus or womb) is located in front of the rectum and behind the bladder. Very large cancers of the cervix may extend into the rectum or bladder. Metastasis involves spread of cancer cells through the bloodstream, or the lymph system. The lymph system consists of lymph vessels (similar to veins except that they contain tissue waste products and immune system cells instead of blood). These lymph vessels lead to lymph nodes, bean-shaped collections of immune system cells that are important in fighting infections. Cancer cells that break off from tumors and enter the lymph vessels may be carried to lymph nodes where they may continue to grow and form metastases. Doctors sometimes call metastasis to lymph nodes near the place a cancer developed regional spread. This is to distinguish it from distant spread or distant metastasis. Distant spread generally occurs when cancer cells break off from tumors and enter the bloodstream, travel to other organs, and continue to grow into new tumors. When cancer spreads, it is still named after the part of the body where it started. For example, if prostate cancer spreads to the bones, it is still called prostate cancer, and if breast cancer spreads to the lungs it is still breast cancer. Recurrence and Metastasis Recurrence is the medical term used when cancer comes back in a patient who appeared to be in remission (free of cancer) after treatment. Cancer can recur locally, in the same organ it developed in or, if that organ was removed by surgery, in a nearby remaining organ or tissue. For example, local recurrence of breast cancer means cancer started to grow again in the same breast after lumpectomy and radiation therapy or in the chest wall, skin or muscle after a mastectomy. A regional recurrence usually means cancer has come back in nearby lymph nodes or in the area that lymph nodes had been removed from. After apparently complete removal of a mouth or throat cancer, growth of cancer in lymph nodes of the neck would be considered regional recurrence. A distant recurrence involves any other part of the body not included in local or regional recurrence. After surgery for apparently localized prostate cancer, the cancer might recur distantly in bones, the liver, or the lungs. But, recurrence is not the only time a cancer will metastasize. Some cancers are discovered to have spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs shortly after the cancer is first diagnosed, and before treatment is started. In some cases, a metastasis may be discovered before the primary (original) tumor is found. For example, a patient may go to the doctor because lymph nodes in the neck are growing larger. After a biopsy reveals cancer in these lymph nodes, additional examinations or x-rays may find that the cancer actually started in the throat. Even if a cancer has spread very widely throughout the body before it is discovered, the cancer's appearance under a microscope can sometimes tell doctors where it started. But, some cancers lack these microscopic clues to their origin, and it may be impossible to determine exactly where they started. This condition is called cancer of unknown primary, and is discussed further in a separate American Cancer Society document. So, cancer can recur without metastasizing (a local recurrence) and can metastasize without recurring locally (cancer found to have metastasized when first diagnosed). Significance of Metastasis to the Patient Most people who die of cancer have metastases at the time of their death. And, these metastases are directly responsible for the majority of cancer deaths. Most common cancers (prostate, breast, colon, lung, for example) develop in organs that can be completely or partially removed by surgery. Even though these operations cause effects, they could cure patients if metastasis did not occur. Most of the serious consequences of these cancers occur because of spread to other parts of the body. In some cases, the most serious effect of cancer is its spread to a particularly essential part of the body, such as areas of the brain. In other cases, spread to and growth in many organs creates so many cancer cells that the body's normal metabolism is disrupted. However, cancer can be fatal even if it does not metastasize. Cancers that start in the brain may be impossible to remove without causing severe brain damage. In fact, brain tumors rarely spread beyond the nervous system. Growth and local spread of these cancers often interfere with parts of the brain necessary for life. A tumor may become very large without ever metastasizing. It may then press against vital tissues such as nerves, the brain, or blood vessels. Leukemia can cause death by interfering with normal blood functions without the defective cells ever leaving the tissues they started in (the bone marrow and bloodstream). The link below will help you understand about brain cancer and the information above is just general information about metastatic cancer. Since working in hospice I have taken care of many brain tumor patients. I have seen some that have lived with the disease for over a decade and some that have only lived a few days/weeks. Don't be afraid to ask your mother's doctors lots of questions. That is what they are their for. If you are not satisfied with the answer don't hesitate to get a 2nd 3rd etc opinions

Question: What are the odds of having brain cancer or any type of Cancer? What are the odds of having brain tumors or some form of cancer if there is no family history of it?

Answer: 1 in every 3 people will be affected by cancer.

Question: I am writing a brain cancer survivor book where the cancer living in my head has a voice in the book? if the cancer left from my brain surgery has an active voice until it is fully eliminated by radiation and chemotherapy treatments, what style would the living cancer be classified under, narrative or what?

Answer: Wouldn't the cancer start getting older, sicker, and close to dying itself? I am a survivor myself, and I kept telling myself that no matter how sick I am from the chemo, the cancer was even more sick. I still heard it keep trying, but I tried harder. I kept telling myself that I was stronger than the cancer and it would die first. I guess that constitutes a narrative dialogue. I guess it did as I'm six years post-op.

Question: After being diagnosed with brain cancer, how long is life expectancy? Once someone is diagnosed with brain cancer, how long do they generally live (on average). Let's say that the cancer has progressed significantly. How many months or years would someone have to live?

Answer: There are a variety of factors. Some primary tumors, such as a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) have a life expectancy of less than a year sometimes only a few months. However, we have had patients that have survived with aggressive treatment, against the odds, for a number of years. Some other low grade tumors, such as an astrocytoma or or oligodendroglioma have a much longer life expectancy with treatment, well over five years. There are other non-malignant tumors that do not particularly affect life expectancy. On the other hand if the cancer in the brain is a metastatic spread of the disease to the brain from a primary tumor, that can significantly decrease any life expectancy. In this case it is dependent on how far the disease has spread and whether it has infiltrated other organs or the skeletal system. Again, aggressive treatment can often prolong life for a number of years if the cancer responds and if it is caught early, if not, it can be a little as a few months.

Question: Does putting my cell phone in a case/pouch reduce my chances of getting brain cancer? Does putting my cell phone in a case/pouch when I'm not using it but is still near me or in my pocket reduce my chances of getting brain cancer or other cell phone related injuries/dieseases?

Answer: Brain cancer occurs in about 7 out of every 100,000 people. Is your risk reduced from that? No. Is it reduced from keeping it plastered to your ear? Maybe. Some researchers think there maybe a link between cell phones and brain cancer, but no one knows yet. Keeping a cell phone in a shirt pocket could cause injury if you have a pacemaker.