Brain Tumors
Symptoms and Treatment

Identifying the factors for brain tumors and confronting them.

Dr. Ihab Khattaby*

The human body still has many hidden secrets that are hard to perceive even amongst the best of doctors and specialized researchers who dedicated their lives to the study of the living cells, status of life and reasons for sickness, health, DNA and death which is the fate of all. Despite this, these secrets are only known to God and science has only reached very little of unraveling them. Neurology is one of the most difficult medical specializations, for brain activities are complicated, and the central nervous system is one of the most important apparatuses in the human body. It controls function, feelings, speech, hearing, smell and taste as well as all vital actions including behavior, mood, psychological conditions and determines our perception of the world and people who surround us, how to meet them and deal with them.

Always an Opportunity to Get Well….
The brain is a center depositing what we receive in information and expertise reflecting our personal behavior and the way we live our lives…and the brain and spinal chord which represent the central nervous system controls all movements either direct or side nerves. Brain tumors received great importance not only because they affect the physiological and psychological functions of the body, but because of the never-ending strive to discover these tumors early so the opportunities for recovery becomes better and with the least side effects.

Doctor Consultation
Normally brain tumors start small then begin to grow in stages and in the majority of cases the symptoms show early, but unfortunately we tend to ignore these, especially headaches, and start taking remedies without realizing these symptoms could be alarm bells to a problem that needs consulting the doctor, necessary medical check ups and even medical intervention as decided by the specialized doctor.

Alarm Symptoms
Headaches: Not all headaches are associated with brain tumors but they are the first and most important symptom. Headaches are often described as worse in the morning, may prevent the patient from sleep, wake him up, but these gradually improve during the day. Sometimes the headache is accompanied with vomiting especially on waking up, and as the person throws up he may feel better. If the patient complains of headaches accompanied with vomiting, this can be an indication to consult the doctor, and if this is also accompanied by migraines, it should be checked.

These headaches may worsen with coughing, exercise or with a change in position as bending or kneeling. They also do not typically respond to the usual remedies and the headache may be accompanied by other symptoms like seizures, difficulty in movement, difficulty in speech, and psychological and physical changes.

Seizures (convulsions): As the size of the tumor starts to expand it takes up space inside the skull at the expense of brain cells which may lead to disruption in the normal flow of electricity in the brain as a result of the pressure on the nerve pathways which may cause seizures and in certain cases temporary loss of consciousness.

Other factors include difficulty or paralysis of movement in one part of the body caused by the tumor pressuring on the centers of movement in the brain; the patient may feel changes in the palate or strange smell and difficulty in swallowing; Difficulty in speech or at times in finding words or ability to talk; and possible numbness and heaviness in any part of the body.

Other glaring changes may occur in personality with strange conduct and behavior alterations accompanied by memory weakness or loss, especially memory loss of short-term events, possibly leading to disruption in the higher brain functions like the ability to read and write, differentiate between right and wrong, plan, take decisions and do sums.

There maybe spasms in the hands or loss of balance; changes in sight and blurred vision especially if the tumor is in the pituitary gland, loss of hearing, ringing tones or the hearing of natural voices; hormone changes and the inability to perform sex and disruption of the period among women; and a disruption in breathing, blood pressure and of the heart beat.

Blame Factors
Scientific research is still trying to establish a link between brain tumors and their probable causes although what is proven is still little, however, indication point the fingers of blame on the following that could establish a firm link to these tumors and they include:

Hereditary factors, exposure to rays like X-rays, viruses, head injuries as a result of car accidents and other forms, and epilepsy. There are other blame factors like preserved food containing chemicals as opposed to fresh fruit and vegetables with vitamins and are antioxidants to help strengthen the immune system and fight disease.

Still other risk factors include some of the treatments and medicines, inhibitors of the immune system, certain chemicals used in manufacturing which workers have to use, professional safety especially in petrochemicals, electromagnetic field exposure, radio waves especially the ones used by cell phones. Despite the fact that studies have not confirmed till now there is a direct connection between the use of mobiles and brain tumors, the World Health Organization recommended its use only if it is necessary, and for a short time and with earphones instead of placing it directly on the ear and have cell phones as far away from the brain and heart. And another risk factor is pollution caused by such substances like diesel and car exhausts.

Not All Brain Tumors Malignant

Brain tumors are divided into malignant and non-malignant and most brain tumors are non-malignant but even the malignant brain tumors maybe “localized” and do not spread to other areas of the body. They can be divided into primary tumors established in the brain tissues and its surrounding layers and/or secondary tumors that also develop in the brain tissues but spread through the blood stream or other tissues and more difficult to treat than primary tumors.

Treatment Possible
It is usual for brain tumors to be treated through surgical procedures but whose results depend on the size of the tumor and location. Radiotherapy and chemo-therapy can also be used as alternative treatments but these depend on the type of the case and what the medical team decides.

* Family doctor, Specialized Medical Center, Riyadh