| r cells reproduce but they don't die. They're sort | | | | including: Headaches, Seizures, Nausea or vomiting, |
| of like evil immortals. The body just can't kill them | | | | Weakness or loss of feeling in the arms or legs, |
| no matter how hard it tries. Brain cancer is | | | | memory loss, Abnormal eye movements or |
| abnormal growths of cells in the brain. Although | | | | changes in vision, Drowsiness, problems with |
| such growths are popularly called brain tumors, | | | | speech and language, thought processing |
| not all brain tumors are cancer. Cancer is a term | | | | problems. |
| reserved for malignant tumors. Malignant tumors | | | | Treatment for a brain cancer depends on a |
| grow and spread aggressively, overpowering | | | | number of factors. Among these are the type, |
| healthy cells by taking their space, blood, and | | | | location, and size of the tumor, as well as the |
| nutrients. (Like all cells of the body, tumor cells | | | | patient's age and general health. Treatment |
| need blood and nutrients to survive.) Tumors that | | | | methods and schedules often vary for children |
| do not spread aggressively are called benign. In | | | | and adults. A treatment plan is developed to fit |
| general, a benign tumor is less serious than a | | | | each patient's need. It is possible to decrease the |
| malignant tumor. But a benign tumor can still | | | | risk of developing brain metastases from certain |
| cause many problems in the brain. | | | | tumors by decreasing the risk of developing the |
| The symptoms of brain cancer depend mainly on | | | | initial primary tumor in the first place. Sometimes, |
| their size and their location in the brain. Symptoms | | | | when patients have certain cancers that are well |
| are caused by damage to vital tissue and by | | | | controlled, they will be offered preventive |
| pressure on the brain as the tumor grows within | | | | radiation therapy to the brain in order to decrease |
| the limited space in the skull. As the tumor grows | | | | the likelihood of developing brain metastases in |
| in size, it can produce a variety of symptoms, | | | | the future. |