What is a brain tumour?

Tumours are caused by abnormal cell growth. Brain tumours can start in the brain; these are called 'primary tumours'. If the tumour has spread to the brain from a cancerous tumour in another part of the body, they are called secondary tumours or mestastes.

Only about 10% of brain tumours start in the brain.

Causes

The cause of brain tumours is still very unclear. Recent research has taken place to see if mobile phones, sweeteners or even computers are to blame but so far there have been no clear risk factors. There does not appear to be any links with occupation, head injury or infections.  The majority of tumours are not inherited although in a small minority of cases an abnormal gene can be found. If you have a concern about this, please see your Doctor.

Symptoms

Several general symptoms may be associated with a brain tumour such as headache, vomiting, seizures, localised twitching, loss of vision or hearing, drowsiness.

A growing tumour can cause pressure either from the tumour itself or by blocking the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid which normally flows in and around the brain.

However, a brain tumour will cause different symptoms depending on where the tumour is situated. Brain stem tumours can cause difficulty with swallowing, speaking and tongue movements while tumours in the occipital part of the brain will cause disturbance with vision.

Types of tumours

Brain tumours can be grouped according to the type of cell they arise in. The main types of tumour are:

• Glioma affecting the glial cells and are the 'scaffolding' in the brain which binds the nerve cells and fibres together.
• Meningioma affecting the meninges which are the membranes that cover the brain.
• Haemangioma tumours of the blood vessels in the brain
• Pituitary adenoma tumours of the pituitary glands

Not all tumours are cancerous or malignant but even benign tumours can be life threatening due to their position in the brain. Pressure that builds up in the head can cause damage to the brain. Almost half of all brain tumours are benign and can successfully removed by surgery.

Diagnosis

Your Doctor will refer you to your local hospital or special neuro-science unit for more investigations.

These will consist of an MRI scan or a CT scan (to give a picture of inside the head) and some neurological tests to assess things like balance, sight and strength (functions like these may be affected if a tumour or lesion is in the brain).

If any abnormalities are found you will then see a neurologist or a neurosurgeon to discuss any treatment.

Surgery

The aim of surgery is to remove as much of the tumour as possible.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is a treatment using radiation to bombard the cancerous cells. It is often used following surgery mostly for the treatment of malignant tumours although it can occasionally be used to treat benign tumours

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy tumour cells in the same way that antibiotics kill bacteria.

Thanks to Ellie Savage Memorial Trust for this information.