There are over 120 different types of brain tumors. You’re mistaken if you think that all brain tumors are cancerous. All brain tumors are not cancerous, but even benign tumors can be dangerous depending on their size and location.
In 2000, “Deutsche Hirntumorhilfe e.V.” (a German-based Brain Tumor Association) started observing the World Brain Tumor Day. This day aims to raise awareness and educate people about Brain Tumor. From then on, every year on June 8th, World Brain Tumor Day is observed to acknowledge the impact of brain cancer on our health.
Effects of Brain Tumors on your body
A brain tumor is defined as the mass of cells that have grown abnormally around the brain. Central nervous system (CNS) tumors are a term that encompasses both spinal and brain tumors.
Brain Tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or cancerous (cancerous- malignant). They can begin in the brain (primary brain tumors) or spread to the brain from other parts of the body (also called metastatic brain tumors). Let’s take a look at them in the next section.
Brain Tumors that are Benign
- Chordomas are slow-growing tumors that usually start at the skull’s base and the spine’s bottom. They’re mostly harmless.
- Craniopharyngiomas are tumors that develop from a section of the pituitary gland. Because of their proximity to critical structures deep within your brain, they’re difficult to remove.
- Gangliocytomas, ganglions, and anaplastic gangliogliomas are rare neuronal tumors (nerve cells).
Tumors in the brain that are cancerous (malignant)
Gliomas account for roughly 78% of all cancerous primary brain tumors. Glial cells surround and assist nerve cells, forming tumors in them. Astrocytoma, Ependymomas, Glioblastoma (GBM), Oligodendroglioma, and Medulloblastoma are some different types of gliomas.
Brain Cancer vs. Brain Tumor: Is there a difference?
Noncancerous, benign brain tumors grow slowly and rarely spread. Benign tumors can still be dangerous. They can cause severe dysfunction by damaging and compressing parts of the brain. Benign brain tumors that develop in a vital part of the brain can be fatal. A benign tumor can become malignant though in very rare cases. Malignant brain tumors are cancerous. They usually grow quickly and infiltrate a healthy brain.
Primary vs Metastatic Brain Tumors
Brain tumors that begin in the brain are known as primary brain tumors. Meningioma and glioma are two tumors that most commonly originate in the brain. These tumors can break free and spread to other parts of the brain and spinal cord.
Metastatic brain tumors, also known as secondary brain tumors, are cancerous tumors that begin in another part of the body and then spread to the brain. Primary brain tumors are about four times as common as metastatic brain tumors. They can quickly grow, crowd, or invade nearby brain tissue. Common cancers that can spread to the brain are:
- Breast cancer
- Colon cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Lung cancer
- Skin cancer (melanoma)
Symptoms of a Brain Tumor
Because different parts of the brain control different functions, the symptoms of a brain tumor will differ depending on where the tumor is located. A brain tumor in the cerebellum at the back of the head, for example, could cause problems with movement, walking, balance, and coordination. Vision changes may occur if the tumor affects the optic pathway responsible for vision.
The size of the tumor and how quickly it grows influence which symptoms a person will experience. The following are some of the most common symptoms of a brain tumor:
- Headaches & Vomitings.
- Convulsions or seizures.
- Thinking, speaking, or finding words difficult.
- Changes in personality or behavior.
- Loss of balance, dizziness, or unsteadiness in one part or side of the body Weakness, numbness, or paralysis in one part or side of the body.
- Hearing impairment.
- Perplexity and disorientation.
- Loss of memory.
Is it possible to have a brain tumor without any symptoms?
Brain tumors are not always accompanied by symptoms. Meningioma, the most common adult brain tumor, grows so slowly that it often goes unnoticed. Tumors may not cause symptoms until they have grown large enough to interfere with healthy brain tissue.
How to treat a Brain Tumor through Digital Consultation
Most common symptoms include headaches, convulsions or seizures, difficulty in holding a thought or speaking, changes in personality or behavior, loss of balance, dizziness, or unsteadiness in one part or side of the body, weakness, hearing impairment, numbness, or paralysis in one part or side of the body, if you suspect or notice these symptoms in any of your loved ones, please visit a Neurologist at the earliest. You can now book an appointment and consult with the best Neurologist on the Gigadocs app. You can also book your diagnostic tests home sample collection through Gigadocs-
To book a specialist, download the Gigadocs App from
- IOS App – apple.co/2W2iG4V
- Android App – bit.ly/33AQoRC
