Brain Cancer treatment in Bangladesh

Brain cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the brain. It can be either primary, meaning it starts in the brain, or secondary, meaning it starts in another part of the body and spreads to the brain.

Brain cancer is not very common. It is estimated that about 24,810 adults will be diagnosed with a primary brain tumor in the United States in 2023. This is about 0.4% of all new cancer diagnoses.

However, brain cancer is more common in children. About 4,830 children will be diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2023, which is about 2% of all new cancer diagnoses in children.

The most common type of brain cancer in adults is glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM is a very aggressive type of cancer that is difficult to treat. The most common type of brain cancer in children is medulloblastom

Symptoms of brain cancer

The symptoms of brain cancer can vary depending on the type of tumor, its location in the brain, and the patient’s age and overall health. However, some common symptoms of brain cancer include:

  • Headaches: Headaches are the most common symptom of brain cancer. They can be worse in the morning or when the patient coughs or sneezes.
  • Seizures: Seizures are sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbances in the brain. They can cause a variety of symptoms, including convulsions, loss of consciousness, and sensory disturbances.
  • Vision problems: Vision problems can include blurry vision, double vision, loss of peripheral vision, and vision loss.
  • Personality changes: Personality changes can include mood swings, irritability, forgetfulness, and difficulty concentrating.
  • Weakness or numbness: Weakness or numbness on one side of the body can be a sign of a brain tumor that is pressing on a nerve.
  • Speech problems: Speech problems can include difficulty speaking, understanding speech, or swallowing.
  • Nausea and vomiting: Nausea and vomiting can be caused by a brain tumor that is pressing on the vomiting center in the brain.
  • Dizziness: Dizziness can be caused by a brain tumor that is pressing on the balance center in the brain.

Types of brain cancer

There are many different types of brain cancer, but they can be broadly classified into two groups: primary brain tumors and secondary brain tumors.

Primary brain tumors start in the brain or spinal cord. They are the most common type of brain cancer in children, but they can also occur in adults. The most common types of primary brain tumors include:

  • Gliomas: These tumors start in the glial cells, which are the supporting cells of the brain. Gliomas can be benign or malignant.
  • Meningiomas: These tumors start in the meninges, which are the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. Meningiomas are usually benign, but they can sometimes be malignant.
  • Pituitary tumors: These tumors start in the pituitary gland, which is a small gland at the base of the brain. Pituitary tumors can be benign or malignant.
  • Germ cell tumors: These tumors start in the germ cells, which are the cells that give rise to eggs and sperm. Germ cell tumors are more common in children than adults.

Secondary brain tumors start somewhere else in the body and then spread to the brain. They are more common in adults than children. The most common types of cancer that spread to the brain include:

  • Lung cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Skin cancer

Brain cancer treatment

The treatment of brain cancer depends on the type of tumor, the stage of the tumor, and the patient’s age and overall health. Treatment options may include:

  • Surgery: Surgery is the most common treatment for brain cancer. The goal of surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible without causing too much damage to the surrounding tissue.
  • Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy can be used before or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells or to shrink the tumor before surgery.
  • Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be used before or after surgery to kill cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body or to shrink the tumor before surgery.
  • Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy uses drugs that target specific molecules on cancer cells. Targeted therapy can be used to treat some types of brain cancer.
  • Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. Immunotherapy can be used to treat some types of brain cancer.