Waroeng Sang Debu

A recent study by the World Health Organization has revealed that brain cancer develops in 22,000 new people annually. The death toll associated with cancer has increased too with 13,000 people recorded to have succumbed to the disease every year.Brain cancer can emanate from other parts of the body and spread to the brain, this is referred to as secondary cancer. Tumors that form in the brain can also be a cause of primary brain cancer. Common symptoms of the disease include speech problems, visual disturbances, weak limbs, and headaches just to mention a few. In addition, seizures and focal neurological deficits may also indicate the presence of the disease.

These two common types of brain cancer require two different types of treatment. Secondary brain cancer requires either Gamma knife surgery, chemotherapy or surgery followed by radiotherapy. On the other hand, primary brain cancer requires surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

While a brain tumor may look like the chief source of brain cancer, not all of them are cancerous. Also, brain tumors vary, none is the same as the other. Headaches are the most common symptom of brain cancer, an increase in their frequency and intensity is enough reason to visit a doctor as fast as possible.

To add to the cancer facts mentioned above, you should also know that family history plays a big part in the spread of brain cancer. Apart from these, here are other facts about brain cancer that you need to familiarize yourself with. 

==> No Proof of Brain Cancer from Cell Phones

There have been rumors about the relationship between cancer and the excessive use of mobile phones. Smart technological companies even used this as a sales pitch to get millions of people to buy their Bluetooth headsets and earphones. All that just to avoid letting your ears have any contact with a cell phone as this might cause brain cancer. 

Cell phones emit radio-frequency energy, the same energy is emitted by microwaves as well. Nonetheless, despite the body tissues’ ability to absorb these waves, the worst they can do is a slight increase your temperature. Unlike other types of radiation, radio-frequency does not harm DNA, which is a major cause of cancer.

It is also worth noting that around the time cell phones were invented, there were no reported cases of an increase in brain cancer cases. Making the cell phone story just a mere rumor. 

==> Headaches are not the Sole Symptom

A lot of people rush to the hospital for a brain cancer check up in the event of intermittent headaches, in most instances they are just that, headaches. Recurrent headaches are without a doubt the number one symptom of a brain tumor. However, like earlier stated, not all tumors are cancerous. 

In addition, tumors may also cause seizures, personality changes, blurred vision, and difficulties in standing or walking. These symptoms are also associated with cancer but the best way to find out is through a doctor, not speculation. In addition, there can also be another cause so do not jump into conclusion without consulting a medical practitioner. 

==> No Age Limit

Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children. Closely following behind at number two is brain cancer. The most common brain cancer in kids is medulloblastomas, which occurs before 10 years of age. However, there also is another type of brain cancer called Ependymomas that can either be cancerous or noncancerous. 

When it comes to adults, gliomas and meningiomas are the two cancers that often appear. Glial cells or neuroglia as they are sometimes called, are responsible for the formation of myelin, providing protection from neurons, offering support to the nervous system, and maintaining homeostasis. 

However, the same cells are also responsible for the formation of gliomas, hence the name. Meningiomas, on the other hand, arises from the meningeal tissue on the brain. However, the tumor is often benign and may not result in much. Needless to say, seek medical advice because even a benign tumor can be dangerous if it presses against vital nerves or blood cells. 

==> Wide Number of Brain Tumors

As earlier stated, brain cancer can emanate from the body or from a tumor already in the brain. Also, not all the brain tumors are malignant. With over 120 types of brain tumors on record, it is very easy to assume that any tumor in the head can cause cancer. Benign tumors grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the brain but are hazardous and require proper treatment. 

On the other hand, malignant tumors grow very fast and are often life threatening. The rate at which they grow at is stupendous too with multiple hospitals reporting patients to have succumbed to brain cancer barely 10 days after a diagnosis. A particular tumor, called glioblastoma is regarded the most aggressive. There are many types of brain tumors, but not all of them cause brain cancer. 

==> You can't Prevent Tumors from Growing

As depressing as the statement above may sound, the truth is there really isn’t a way to stop tumors from growing. However, you can prevent the generation of cancer cells in your brain by avoiding ionized radiation. Take measures such as opting for an MRI scan as opposed to a CT scan, these reduce your risk of cancer. 

In addition, avoid obesity and limit your alcohol consumption. Also remember to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and reduce your processed meat intake. While these may not be able to help you prevent brain tumors, they are very beneficial in reducing your risk to cancer. 

==> Not all Tumors can be Removed Instantly

While tumors may either be cancerous or noncancerous, not all of them can be removed immediately. A good example is Meningioma, a benign tumor that forms on the membranes covering the brain. Depending on the location and effects of the tumor, the doctor may advise you to have regular MRIs to monitor its growth. However, the most common method of removing the tumor is through surgery.

What makes this process hard is the location of the tumor. Malignant tumors located deep in the skull offer patients a very slim chance of survival. However, there are some cancerous brain tumors that can be easily removed easily as radiation and chemotherapy follow up to clear all the remaining cancer cells.

Bladder cancer is characterized by the growth of an abnormal tissue in the lining of your urinary bladder. It starts when the cells in your urinary bladder start growing uncontrollably. As the cancer cells start developing, they might take the shape of a tumor and spread to other parts of your body. As the cancer eventually grows through the layers of your bladder walls, it becomes advanced and more difficult to treat. If not treated in due time, the cancer might even grow outside your bladder and spread to the nearby muscles. Blood in your urine, pain while urinating, constant urge for urination, fatigue, and abdominal pain, are some of the most common symptoms of this cancer. In the following section, we will give you a detailed insight on bladder cancer, its causes, symptoms and the facts that you should know about it.

==> 1. Types of bladder cancer

Cell Carcinoma is probably the most common type of bladder cancer. This begins from the urothelial cells that form the inner lining of our urinary bladders. The Urothelial cells are transitional in nature, which means that they can change their structure and stretch when the bladder is completely full. Also known as urothelial carcinoma, this cancer can be treated with adequate chemotherapy sessions and medication. Cancer might also begin in the thinner and flatter cells of the bladder lining. This type of cancer is known as the squamous cell carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is a similar type of bladder cancer that releases mucus and other fluids. Although bladder cancer is classified in three types, 7 out of 10 people are affected by cell carcinoma. The other two types are relatively rare. 

==> 2. Non-invasive and invasive bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is usually treated at the non-invasive stage, or the early stage, where the carcinogenic cells are found only in the bladder surface and when they haven’t spread elsewhere. The cancer takes a bigger shape in the invasive stage, where it spreads deeper to the bladder. In this stage, it might also spread to the adjoining organs from the wall of the bladder. 

==> 3. Blood in urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer

One of the most common symptoms of bladder cancer is blood in urine. Although, in most cases, it is distinctly visible to the naked eye, there might be situations where it does not seem to be visible and is only identified when your doctor takes a sample of your urine. The blood in urine, as a result of bladder cancer, is usually red, pink or rusty in color. Other symptoms include frequent urinary infections that cannot be treated by antibiotics, pain while urinating, getting a constant urge for urination, fatigue, moderate to severe pain in the abdominal area, sudden weight loss, pain in the lower back and incontinence. If you experience either one or more of these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately. Overlooking the symptoms and ignoring these clear signs might take the cancer to a bigger shape where there will be more complications in treatment. 

==> 4. Usually occurs in elderly people

Although anyone who smoke or are in direct contact with deadly chemical substances are, likely to be affected by bladder cancer, it usually occurs in elderly people. 9 out of 10 people affected by this cancer are above the age of 55. The average age for diagnosing and treating this cancer is 73. It has also been observed that men are three to four times more likely to be affected by this cancer in their lifetime, compared to women. On general note, the possibility of men developing this cancer in their lifetime is about 1 in 26. However, the same figure is 1 in 90 for women. This, however, is a general study and the causes of bladder cancer are directly associated with its risk factors.

==> 5. Smoking is the biggest cause of bladder cancer

By far, one of the biggest causes of bladder cancer is smoking. So it is highly recommended for people to give up smoking, if they haven’t done so yet. Leaving smoking at an early or moderate stage can help in your recovery. It has also been seen that bladder cancer is probably the only type of cancer that becomes relatively less aggressive when you give up smoking. Besides smoking, fumes from the diesel and certain toxic industrial dyes and chemicals are said to be the other causes of this cancer. If you experienced chronic bladder infections in the past, then too, the risk factor of getting affected by this cancer is high. In certain cases, the causes cannot be identified in the first place, because not much is known about this ailment. 

==> 6. Extent of bladder cancer during diagnosis

It has been observed that about half of all the bladder cancers were detected while the tumor was still confined to the inner lining of the bladder wall. Only 1 in 3 bladder cancers have invaded into the deeper layers. But then too, they were primarily confined to the bladder. In the remaining cases, the cancer spread to the adjoining lymph nodes and tissues, located just outside the bladder. But this is highly rare, as it has only been observed in 4% of the cases. It has been seen that black patients have a greater possibility of being affected by bladder cancer, when compared to the whites. 

==> 7. Treatment of bladder cancer

The slow growing bladder cancer, also known as the low grade cancer, is treated by scraping the cancer from the interior sections of the bladder by involving the Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor procedure. It is a localized form of chemotherapy and is slowly injected into the bladder for killing the cancerous cells in the inner linings of the bladder. This is the most common treatment for about 70 of the patients. Fast growing bladder cancer, also known the high grade cancer is treated by involving the BCG in the bladder (if detected at early stage). However, the fast growing tumors that have already managed to invade the walls of the urinary bladder are treated by removal of the bladder (cystectomy) or radiotherapy. Chemotherapy is used in these situations. Also, most patients manage to lead a healthy life even after the removal of bladder. However, despite the ease of treatment, one should never overlook the signs of this cancer and consult a doctor immediately on finding one or more of the symptoms.