Embrace Life
Image Source: science.nationalgeographic.com
Cancers of the brain are abnormal growths of cells in the brain. Cancer is a term reserved for malignant tumors. Not all brain tumors cause symptoms, and some are found mainly after death. The symptoms of brain tumors are numerous and not specific to brain tumors, meaning they can be caused by many other illnesses as well. The only way to know for sure what is causing the symptoms is to undergo diagnostic testing. The symptoms are caused by the tumor pressing on or encroaching on other parts of your brain and keeping them from functioning normally. Some symptoms are caused by swelling in the brain caused by the tumor or surrounding inflammation. The symptoms of primary and metastatic brain cancers are similar.
A cousin of mine had a brain tumor. His was malignant and had to be removed. At first the symptom he should was peeing all the time and extreme headaches and Nausea which urged to vomit. He went to the doctor and had an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). The scan indicate the presence of brain tumor. To now if it’s malignant a biopsy procedure is done. A biopsy is a sample of tissue removed by your doctor to make a precise diagnosis. A small hole is then made in the skull and a needle guided through the hole to the tumor. The needle collects the biopsy and is removed. This technique is called stereotaxis, or stereotactic biopsy. Biopsy procedures can range from a simple sampling of skin under local anesthesia to surgical opening of the chest wall to remove a portion of lung or brain tissue.
He said it was painful because it was done while he’s wide awake.
Treatment for brain cancer depends on the type and location of the tumor. Treatment involves any combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Some tumors require several different surgical procedures, and some can be treated with radiation alone. For my cousin at that time, laser microsurgery, was the treatment of choice for his type of cancer. MRI is used to pinpoint the location of the tumor and a laser is used to destroy the tumor. This procedure may be used after craniotomy to remove remaining tumor tissue. He was given another five years of normal life. He went biking and enjoyed life with frequent visits to the doctor for maintenance.
In all cancer patients story it is not always as happy as we would want it to be. After five years the doctor discovered that the laser instead of dissolving the tumor into oblivion it breakdown into smaller pieces and spread into different parts of his brain.
He decided not to try another procedure but rather enjoy the remaining time of his life. He died two years after. In any procedure there is always a risk involve and the doctor will inform us about it. We always just hope for the best.