Brain Cancer Specialist

What is brain cancer?

Brain cancer is a condition where a tumor grows in or on your brain. There are various kinds of tumors that can affect your brain and not all of them are cancerous.

Tumors are made up of mutated cells that are multiplying out of control. Unlike healthy cells, these abnormal cells don’t die and don’t stop growing, and they can spread through your body in your blood.

Primary tumors are those that develop in your brain or the other tissues inside your skull, but cancer cells can also spread from different parts of your body and cause tumors to grow. These are called metastatic tumors.

What are the symptoms of brain cancer?

Symptoms of brain cancer could include:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Imbalance
• Weakness
• Seizures
• Personality changes
• Confusion
• Speech problems
• Vision problems
• Loss of hearing

Not all brain cancers cause symptoms, and many patients only discover they have a brain tumor by accident when they’re undergoing diagnostic investigations for some other reason. Symptoms are most likely to start when the tumor begins causing pressure to build up in your brain.

How is brain cancer treated?

The treatment plan the team at Wellness Oncology & Hematology designs for you is dependant on the type of brain tumor you have, the size, and where it is. Any other health conditions you have and your wishes are also important factors.

Your treatment plan may include:

Surgery

Your surgeon removes as much of the tumor as possible, but may not be able to take out everything if there’s too great a risk of damaging your brain. They also take a biopsy of the tumor for testing so they can see what kind of brain cancer you have. This helps determine the follow-up treatment.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. The chief drawback of chemotherapy is that because it targets anything that’s fast-growing, it also damages healthy cells. This can cause unpleasant and draining side effects that need careful management.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high energy sources like X-rays to destroy brain cancer cells. It tends to be easier for patients to tolerate than chemotherapy, as it doesn’t cause so much damage to noncancerous cells.

Stereotactic radiosurgery

This is a newer approach to treating brain cancer that involves using CT or MRI technology to aim a large dose of radiation directly into the tumor.

A better understanding of the causes of brain tumors means there are now more effective therapies available, enabling Dr. Shaye, Dr. Lashkari, and Dr. Ho to tailor each person's care and provide the best management plan possible.

If you’re concerned about any symptoms of brain cancer you’re experiencing, call Wellness Oncology & Hematology today, or book an appointment online.