Brain Cancer Awareness Month: Shedding Light on a Silent Threat
Learn the signs, understand the risks, and support life-saving research
Every Mind Matters – This May, Let’s Educate, Advocate, and Remember
Every year in May we commemorate Brain Cancer Awareness Month also called Brain Cancer Awareness Month. All across the United States this event is well-known. Since brain cancer is frequently reported, more awareness needs to be raised about this type of cancer.
What is Brain Cancer?
Primary brain cancer which originates in the brain and hardly ever spreads to other parts of the body and secondary cancer also known as metastases are two types of brain cancers that are brought on by cancers that started in another part of the body.
The two primary categories of brain cancer comprise over 40 major types.
- Benign
Slow-growing and not likely to spread. Craniopharyngiomas, pituitary cancer, neuromas and meningiomas are common varieties.
- Malignant
Malignant with the potential to spread to other brain or spinal cord regions. Glioblastomas mixed gliomas oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas are common varieties.
In 2024 an estimated 1997 individuals received a brain cancer diagnosis. At diagnosis people are typically 59 years old.
In Whom is Brain Cancer Found?
Anybody can get brain cancer. They are a little more prevalent in men.
Meningioma is the only kind of brain cancer that is more common in women and it is typically benign.
As the general population ages glioblastoma, the most dangerous kind of brain cancer , is becoming more prevalent among those who are.
Symptoms of Brain Cancer
Particularly if the cancer is very small some people with brain cancer have no symptoms.
The location, size and type of a brain cancer all affect the signs and symptoms that are present. They may consist of:
- Headaches that can wake you up at night or be more intense in the morning.
- Fits
- Trouble speaking thinking or comprehending language
- People’s personalities change
- Weakness or paralysis on one side or in one area of your body
- Imbalance issues or lightheadedness
- Visual problems
- Problems with hearing
- Tingling or numbness of the face
- Nausea or vomiting
- Disorientation and confusion
If you are exhibiting these symptoms it is imperative that you consult your healthcare provider.
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Causes of Brain Cancer
Although they are unsure of the cause, researchers know that brain cancer arises when specific genes on a cell’s chromosomes are harmed and cease to function correctly. Your chromosome’s DNA instructs all of your body’s cells on what to do including when to divide, grow, multiply and/or die.
Your brain cells receive new instructions from changes in their DNA. Abnormal brain cells are produced by your body. These cells grow and multiply more quickly than usual and occasionally have longer lifespans. At that point the ever-increasing population of aberrant cells fills the available space in your brain.
In certain instances a person may have variations in one or more of these genes from birth. Further damage may result from environmental factors like prior cancer treatment or exposure to high levels of radiation from X-rays.
In other situations the only reason could be environmental damage to the genes.
There are a few rare inherited (passed down from parent to child) genetic syndromes that are associated with brain cancer including:
- Type1 neurofibromatosis (NF1 gene)
- Type 2 neurofibromatosis (NF2 gene)
- Turcot syndrome (gene APC)
- PTCH gene or Gorlin syndrome
- TSC1 and TSC2 genes contribute to the tuberous sclerosis complex
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome (TP53 gene)
A family history of brain cancer is present in only 5–10% of brain cancer patients.
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Can we Avoid Brain Cancer?
Brain cancer cannot be prevented regrettably. Avoiding environmental risks like smoking and excessive radiation exposure can lower your chance of getting brain cancer.
It’s critical to inform your healthcare provider if a parent or sibling who is your first-degree biological relative has been diagnosed with a brain cancer. In order to determine whether you have an inherited genetic syndrome linked to brain cancer they might suggest genetic counseling.
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