| Cancer cells reproduce but they don't die. They're | | | | Headaches, Seizures, Nausea or vomiting, Weakness |
| sort of like evil immortals. The body just can't kill | | | | or loss of feeling in the arms or legs, memory loss, |
| them no matter how hard it tries. Brain cancer is | | | | Abnormal eye movements or changes in vision, |
| abnormal growths of cells in the brain. Although such | | | | Drowsiness, problems with speech and language, |
| growths are popularly called brain tumors, not all brain | | | | thought processing problems. |
| tumors are cancer. Cancer is a term reserved for | | | | Treatment for a brain cancer depends on a number |
| malignant tumors. Malignant tumors grow and spread | | | | of factors. Among these are the type, location, and |
| aggressively, overpowering healthy cells by taking | | | | size of the tumor, as well as the patient's age and |
| their space, blood, and nutrients. (Like all cells of the | | | | general health. Treatment methods and schedules |
| body, tumor cells need blood and nutrients to | | | | often vary for children and adults. A treatment plan is |
| survive.) Tumors that do not spread aggressively are | | | | developed to fit each patient's need. It is possible to |
| called benign. In general, a benign tumor is less serious | | | | decrease the risk of developing brain metastases |
| than a malignant tumor. But a benign tumor can still | | | | from certain tumors by decreasing the risk of |
| cause many problems in the brain. | | | | developing the initial primary tumor in the first place. |
| The symptoms of brain cancer depend mainly on | | | | Sometimes, when patients have certain cancers that |
| their size and their location in the brain. Symptoms | | | | are well controlled, they will be offered preventive |
| are caused by damage to vital tissue and by | | | | radiation therapy to the brain in order to decrease |
| pressure on the brain as the tumor grows within the | | | | the likelihood of developing brain metastases in the |
| limited space in the skull. As the tumor grows in size, | | | | future. |
| it can produce a variety of symptoms, including: | | | | |