It can be devastating to learn that you or a loved one has developed brain cancer. At Pasadena CyberKnife, we’re here to make sure that our patients in the greater Pasadena, CA area are never alone in their fight during brain cancer surgery or brain cancer treatment. As your trusted radiation center, we always want to inform patients that accurate information about symptoms of a brain tumor is a vital first step in cancer therapy and brain cancer treatment. Identifying early symptoms of brain cancer leads to the best chances of surviving the disease, which is why your cancer doctor would like to go over some of the most common symptoms of it.
Common Symptoms of Brain Cancer
These are a handful of the most common symptoms of brain cancer:
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Nausea
- Memory loss
- Personality changes
- Depression
- Fatigue
Location-Specific Brain Cancer Symptoms
Some symptoms can strongly suggest that a tumor is in a certain area of the brain. A few examples are as follows:
- Sensory changes (hearing or vision) can be caused by abnormal growth impinges on the areas of the brain that control those activities (temporal lobe, occipital lobe, brain stem).
- Facial weakness, numbness, difficulty swallowing, and double vision can indicate a brain stem tumor.
- Changes in emotional state, memory, or speech can indicate problems with the frontal and temporal lobe of the cerebrum.
- Balance problems and disrupted motor skills can result from a tumor in the cerebellum.
Metastatic Brain Cancer Symptoms
Metastatic brain cancer is cancer that originated from another place, but has invaded the brain. The cancer cells have leaked from a primary tumor elsewhere and have reached the brain via blood vessels or the body’s lymphatic system. Some symptoms of metastatic brain cancer typically include:
- Lethargy
- Memory loss
- Personality change or strange behavior
- Clumsiness or a loss of coordination
- Changes in sensation
- Vision changes
- Headaches
- Nausea
Additionally, the symptoms of the final stages of brain cancer can include increased sleep, epilepsy, difficulty swallowing, agitation, and delirium. It’s important to note, however, that symptoms can vary greatly on a case-by-case basis. Several factors may influence these symptoms.
Brain Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment
If you or a loved one has symptoms, there are tests and exams that can be done to identify brain tumors, which include a neurological exam as well as scans of the brain. It’s important to seek a definitive diagnosis since some symptoms can be caused by benign conditions. If the symptoms aren’t due to a benign condition, it’s critical to find out what’s causing them. Remember, early detection is always one of your best weapons in the fight against cancer!
There are numerous tests that can be done to identify brain tumors, including a neurological exam and brain scans. A common procedure is a CT (computerized tomography) scan that uses X-rays and a computer to created detailed images inside the body. Another type of scan that can be used is an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), which uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the tissues and organs. Also, a cancer doctor can take an imaging test known as a PET (positron emission tomography) scan that uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look in the body and examine how organs are functioning. It may even be necessary to perform a biopsy to gain a better understanding about what’s causing the symptoms.
In our oncology center, we also offer an alternative to brain cancer surgery – the revolutionary CyberKnife treatment for our patients. This brain cancer treatment targets brain tumors with pinpoint accuracy, reaching even the hard-to-access areas of the brain. It takes X-rays of the patient’s head in real time, using the patient’s bone structure as a reference to pinpoint the tumor’s location. No body movement restrictors or head frames are required for it. Additionally, our CyberKnife cancer therapy only requires one-to-five treatments and will leave patients with little-to-no side effects or discomfort.
Contact Your Pasadena Radiation Center for Brain Cancer Treatment!
If you’re looking for brain cancer surgery, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with your cancer doctor at our oncology center by giving us a call at (626) 768-1021. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about our brain cancer treatment, we invite you to contact us and let us know; we’re always glad to help with your cancer therapy! We can’t wait to hear from you!