GLIOMA
You can find everything you wonder about brain tumor in our content, and you can clear the question marks in your mind.
What is a Brain Tumor (Glioma)?
The negative condition caused by the cells that form and grow in the part of the skull is called a brain tumor(Glioma). The place where these tumors occur is usually inside the brain. But they can also originate in the tissues around the brain. In this case, they grow into the skull.
If the tumors settle inside the skull, there is an increase in pressure. This causes some symptoms to be seen in the person. Symptoms usually include severe headache, nausea and vomiting. These are among the most important symptoms of the disease.
With the aging of the world population, the incidence of tumors in the brain continues to increase. Today, the reason why many types of cancer develop has not yet been determined. Likewise, there is no definitive explanation for why brain tumors develop. However, there are studies on the relationship between tumor development and age.
According to these studies, the world population is getting older and the probability of the tumor is increasing accordingly. However, this health problem can be seen in any age group. In the event of the disease, the quality of life and health of the person decreases considerably. It is therefore vital to combat this condition and begin treatment.
Brain tumor(Glioma) surgeries in Turkey are performed with great care by experienced neurosurgeons. State-of-the-art applications are used in brain tumor(Glioma) operations in Turkey. The success of Turkish doctors in brain tumor(Glioma) operations has been proven worldwide.
How Does a Brain Tumor (Glioma) Occur?
Tumors can form in the brain as well as in other organs in the body. Our cells develop, grow, age and die when there is no problem. After this, new cells are formed and the body continues its healthy functioning without interruption. However, in the event of an abnormal situation, these processes are interrupted and cells begin to be produced before they are needed.
Excess cells do not die when they should die, and then excess cell accumulation occurs. When the accumulating cells begin to cluster, a formation called a tumor occurs in the related organ. Not every tumor is called cancer. For this reason, tumors formed in the brain are given this name.
What Causes Brain Tumor (Glioma)?
It is not known exactly what causes this condition. However, it is known that some tumors in the brain are hereditary. However, there are some risk factors that cause this condition. The first of these is to be a man. This disease is more common in men. Being from the white race also has an effect on this disease.
Generally, people of white race are more affected by this condition.
There is also a relationship between tumor development and age. This is more common in people over 70 years old. Tumor formation in the cerebellum can be seen in children under the age of 10.
Finally, this situation is more common in individuals with a family history of cerebral glioma. In addition, having a head injury, exposure to radiation, exposure to certain chemicals and viruses are also risk factors for this condition.
What Are the Symptoms of a Brain Tumor (Glioma)?
Symptoms of brain tumor can be listed as follows:
- Headache that starts especially at night
- Vision problems
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fainting and epileptic seizures
- Problems in balance and walking
- Numbness and tingling in the arms and legs
- Forgetfulness and personality disorders
- Speech difficulties and disorders
If there is a pituitary gland tumor, menstrual irregularity and enlargement of the hands and feet can also be seen.
As you can see, a brain tumor (glioma) is a serious health problem that manifests itself with different symptoms. In brain tumor treatments in Turkey, the condition of the tumor is determined by different examination methods based on the patient’s symptoms and complaints, and the appropriate treatment method is applied by Turkish doctors. Brain tumor (glioma) operations in Turkey are performed by neurosurgeons.
Early Symptoms of Brain Tumor (Glioma)
Some tumors in the brain may not show symptoms early or may cause very few complaints. In this case, it is often seen in benign and late growing masses. Congenital tumors may take years to be diagnosed. Sometimes the diagnosis is made by chance. However, the general symptoms of the disease are headache, vomiting, visual disturbances, double vision, numbness in the arms and legs, forgetfulness, speech difficulties, walking problems and hormonal imbalances.
Brain Tumor (Glioma) is More Common in Who?
It is not yet known what exactly causes this condition. Some people may develop this condition, while others may not. However, according to studies, it has been determined that some people are at risk in this regard. However, having the relevant risk factors does not mean that a person will have the disease. These are just possibilities.
Some people can get this disease without having any risk factors. This condition can also be seen more frequently in men and people of white race. Exposure to radiation is an important risk factor. For this reason, it is essential to make sure that the diagnosis is made correctly before radiotherapy is applied. Otherwise, radiotherapy may cause more harm than good.
Family history is also an important risk factor. People with a family history of glioma are more likely to have this condition. For this reason, if these people experience the symptoms of the disease, they should definitely be examined and take precautions. Similar complaints may be a sign of the disease. In tumors seen due to familial factors, patients are usually seen in the young age range.
The radiation exposure of people working in fields such as the nuclear industry can cause significant health problems. Pathologists are also at risk from prolonged exposure to large amounts of formaldehyde. People working in plastic production are also at risk in terms of the chemicals they are exposed to. For this reason, people working in similar occupational groups should be careful about the symptoms. Finally, certain viruses and infections are known to cause tumor formation in the brain.
What Are the Types of Brain Tumors (Glioma)?
1 - Primary Brain Tumor:
It covers benign and malignant tumors in the brain. Cysts such as meningioma, schwanoma, dermoid epidermoid are benign. Malignant tumors in the brain are Glial, Anaplastic and Glioblastoma Multiforme.
2- Secondary Brain Tumor (Glioma):
These tumors are called metastases. They spread to other organs in the body.
Benign Brain Tumors
These tumors occur in the meninges and nerves in the brain. Congenital residual tumors are also in this group. These tumors are not aggressive like malignant tumors. They are usually perfectly curable with surgical treatment.
Malignant Brain Tumors
Tumors in this group are abnormal and grow rapidly. With their rapid growth, they spread into healthy brain cells. The cases of treatment vary according to the location of the tumor, the extent of the tumor and the risk factor.
How Is a Brain Tumor (Glioma) Diagnosed?
The imaging modalities required for diagnosis are brain tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. For some tumors, brain tomography can give quite necessary information. However, magnetic resonance imaging is usually used for diagnosis.
As a result of the examinations, the location and sometimes the type of the tumor can be determined. In addition, the degree of involvement of the brain and nerves due to the tumor is determined in detail. In some cases, help can be obtained from methods such as angiography.
Thus, the blood supply characteristic of the tumor can be determined. With this method, it is possible to obtain clear information about whether the tumor is malignant or not.
How is Brain Tumor Treated?
There are basically three different methods of treatment. These are surgical treatment, drug therapy and radiation therapy. However, the preferred treatment method is surgical treatment. Since tumors put pressure inside the skull and increase the pressure in this area, it is more preferred to be treated with surgical treatment.
Chemotherapy (Medicated Treatment)
Today, the method of treatment with drugs has also made significant progress. Chemotherapy plays an important role, especially in the use of malignant tumors. Sometimes the patient’s life expectancy is significantly extended, and sometimes a complete recovery can be achieved. Although not always, some cases may require drug therapy for the treatment of benign tumors.
Radiation (Radiation Therapy)
The use of radiation has an important place in the treatment of tumors in the brain. Especially methods such as Gamma Knife and CyberKnife give very positive results in the treatment of the disease.
Surgical Treatment
With this treatment method, the tumor is removed, the nerves are relieved, and the type of tumor is determined after pathological examination. Today, this method is quite advanced and advanced. The surgical microscope is now used in a standard way. In addition, the use of intraoperative MRI significantly supports the treatment. Thanks to the advancement of these methods, the complications caused by the old methods have been eliminated to a great extent.
After Brain Tumor Surgery
Problems that may arise after surgery vary according to the size of the tumor, its location, type and age of the patient. Especially the location of the tumor has a great place in the success rate of the surgery. Operations performed in some areas may cause loss of function. For this, physical therapy and rehabilitation may be necessary after surgery.
Seizures, headache, nausea, vomiting, visual difficulties, and infection are among the most common complications after surgery. Some psychiatric problems can also be seen after surgery. However, most of the symptoms are resolved with post-operative care. Especially in this process, getting psychological support has an important place. This support should be taken not only after the operation, but also before the operation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brain Tumor (Glioma)
How to Tell if there is a Tumor in the Brain?
Severe headaches that do not last for a long time, vomiting attacks, epileptic seizures, vision loss and speech difficulties are among the first signs that indicate a tumor in the brain. Such symptoms should never be taken lightly.
Is Brain Tumor Genetic?
Brain tumors do not have a definite cause. However, it is known that genetic factors also play a role in the development of the disease.
What Happens If You Have a Brain Tumor(Glioma)?
This causes pressure inside the skull. This causes severe headache. Later, problems such as walking difficulties and speech and hearing difficulties occur.
Will Brain Tumor(Glioma) Heal?
If the tumor is benign, complete recovery is possible. How the cancerous tumor spreads to the surrounding tissues affects the course of the condition. For this reason, surgical intervention may not always be the only way. In some cases, it may be necessary to seek help from radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Is There a Risk of Death in Brain Tumor(Glioma)?
Tumors in the brain can cause permanent damage and death. Depending on the location of the tumor, brain and spinal cord functions are significantly affected. The most important problem caused by the tumor is that the borders of the tumor cannot be determined exactly during the operation. Even a millimetric error to be made during the surgery can cause speech loss, paralysis and many other conditions.
Does a Brain Tumor(Glioma) Disappear Completely?
After the benign tumors are completely removed, the person can fully recover and no additional treatment is required. However, this situation is different in malignant tumors. In some cases, the tumor may not be completely removed by surgery and additional treatments such as radiotherapy may be required. In malignant tumors, the aim is to prolong the life of the person.
How Often Does a Headache Occur in a Brain Tumor(Glioma)?
Headaches caused by the tumor may not always be seen. Sometimes the pain comes and sometimes it goes away on its own. In some people, the pain may continue for several days. If your pain persists for a very long time, we recommend that you consult a specialist doctor.
How Does a Tumor in the Brain Heal?
There are 3 different treatment methods to treat a brain tumor. The most commonly used treatment method is surgical treatment. Help can also be obtained from drug therapy and radiation therapy. However, the surgical method comes to the fore in order to completely remove the tumors inside the skull. Thus, the intracranial pressure caused by the tumor is reduced.