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History of Anticoagulant Therapy
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A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain. Unlike other tumors, brain tumors spread by local extension and rarely metastasize(spread) outside the brain.
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This article focuses on primary brain tumors in adults.Primary brain tumors include any tumor that starts in the brain. Tumors may be confined to a small area, invasive(spread to nearby areas), benign(not cancerous), or malignant(cancerous).Tumors...
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Detailed information on brain tumors, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, types, and treatment
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A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue, either malignant(cancerous) or benign(noncancerous), in the brain. Each year, more than 17,000 brain tumors are diagnosed in the United States.A benign brain tumor is composed of slow-growing noncance...
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There are many types of brain tumors, including primary and secondary brain tumors. Primary brain tumors are named by the type of brain tissue in which they are found. The most common primary brain tumors are gliomas, which begin in the glial, or supportive, tissue of the brain.
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If you have symptoms of a brain tumor, your doctor will first ask questions about these symptoms. Next, the doctor will get your complete medical history and give you a physical exam. In addition to checking your overall health, the doctor will do a neurological exam to observe the way you walk, talk, and move.
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The brain is a complex organ made up of many different cells and parts. Many types of cancer can form in the brain. The type of brain tumor a person has depends on where it began and the cells it is made of. Doctors call cancer that begins in the brain a primary brain tumor.
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Screening tests check for signs of cancer in people who don't have any symptoms. Unfortunately, no screening or blood tests exist that can detect a brain tumor early. The tumor is usually found after symptoms appear. Because brain tumors are rare, screening the majority of the population is neither possible nor justifiable. If you ever experience new symptoms, such as headaches or weakness, see a doctor.
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Before your doctor can recommend a treatment plan, he or she needs to know the grade of the cancer. The grade tells these things about the tumor.
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Elaine learned she had a tumor deep within her brain. After recovering from brain surgery, Elaine started getting lost on short trips to the grocery store--the same store she'd been driving to for years. Then she began having trouble with numbers, such as balancing her checkbook. After returning to work, she had trouble focusing on complex tasks. Often she could not remember conversations with coworkers. These problems continued after Elaine switched to an easier position. She eventually quit working altogether.
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A brain tumor is a type of cancer. And there are very few things scarier than being told you have cancer. You may feel like you are in shock. You may not even want to believe what the doctor has told you. And there are probably so many questions you want to ask but think you can't because you don't know where to start.
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The members of your health care team will work with you during the course of your treatment. They help guide you through your treatment choices, address your questions and concerns, and give you support. Following are some of the people who make up your health care team, and some of the words you may hear:
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Adjusting to your diagnosis and treatment can be hard for both you and your loved ones. It will take time. But there are things you can do to make the process easier.
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Brain tumors often cause symptoms. Also, your treatment is likely to produce some side effects. To help you feel better, your doctor may prescribe medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible interaction with other medications.
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The brain controls the body. Each part of the brain has a role. When you have a tumor, the part of the brain surrounding it may be damaged. Then the brain can't do its job properly.
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Surgery is usually the first step in treating a brain tumor. For this treatment, you see a doctor who specializes in surgery on the brain or nerves, called a neurosurgeon. To remove a brain tumor, a neurosurgeon will cut a hole in your skull. It is like making a small window in the skull. This surgery is called a craniotomy.
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When you are being treated for a brain tumor, it is likely that you will have side effects. Depending on how advanced your cancer is, you may also have symptoms of the disease. For instance, cancer that has spread can cause symptoms such as pressure or pain, or it may interfere with the function of an organ.
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Treating your cancer to get the best results is important. But your quality of life also matters. Let your doctor and nurse know if you are experiencing any side effects or discomfort. Make sure you tell your doctor or nurse how these problems affect your day-to-day life. Your healthcare team is there to help you manage your symptoms as well as to treat your cancer.
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Brain tumors can affect your ability to think, remember, reason, and concentrate. Follow these tips to improve your quality of life and reduce frustration.
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Because no one knows what causes brain tumors, it is hard to say what will prevent them. You can do certain things to reduce your risk of getting a brain tumor. One thing is to avoid exposure to radiation. If radiation is prescribed to treat another kind of cancer, the benefits it brings in treating that cancer usually outweigh these risks.
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Certain factors can make one person more likely to get a brain tumor than another person. These are called risk factors. Although such risk factors do exist, a person who has one or more risk factors will not always get a brain tumor. In fact, you can have all the risk factors and still not get a brain tumor, or you can have no known risk factors and still get the disease.
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Researchers are finding new treatments for brain tumors. People with brain tumors now have more hope for living longer than ever before.
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Different types of brain tumor treatments have different goals. Here is a list of treatments and their goals.
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Brain tumor symptoms depend on the size and location of the tumor. These symptoms are caused by the damage the tumor does to specific parts of the brain.
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Some people use statistical reports to try to figure out their chance of getting cancer or of being cured. Remember that statistics show what happens with large groups of people. Because no two people are alike, statistics can't be used to know or predict what will happen to you.
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Survival rates show the percentage of people with a certain type and stage of cancer who survive it for a certain period of time after they are diagnosed. A 5-year survival rate is the percentage of people who are alive 5 years after they are diagnosed. These are the people it includes.
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Here are some frequently asked questions about brain tumors. Q: What is the brain, and how does it work?
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Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs are made to attack and kill cells that divide rapidly. Cancer cells divide rapidly, as do some normal cells. Chemotherapy can affect those rapidly dividing normal cells in the body. Normal cells may be affected based on these factors.
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Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of various childhood brain tumors.
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Side effects of chemotherapy depend on the type and amount of drugs you take and the length of your treatment. Because chemotherapy drugs kill rapidly dividing cells, the drugs can damage healthy cells that divide quickly, such as blood cells or cells of the intestinal tract, as well. This can result in low white blood cell numbers, which may increase your risk of infection.
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Detailed information on brain tumors, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, types, and treatment
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Detailed information on brain tumors, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, types, and treatment
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The fluid that carries substances such as hormones, oxygen, and glucose to the tissues of the body and carries carbon dioxide away from the tissues as waste.Blood is the red-colored fluid that flows through the arteries and veins of the body. Vita...
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Detailed information on the most common blood disorders, including hemochromatosis, polycythemia vera, thrombocythemia, leukemia, and lymphoma
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Detailed information on blood disorders that place a newborn at higher risk and require clinical care by a physician or other healthcare professional
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Detailed information on blood disorders, including Anemia, Aplastic Anemia, Hemolytic Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Megaloblastic Anemia, Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia, Alpha Thalassemia, Beta Thalassemia (Cooley's Anemia)
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Online medical glossary of terms relating to hematology and blood disorders written for patients and consumers
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Detailed information on blood disorders, including Anemia, Aplastic Anemia, Hemolytic Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Megaloblastic Anemia, Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia, Alpha Thalassemia, Beta Thalassemia (Cooley's Anemia)
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Detailed information on hematology and blood disorders Topic Index Facts About Blood
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List of online resources to find additional information on blood disorders This Web was compiled from a variety of sources including the online resources listed below, but is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your child's physician. The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your child's physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
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Detailed information on blood disorders, including Anemia, Aplastic Anemia, Hemolytic Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Megaloblastic Anemia, Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia, Alpha Thalassemia, Beta Thalassemia (Cooley's Anemia)
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Detailed information about hematology and blood disorders, including blood donations, blood banking, blood transfusion, bone marrow transplantation, aplastic anemia, anemia of folate deficiency, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, hemolytic anem
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List of online resources to find additional information on blood disorders This Web was compiled from a variety of sources including the online resources listed below, but is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your physician. The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
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The term"liver disease" applies to many diseases and disorders that cause the liver to function improperly or cease functioning. Abnormal results of liver function tests often suggest liver disease.
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Detailed information on disorders of the liver, including alcohol-induced liver disease, chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, congenital defects, hepatitis, liver tumors, and liver transplantation
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Detailed information on the most common liver disorders in children There are many different disorders of the liver that require clinical care by a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview.
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Detailed information on how the liver works, including a full-color, labeled illustration of the digestive system
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Detailed information on digestive and liver disorders during pregnancy Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients to be absorbed into the blood and carried to cells throughout the body. Digestion is the process by which food and drink are broken down into smaller parts so that the body can use them to build and nourish cells, and to provide energy.
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Detailed information on liver, biliary, and pancreatic disorders Topic Index The Liver: Anatomy and Functions
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Can having Lupus cause you to then get chronic liver disease? Are the two connected?
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Detailed information on liver diseases, including the most common characteristics of liver disease such as jaundice, cholestasis, liver enlargement, portal hypertension, esophageal varices, ascites, liver encephalopathy, and liver failure
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Detailed information on common characteristics of liver disease When diagnosing liver disease, the physician looks at the patient's symptoms and conducts a physical examination. In addition, the physician may request a liver biopsy, liver enzyme tests, an ultrasound, or a CT scan (computed tomography scan).
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Detailed information on liver, biliary, and pancreatic disorders Liver, Biliary, and Pancreatic Disorders Home
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List of online resources to find additional information on liver, biliary, and pancreatic disorders
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Coagulation disorders(coagulopathies) are disruptions in the body''s ability to control blood clotting, an essential function of the body designed to prevent blood loss. The most commonly known coagulation disorder is hemophilia, a condition in whi...
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Bleeding disorders are a group of conditions in which there is a problem with the body''s blood clotting process. These disorders can lead to heavy and prolonged bleeding after an injury.
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Detailed information on bleeding disorders, including Hemophilia and Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura
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Detailed information on bleeding/clotting disorders, including hemophilia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and thrombosis
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Bleeding disorders are disruptions in the body''s ability to control blood clotting. Patients with these conditions bleed easily for longer periods of time than normal.Coagulation, or clotting, is a complex process involving at least 20 components ...
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