Knowing About Something Early Can Change Everything
We often think of cancer as affecting organs like the lungs, breast, or colon, but it can also affect the brain. Brain cancer is not as common as other types, but it is one of the most complicated and emotionally difficult types to deal with for both patients and their families.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of brain cancer can help people find it early, get the right medical care, and help families get through their journey with knowledge and compassion.
Anyone who wants to understand more, whether they are a patient, a caregiver, or someone who has noticed small changes in their neurological function, can use this guide from the Onco-Life Cancer Centre.
What Is Brain Cancer?
Brain cancer is when cells in the brain or nearby tissues grow in an abnormal and uncontrolled way. These growths can turn into tumours, which can be either benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Primary brain tumours start in the brain, while secondary or metastatic brain tumours spread from other parts of the body.
The most prevalent types of primary brain cancers are:
- Gliomas (astrocytoma, glioblastoma, oligodendroglioma)
- Meningiomas
- Medulloblastomas (predominantly in pediatric populations)
- Adenomas of the pituitary gland
Different types of tumours act differently, which affects the options for treatment and the results.
What Causes Brain Cancer? What Makes It Happen?
Some cancers have well-known causes, but brain cancer does not. There is no one confirmed cause, but there are a few risk factors that may make it more likely to happen.
- Changes in genes
Changes in the DNA of brain cells can cause cells to grow out of control. These mutations can be passed down from parent to child or happen by chance. - Being around radiation
Long-term exposure to ionizing radiation, whether from past cancer treatments or environmental sources, is associated with a heightened risk of brain tumours. - Family History
People with a family history of brain cancer or genetic syndromes like Li-Fraumeni or Turcot’s syndrome may be more likely to get it, but this is not common. - Age and Sex
Brain tumours can happen to anyone, but some types are more common in kids (like medulloblastoma) and others are more common in older adults (like glioblastoma). - Exposure at work and in the environment
Some studies, though controversial, suggest that long-term exposure to chemicals in rubber, oil refining, and farming may raise the risk of brain cancer.
Even though scientists are still looking into brain cancer, many patients don’t have any clear risk factors. This makes it even more important to be careful.
How To Tell If You Have Brain Cancer
Brain cancer symptoms can be very different from one person to the next because the brain controls almost all of the body’s functions. Some signs show up slowly, while others show up all at once.
Take note of these things:
- Constant headaches
often worse in the morning but may get better as the day goes on, not always helped by regular painkillers. - Feeling sick and throwing up
This isn’t your typical digestive problem; it happens when the pressure inside the skull rises and doesn’t have anything to do with food. - Changes in vision or hearing
Seeing things blurry or double, loss of side vision, hearing loss, or ringing in the ears. - Seizures
Are one of the first and most worrying signs. If you’ve never had a seizure before, sudden jerking or convulsions can be a sign of a tumour. - Changes in personality or thinking
Loss of memory, having trouble focusing, Strange behaviour or changes in mood, Confusion, especially in places you know well. - Weakness or numbness in the muscles, especially on one side of the body, makes it hard to walk or balance. Speech that is slurred.
If any of these symptoms last for a long time or get worse, it’s very important to see a neurologist or oncologist right away.
How Do Doctors Find Out If Someone Has Brain Cancer?
To find out if someone has brain cancer, doctors use a combination of neurological tests, imaging, and biopsies.
- Exam of the Nervous System
The neurological exam looks at your vision, balance, reflexes, coordination, and mental state to find the parts of your brain that are affected. - Tests that use pictures
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): The best way to do it. It gives a lot of information about the tumour’s size, location, and involvement.
- CT Scan: Useful in emergencies or when MRIs aren’t possible.
- PET Scan: Helpful when you need to check how active a tumour’s metabolism is.
People who look for “chemotherapy near me” often have PET scans before they start treatment.
- Biopsy
A small piece of the tumour is taken out and looked at under a microscope to find out what kind of cancer it is and how bad it is.
Brain Cancer Treatment Choices
The type, location, size, and grade of the tumour, as well as the patient’s age and overall health, all affect how it is treated. A team of experts from different fields at Onco-Life Cancer Centre looks at all cases.
- Surgery Craniotomy:
Taking off as much of the tumour as possible by opening the skull. After this procedure, radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be used to kill any cancer cells that are still there. - Radiation Treatment:
If surgery isn’t possible, use radiation therapy to get rid of any remaining cells. There are different kinds, such as external beam radiation, proton therapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery. - Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy can be given through an IV or by mouth. People often take drugs like temozolomide. When looking for local treatment options, patients often type “chemotherapy near me” into a search engine.—Onco-Life gives you access to well-monitored, caring chemotherapy care. - Therapy that is specific to:
Drugs that are meant to attack certain genetic changes that are found in the tumour. Even though this field is still new, it shows promise for treating brain cancers that come back or don’t respond to treatment. - Immunotherapy:
Is an exciting area of clinical trials that helps the immune system find and kill cancer cells.
Why Should You Go To Onco-Life Cancer Centre?
Our goal at Onco-Life Cancer Centre is to make world-class cancer care available, caring, and tailored to each patient.
We have top cancer centres in Talegaon, Chiplun, Satara, and Wagholi that all have:
- MRI, CT, and PET are examples of advanced diagnostic technologies.
- Surgeries that are precise and done by trained neurosurgeons
- Chemo and radiation units that are only for them
- You can get to government health programs like MJPJAY and PM-JAYA
- A team of medical oncologists, neurologists, nutritionists, and counselors all in one place.
What Life Is Like After A Brain Cancer Diagnosis
Getting diagnosed with brain cancer changes your life. But with the right care, a lot of patients live long and meaningful lives.
This is how we help patients after they survive:
- Regular Checks
Follow-up MRIs or PET scans are very important to find recurrences early, even after treatment. - Therapy and rehab
After treatment, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy are all important parts of recovery. - Counselling and Mental Health
We help patients and caregivers deal with fear, anxiety, and cognitive changes by offering group sessions and psychologists. - Advice on diet and lifestyle
Personalized nutrition plans to help you heal, boost your immune system, and fight the side effects of treatment.
Last Thoughts: Don’t ignore the Signs
Brain cancer doesn’t always make a big deal about itself. A headache or forgetfulness that won’t go away is often the first sign.
Finding out about a problem early, taking action right away, and getting help from an expert can all have a big effect on the outcome.
We at Onco-Life Cancer Centre believe in giving patients and their families the information, clarity, and caring they need to make decisions. If you’re looking for a diagnosis, treatment, or chemotherapy near me, know that you’re not the only one going through this.
