Encyclopedia of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants

           A brain tumour is a lump created by an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells. It can either be malignant (cancerous) or benign.

Brain tumours are rare. Around 2000 men and 1500 women are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year in the UK. Brain tumours can occur at any age but are more common in children under 12 and adults over 40

About brain tumours

Brain tumours grow from brain cells.

Malignant brain tumours can spread out of the brain and invade surrounding tissue. They rarely spread to other parts of the body.

Benign tumours do not spread to other parts of the body and so are not cancerous. However, if they continue to grow in the brain, they may cause a problem by pressing on the brain structures. Both malignant and benign tumours can be harmful because they increase pressure in the skull.

Brain tumours can be primary or secondary.

• Primary brain tumours originate in the brain.
• Secondary brain tumours are tumours that have occurred because cancer cells have spread into the brain from a cancer in another part of the body.

Primary brain tumours are rare. Most brain tumours are secondary, from other parts of the body

Types of primary brain tumours

There are many types of primary brain tumours. They are generally named after the type of brain cells that they contain.

The most common type is glioma, which is a tumour that grows from glial cells. These are cells that support the nerve cells of the brain. Over half of all primary brain tumours in adults are gliomas.

Brain tumours are graded according to how quickly they grow (low grade is the slowest growing).

Symptoms

The symptoms that you or your child may experience will depend on the size of your tumour and its position in your brain.²

You or your child may experience one or more of the symptoms listed below.

• Headaches, which are usually worse in the morning but wear off as the day goes on. They are a result of increased pressure in the skull.^2,4,6 Although headaches are one of the most common symptoms of a brain tumour, it's important to realise that headaches are common and most are not caused by brain tumours.
• Seizures (epileptic fits) which can cause muscle spasms, or periods of unconsciousness. For this reason you may not be able to drive, but follow your doctor's advice.
• Vomiting or nausea.
• Blurred vision.
• Drowsiness or lethargy.
• Changes in personality, memory or mental ability - although these may only be slight.^2,4,6
• Weakness, which is often one-sided, in the arms or legs.
• Difficulties with speech such as slurring or inability to name objects
• Problems with hearing.
• Problems with sense of smell.

Although not necessarily a result of brain tumours if you or your child experience these symptoms, you should visit your GP.

What causes brain tumours?

Secondary brain tumours are always caused by a cancer somewhere else in the body.⁵ The cause of primary brain tumours is still not known.

Brain tumours do tend to occur more often in certain types of people however, and there are a number of 'risk factors' including those listed below.

• Age is a factor. Although tumours can occur at any age, they are more common in adults over 40 and in children under 12.
• Radiation exposure, such as radiotherapy to the head given as treatment for another cancer can increase the risk of a brain tumour.
• Environmental factors such as excessive exposure to certain chemicals like pesticides can increase the likelihood of developing a brain tumour.
• Immune system disorders can increase the risk of developing a brain tumour such as a lymphoma (a malignant tumour of the lymphatic system which is part of the body's immune system). The immune system may be impaired by a defect present at birth, as a result of other treatments such as cancer treatments or organ transplantation or due to illnesses such as AIDS.