Brain Cancer: Diagnosis And Prevention

By Author: Makehealtheasy
Total Articles: 47
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The very first diagnostic step is a neurological examination to check eye movement and vision, hearing, sensation, reflexes, balance and coordination, thinking and memory. After neurological examination is over expert may suggest imaging studies and laboratory test for further information about the tumor and its location. Diagnostic tests are often used after treatment to monitor the outcome and recurrence of tumors. Diagnosis for brain cancer may include computerized tomography scan known as CT or CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging or MRI, bone scan and lumbar puncture.

CT scan stands for Computerized Tomography: A CT scan directs x-rays from multiple angles to a specific body part like various cross sections of tissues and bony structures. This can help identify the tumor’s location and can sometimes help to determine the tumor type. Additionally it can also detect swelling, bleeding or other conditions associated with the tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging combines computer technology, a magnetic field and radio waves to produce a two dimensional ...
... image of the patients anatomy. This process is radiation free and the radio waves are harmless. Positron emission tomography scans create color coded pictures of brain activity by measuring low dose radioactive levels. The PET scan measures the consumption rate of sugar substance in different parts of brain. This can be helpful in detecting recurrent tumor growth. Plain x-ray films of the head may be used to determine the condition of the head and the effect of the tumor on bony structures.

Brain cancer prevention can help person to prevent or reduce the seriousness of the disease they are affected with. There are certain steps that help to prevent the disease like exploring his or her family history and find out what diseases run in the family. If one finds any signs of the disease an immediate visit to the doctor is warranted. Avoiding things causing this serious disease like smoking, drinking alcohol and cell phones as cell phones give off radioactive waves which attack brain cells. Get a regularly health diet because healthier living promotes longer happier lives, read those books that guide you about how this serious disease is caused and what kind of symptoms they have in common. Make sure that our environment is clean as it is very beneficial to our overall health.

Brain cancer originates in the brain is called primary brain tumor. It occurs at any age. But most probably it happens in childhood and can lead to adult. It can spread and destroy nearby parts of brain. There are many instances where effects of brain cancer have spread to the brain from others parts of the body like breast cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer and so on. Brain cancer often occurs within the same family members, inheritance is also a responsible cause of brain cancer.

Treatment of brain cancer depends on the diagnosis. Brain cancer treatments involve combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Some tumors require several different surgical procedures, and some can be treated with radiation therapy. But the initial treatment of a brain tumor may include steroid medications to reduce growth and inflammation of brain tissue. Anticonvulsant medications may help to prevent or control illness. Drugs used in cancer chemotherapy specifically attack cells that promote division. These drugs are useful because cancer cells spend more of their time dividing and reproducing than normal cells do.