Signs of brain tumor disease. The first signs of a brain tumor

Brain tumors – common name for all neoplasms that are located inside the skull or in the spinal canal. The collection of cells may be benign or malignant; One of the key differences between a malignant tumor is its rapid growth, which is accompanied by the destruction of healthy tissue.

Benign tumors can be congenital (germinomas, angiomas, chordomas and others), or they can develop in adults from cells of various brain tissues - hemangioblastomas from blood vessels, ependymomas from cells forming the cavities of the ventricles of the brain, and so on.

Malignant neoplasms are divided by origin. Primary ones form directly on brain tissue, for example, glioma grows from cells that surround neurons. Secondary (approximately 40% of all tumors) are metastases of malignant tumors that are located in other parts of the body. Leukemia and lymphoma, breast cancer, lung cancer - these and other types of cancer are characterized by spread through the bloodstream.

Brain tumor symptoms

As the disease progresses, disturbances in blood flow in the brain intensify, and an increase in intracranial pressure and the first signs appear, the so-called cerebral symptoms. In addition, focal symptoms are distinguished; The specific clinical manifestations of a brain tumor are due to the pressure it puts on neighboring tissues and the destruction of brain cells.

The severity of symptoms directly depends on the location of atypical cells and the rate of their reproduction. The size of the tumor also matters, but depending on its location, the symptoms of brain cancer can be subtle even with relatively large sizes, while a small tumor can be accompanied by clear clinical manifestations.

General cerebral symptoms

Neurological signs of brain cancer begin to appear with nonspecific symptoms. They are typical for large quantity the most various diseases and cannot directly indicate the presence of a neoplasm. These include:

1. Headache

Since headache Caused not by vascular problems, but by increased intracranial pressure, it does not become less severe with the use of painkillers. In adults, it usually spreads throughout the entire head, although in some cases it may hurt only in the area where the tumor is located. Most often this is the temporal part of the head, occipital or fronto-orbital. The pain can be completely different:

• begins early in the morning and may end by mid-afternoon;
• occurs in a dream, accompanied by confusion;
• pulsating, observed together with general muscle weakness, numbness of the skin. Possible double vision;
• worsens when bending over, coughing.

2. Vomiting

The reason is high blood pressure tumors in those areas of the brain where the centers responsible for the gag reflex are located. The urge occurs at the peak of the headache, usually in the morning. Vomiting is not associated with food intake and does not bring the expected relief, unlike nausea during poisoning. Sometimes the intensity of vomiting is so high that eating is not possible.

3. Dizziness

When the cerebellum area is compressed, serious disruptions in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus occur. Dizziness is considered one of the most characteristic cerebral symptoms of tumors. The patient may have the feeling that he is moving in space, while in fact he is standing in one place. Illusions of movement appear: objects rotate or the ground moves away from under your feet. Dizziness is often accompanied by horizontal nystagmus, an involuntary twitching of the eyeballs from side to side.

4. General weakness

As the tumor grows, the blood supply to the brain is invariably disrupted, the outflow of blood is hampered, or it reaches the brain tissue in insufficient quantities. This leads to rapid fatigue, increased sleepiness, decreased appetite. May be observed elevated temperature bodies over time.

5. Mental disorders

Despite general clarity of consciousness, the following behavioral disorders may be observed:

• memory impairment varying degrees intensity;
• disorders of thinking and perception;
• aggression and irritability;
• lethargy and apathy;
• inability to concentrate.

In rare cases, personality disorders in adults may include disorientation and the inability to say one's name or remember an address, and hallucinogenic delusions may occur.

6. Cramps

As a symptom, they are more often observed with benign tumors or with slowly growing malignant ones. They are uncontrolled muscle tension and movement in the limbs or throughout the body. In most cases, such an attack is preceded by the so-called “aura” - a certain complex of unusual sensations that is caused by irritation of a certain part of the brain. These could be:

• hallucinations (visual, auditory), slight muscle twitching;
• tingling on the surface of the skin, numbness of the limb;
• visual disturbances – sparks or fog before the eyes, “spots”, decreased visual acuity.

7. Photophobia

Unpleasant sensations, pain and sensitivity of the eyes in bright light.

Specific (focal) symptoms

The functions of specific areas of the brain are disrupted under the influence of pressure from an expanding tumor. So, if the focus is located near the area of ​​the brain in which the centers responsible for vision are located, disturbances will be observed specifically in the visual sphere; similarly with all other sense organs and systems of the body. Focal symptoms of brain cancer can be expressed in extremely diverse ways.

Changes and disturbances in sensitivity

The skin stops responding to external stimuli– heat, cold, pain and others. In the most severe cases, the patient ceases to feel the position of the body or its parts in space.

2. Movement disorders

The tumor can exert pressure in such a way that permanent disruptions occur in the process of transmitting impulses between the brain and spinal cord. As a result, the ability to control muscle activity is partially or completely lost. Movement disorders include:

• paralysis. Motor activity a certain area of ​​the body is completely disrupted;
• paresis. The ability to control muscles is partially lost.

Paresis and paralysis can affect certain areas of the body (for example, only one limb), or can spread to the entire body.

3. Hearing and speech impairments

If the area of ​​the tumor affects the part of the brain responsible for hearing, deafness gradually progresses until complete absence ability to perceive sounds. Perception may be impaired: if the brain tissue responsible for speech recognition is damaged, a person is unable to receive audio information from the outside. The ability to hear sounds remains, but for the patient they represent meaningless noise.

4. Visual impairment

When tumor damage affects optic nerve, violations can be very different. Most often this is gradual loss of vision and blindness, but there may be other options. For example, if the conduction of impulses between the brain and eyeball a person may not recognize objects that are in motion, or may not perceive text on paper.

5. Speech disorders

Speech functions are gradually lost gradually: at first the patient simply speaks slurredly, and his handwriting is slightly distorted. As the tumor grows, articulate speech disappears completely, and handwritten text cannot be understood.

6. Epileptic seizures

They begin with prolonged and persistent irritation of the cerebral cortex by an overgrown tumor.

7. Autonomic disorders

Violation of the normal regulation of vascular wall tone leads to significant fluctuations blood pressure and pulse. The patient feels severe weakness and increased fatigue. When trying to quickly change body position, dizziness occurs.

8. Hormonal disorders

Various disorders in hormonal background appear if the tumor affects areas of the brain and nervous system which are responsible for the production of hormones (hypothalamus, pituitary gland of the brain).

9. Coordination disorder

When the tumor is located directly next to the cerebellum or midbrain, powerful motor disorders. For example, a patient cannot touch the tip of his nose with his eyes closed. The gait changes; in some cases, a person is unable to take a step without visual control.

10. Psychomotor disorders and personality changes

As a result of damage to the areas of the brain responsible for memory, various disorders associated with the quality of long-term and short-term memory arise. The patient becomes excessively irritable, distracted and uncollected, and his character undergoes strong, sometimes dramatic changes.

Symptoms depending on the location of the tumor

Complex neurological symptoms varies and is directly dependent on in which part of the brain the tumor is located, in which direction it grows and how it puts pressure on neighboring areas:

• tumor in the frontal lobe: characterized by a general decrease in intellectual functions, impaired articulate speech (motor aphasia), excessive carelessness, talkativeness, and playfulness appear in the character. Changes in gait are observed;
• tumor at the base of the brain: decreased vision and nystagmus, strabismus, pain in the lower half of the face;
• tumor in the brain stem: sharp fluctuations in blood pressure, respiratory rhythm disturbances, decreased tone in the extremities, general impairment of skin sensitivity, asymmetry of the face and smile;
• tumor in the temporal lobe: a speech disorder in the form of sensory aphasia, the once familiar language is transformed into a jumbled set of sounds. Seizures and loss of one or more visual fields are also observed;
• swelling in the back of the head: double vision, severe visual impairment up to complete blindness;
• tumor near the subcortical nuclei: pronounced autonomic disturbances (for example, excessive sweating), changes in muscle tone up or down, involuntary movements of the limbs.

If any complex of the symptoms described above appears, you should consult a doctor; only an experienced specialist can carry out competent diagnostics and differentiate the first signs of a brain tumor.

Brain cancer occurs in one in a hundred cases of tumor formation. The danger lies in the often meager neurological symptoms, which is on early stage mistaken for banal fatigue. As cancer cells develop, the clinical picture increases, but it may be too late to carry out effective treatment. Therefore, it is important to seek qualified medical care when one symptom or a combination of several is detected that persists for more than two weeks. The sooner you can recognize the symptoms and signs of brain cancer, the higher the likelihood of a full recovery. A favorable result is shown by treatment when the tumor size is less than 2 cm.

The first symptoms of brain cancer

There is no single clinical picture for a brain affected by cancer cells. Symptoms vary depending on the size of the tumor and location. There are cerebral, focal signs. The first group includes headache, vomiting, dizziness. This clinical picture is typical for cancer due to increased intracranial pressure (hypertension).

Early signs of brain cancer include severe pain, which is sharp, “spreading”, increasing in nature, occurs at night or in the morning. It is not relieved by analgesics and goes away on its own within a few hours. Symptoms worsen during coughing, defecation, etc. physical activity on the abdominal muscles, when changing body position.

Advice. If a severe headache persists for more than two weeks and is not relieved by painkillers, you should consult a doctor immediately!

In the first stages of tumor development, vomiting often occurs. It is not associated with dysfunction gastrointestinal tract, eating, so there is no feeling of nausea. Vomit is gushing, reflexive character, sometimes occurs on an empty stomach. Dizziness is one of the signs of brain cancer in early stage, characterized by dysfunction of the vestibular apparatus or pituitary gland. The patient is confident that he is moving, turning, remaining in place. Dizziness occurs regardless of body position and lasts for a long time.

Common focal symptoms of early stage brain cancer include:

• muscle weakness of joints and limbs;
• a sharp, causeless drop in vision by several diopters;
• the appearance of “flies” and spots before the eyes;
• unilateral deafness, ringing in the ears;
• increased drowsiness, fatigue;
• partial epileptic seizures.

First-degree cancer often manifests itself with the following neurological symptoms:

• inappropriate behavior (capriciousness of children, unreasonable attacks of rage in adults);
• visual and auditory hallucinations;
• sudden mood swings (violent aggression abruptly gives way to fun, euphoria);
• forgetfulness, impaired consciousness (from mild stupor to coma);
• indifference, apathy.

Focal signs of a brain tumor in adults

The affected area of ​​the brain forms focal symptoms, which become more active as cancer cells develop. A frontal lobe tumor is characterized by epileptic seizures, often mental disorders(unmotivated actions, inadequate humor). In this case, symptoms are observed:

• paresis of facial muscles;
• optic nerve atrophy;
• impaired sense of smell.

The patient smells an odor of unknown origin or aromas that are unusual for a specific object. Sometimes speech is partially lost. Signs of brain cancer in adults of the temporal lobe are olfactory and taste disturbances. The patient experiences auditory hallucinations in the form of endless monotonous knocking and ringing. Symptoms include epileptic seizures and impaired articulation (sensory aphasia). The latter implies that the patient hears sounds, but is deprived of the ability to analyze the speech of the people around him, and perceives his native language as a foreign language.

Extremely rare cancers of the occipital lobe. They affect the optic nerve and, depending on the degree of development, cause symptoms:

• hallucinations (bright flashes, solar plateau);
• color vision disorders;
• loss of visual fields (the area of ​​visible space narrows);
• flashing flashes and sparks before the eyes;
• sometimes complete blindness (at the third, fourth stages).

Parietal lobe cancer characterized by damage to the limbs. There is an unsteadiness of gait, instability in the Romberg position, a violation of pain, tactile sensitivity the side opposite to the location of the tumor. A quarter of neoplasms are meningiomas. This type of brain cancer is common in women and is characterized by the following symptoms:

• unilateral muscle weakness;
• memory and mental disorders;
• ghosting;
• decreased visual acuity.

Cerebellar cancer in adults it manifests itself as a lack of coordination, movements become unclear and sweeping. Muscle hypotonia and pendulum syndrome, when the eyes dart from side to side, are often noted.

Tumors cranial nerves more common in women. Distinctive feature neuronyms is an early stage hearing disorder that may be the only symptom. Sometimes paralysis of half the face develops on the side of the location cancerous tumor, aching dull pain. Women often experience diplopia and physical inactivity masticatory muscles. If cancer is detected at an early stage, the probability of five-year survival depends on how old the patient is, the location and size, type of tumor, and its spread to other organs.

Stage 4 brain tumor

In the treatment of brain cancer, it is important to recognize it in time and begin to act as early as possible. It often happens that symptoms do not appear for quite a long time. For example, such a common symptom of cancer in the form of headaches in the first and second stages appears only in half of the cases.

It is impossible to say exactly how many people live with stage 4 brain cancer. Even with a clear clinical picture, results computed tomography, MRI, histology and other data, doctors may make a mistake in predicting the patient’s life expectancy.

There are five stages of brain cancer in total, but the fourth is considered final. However, there is no hope for full recovery, only in one out of five cases can the patient’s life be prolonged. A terminal cancer tumor implies death. Patients over 65 years old can live another 2-3 years. The chances are higher for people aged 20-45, who have a greater potential to fight cancer. How much time is allocated to the patient depends on him.

Advice. Do not underestimate the role of psychological attitude. Cancer puts moral pressure on the patient, which inhibits the body’s ability to fight the disease. Support is extremely important for the patient.

The most dangerous type of brain cancer is glioblastoma, which forms stellate cells. Patients with this stage 4 tumor live for a maximum of a year. The reason is the progressive metastasis of cancer cells to healthy ones, which sharply reduces the chances of removing the tumor without serious consequences. Glioblastoma is immediately classified as stage 4; such cancer is initially considered inoperable.

In this article we will look at the symptoms and signs of brain cancer. What kind of disease is this?

Brain cancer is rare disease and at the same time little studied. It is often fatal. At the same time, as doctors say, a characteristic feature of cancer patients is almost always the extreme neglect of the disease, when the chances of a cure are much less than they could be. Let's find out what are the first signs of early-stage brain cancer in adult patients.

Description of the pathology

This is extremely dangerous disease, which is difficult to treat and can lead to the death of the patient. The greatest threat is posed by the asymptomatic course of the disease. Basically, the fourth stage is characterized by pronounced symptoms, but at this stage the disease is difficult to treat, and the prognosis for such people is disappointing.

The symptoms of brain cancer in women are not particularly different from those in men.

Confusion is possible

At the same time, the symptoms with which a patient may consult a doctor can easily be confused with signs of other diseases. For example, headaches along with vomiting and dizziness in combination with blurred vision are often observed with migraine and hypertensive crisis. In addition, headaches can be caused by osteochondrosis. In this regard, therapy depends on the level of qualifications of the doctor to whom the patient turns for diagnosis. It is extremely important that the specialist is able to detect dangerous symptoms in time and carry out necessary examination, which can help identify oncological processes.

Classification of tumors

Tumors in medicine are classified according to the tissues in which they grow. Thus, a tumor that develops from the lining of the brain is called meningioma. A tumor that arises in brain tissue is a ganglioma or astrocytoma, and their common name will be neuroepithelial neoplasms. Neuroma is a malignant tumor affecting the nerve sheath of the skull.

Gliomas make up about eighty percent malignant neoplasms, meningiomas are also classified as common tumors; doctors note them in thirty-five percent of brain cancer cases. Now let's find out what are the main reasons for the appearance of this dangerous disease.

Let's look at the signs of brain cancer below.

The main causes of this type of oncology

It must be said that the causes of brain tumors have not yet been fully studied. As practice shows, in ten percent of cases cancer is provoked hereditary diseases genes. Secondary neoplasms arise due to the spread of metastases against the background of cancer of other organs. Today, doctors identify several causes of brain cancer.

• Genetic pathologies such as Gorlin syndrome, along with Bourneville disease, tuberculous sclerosis and disruption of the APC gene, can cause brain cancer.
• Weakened immunity, which is observed after organ transplantation, as well as among AIDS patients, only increases the likelihood of tumor formation not only in the brain, but also in other organs.
• The first signs of brain cancer are much more common in women than in men. Race also plays a role in this case: white people are more likely to suffer from this disease compared to representatives of other races.
• The influence of radiation with carcinogenic substances also entails an oncogenic danger and acts as a risk factor for the development of brain cancer. At risk are people who are involved in hazardous industries, for example, in the industrial production of plastics.
• Brain cancer primarily occurs among adults. And with age, the risk of malignant neoplasm increases, and such pathology is difficult to treat. Children are also at risk for this type of cancer, but the typical areas where the tumor is located differ: in adults, the cancer affects the lining of the brain, while in younger patients the cerebellum may be affected. In ten percent of brain cancer cases in adult patients, the tumor affects the pituitary gland and the pineal gland.

Secondary tumors are a consequence of other oncological processes that occur in the body: metastases penetrate into the skull through the circulatory system and contribute to the appearance of a malignant neoplasm. Such tumors often occur against the background of breast cancer and other cancers.

The first signs of brain cancer

In brain oncology, symptoms are of two types: focal and cerebral. General cerebral symptoms are typical for all cases of cancer, while focal symptoms directly depend on the location of the tumor. Focal symptoms can be very diverse, its type and severity depend on the area of ​​the brain that is affected by the disease, as well as on the functions for which it is responsible: whether it is memory, counting, written language and so on. Among the focal symptoms of the brain there are following signs:

• Partial or absolute impairment of the mobility of certain parts of the body along with loss of sensation in the limbs, distorted perception of temperature, and others external factors. Everyone should know the signs of brain cancer in adults.
• Changes that are associated with the personality: the patient’s character may change, the person may become hot-tempered and irritable, or, conversely, too calm and indifferent to everything that previously worried him. Lethargy with apathy and frivolity in making important decisions that affect life, along with impulsive actions - all this can serve as a sign mental disorder that occurs with this type of oncology.
• Losing control over bladder, difficulty urinating.

General symptoms

All tumors are characterized by common symptoms (brain cancer is no exception), which are associated with increased intracranial pressure, and, in addition, the mechanical effect of the tumor on different centers of the brain. So, the following symptoms are observed:

• Dizziness with loss of balance. There is a feeling that the ground is disappearing from under your feet; it can occur spontaneously and is an important symptom that requires diagnosis.
• Headaches are usually dull and bursting, but can have a different character. As a rule, they occur in the morning before the first meal, in the evenings or after psycho-emotional stress. Headaches can also get worse with exercise.

Signs of early-stage brain cancer often go undetected for a long time.

• Vomiting also occurs in the morning; this can occur uncontrollably if the position of the head changes abruptly. It can appear without nausea and is in no way related to food intake. In the presence of intense vomiting, there is a risk of dehydration, as a result of which the patient will be prescribed drugs that will block the stimulation of the corresponding receptors.

Many people want to know how brain cancer manifests itself. The first signs are not limited to this.

Other symptoms of brain cancer

Now let's look at the symptoms that occur in later stages:

• Partial or complete loss of vision. Floaters appearing before the eyes are a symptom that was caused by the tumor pressing on the optic nerve. In the absence timely treatment this leads to its death. As a result of this process, it will be impossible to restore vision.
• Squeezing auditory nerve The tumor causes hearing impairment in the patient.
• Epileptic seizures that occur suddenly. This symptom is typical for the second or more late stage brain cancer
• Presence hormonal disorders. Often observed with an adenomatous neoplasm of glandular tissue, which is capable of producing hormones. Symptoms can be very diverse, as with other diseases that are associated with hormonal imbalance.
• Damage to the brain stem is characterized by impaired swallowing and breathing function, in addition, the sense of smell, taste and vision are distorted. Despite the seriousness of the symptoms, which significantly spoil life and make a person incapacitated and dependent, brain damage can be minor and benign. But even a small tumor in this area can lead to serious consequences. For example, there may be a displacement of the brain structure, which will require surgical intervention.
• A tumor in the temporal zone manifests itself in the form of visual and auditory hallucinations, a neoplasm in the occipital region is characterized by impaired color perception.

We now know what signs of cancer a person may develop.

Diagnosis of oncology

Types of diagnosing brain cancer include the following procedures:

• Personal examination by a specialist. Within initial examination the doctor asks the patient to do a series of tasks that make it possible to determine the impairment of coordination, tactile and motor function. For example, the doctor may ask you to touch your nose with your fingers closed or take a couple of steps after spinning. Neurologists check tendon reflexes.
• Magnetic resonance therapy is prescribed in the presence of deviations from the norm, which makes it possible to identify oncology at an early stage, determine the location of the tumor and develop an appropriate treatment plan. The first signs of brain cancer manifest differently for everyone.
• Puncture of brain tissue makes it possible to detect the presence of abnormal cells along with the degree of tissue changes, and thanks to this it is also possible to clarify the stage of oncology. However, tissue biopsy cannot always be performed due to the inaccessible location of the tumor, and therefore this analysis often performed when removing a tumor.
• Radiography makes it possible to determine the presence and location of a tumor by the blood vessels shown in the images; for this, the patient is first injected contrast agent. Craniography reveals changes in the structure of the skull along with abnormal calcium deposits, which are provoked by the oncological process.

After diagnosis, the doctor draws up individual plan therapy.

Signs of brain cancer in men and women depend on the stage of the disease.

Main stages of the disease

Due to the almost asymptomatic course of the disease, it is difficult to accurately determine its stage. This is especially difficult to do due to the fact that the disease passes from one stage to another quickly and unexpectedly. This especially applies to cancer formation in the brain stem. The stage of the disease is accurately determined only after a post-mortem autopsy; therefore, the slightest signs of pathology should be treated carefully from the very first days. Unfortunately, on last stage cancer is not amenable to surgical therapy, and, in addition, responds extremely poorly to medicines and other types of treatment. There are four stages in total:

• In the first stage, the cancer affects a small number of cells, and therefore surgical treatment is generally successful. But detecting an oncological formation at this stage is extremely difficult, since the first signs of brain cancer in men and women are characteristic of a number of other diseases. Special diagnostics are required.
• The transition of the process to stage 2 is characterized by an increase in the tumor, which involves nearby tissue and begins to compress the brain centers. At this stage, the tumor is still operable, but the chances of absolute cure are significantly reduced.
• The third stage is characterized by rapid growth of the tumor, and malignant cells affect healthy tissue. But, nevertheless, surgery can give good results if the tumor is located in
• At the fourth stage, surgical treatment is no longer performed. Instead, palliative methods are used along with radiation therapy And drug treatment, aimed at reducing the patient's suffering through strong painkillers. The prognosis in this case is disappointing.

Symptoms and signs of brain cancer in adults can be determined by a qualified physician.

How long do patients with brain cancer live?

In predicting the development of the disease and assessing the health status of patients with brain cancer, the concept of “five-year survival” is used. Patients who have been diagnosed with this disease are assessed, regardless of the course of therapy used. Some patients after successful treatment live longer than 5 years, while others are forced to undergo regular therapeutic procedures. The average survival rate for people with tumors located in the brain is thirty-five percent. As for malignant tumors, of which the majority are gliomas, in this case the survival rate is only five percent.

We looked at the symptoms and signs of brain cancer.

Brain oncology is an extremely serious and serious disease, the outcome of which quite often leads to the death of the patient.

The disease is extremely dangerous. And not only because clinical manifestations and severity, but also because the first signs of brain cancer are very easy to miss and not notice, which will give rise to a stronger development of the disease.

Therefore, it is important to know what symptoms and signs of a brain tumor may be in the early stages in order to identify signs of the tumor in time and begin treatment.

Causes of cancer formation

• genetic inheritance. In addition to inheriting a special gene from relatives, the precursor to oncology is genetic diseases(for example, tuberculous sclerosis, Gorlin syndrome);
• old age. The older a person is, the more susceptible he becomes to the disease. IN childhood there are also chances of developing a tumor, but they are much less than in the elderly and if they do occur, they usually affect atypical places for localization and are quickly diagnosed;
• gender. Women are more susceptible to developing brain tumors than men. In addition, race also plays a role: white people develop brain cancer more often than representatives of other races;
• irradiation. Radiation and carcinogens significantly influence the development of the disease. For example, with increased harmfulness of production, long-term contact with heavy metals;
• hiv - infection. Patients, as a rule, live in a constantly reduced immune system, which increases the possibility of not only tumors, but also other diseases. In organ transplantation with HIV infection, the recipient also becomes susceptible to developing brain cancer.

In addition, there are secondary tumors, which are metastases. They appear due to the development of other types of oncology, in other organs, but metastases can spread throughout the body.

If a person has metastases, then the symptoms that are present in the patient will also be characteristic - as with brain cancer, because they are the same malignant neoplasms as true brain cancer, only with the formation of tumors secondary.

Types of tumors

There are two main types: benign and malignant neoplasms. Only malignant tumors carry a mortal threat to the patient, while benign ones can be with a person all his life and not cause complications.

But rebirth is possible benign tumor and cancer develops, then it begins to show a vivid symptomatic picture and changes a person’s life completely.

The first signs of brain cancer

The main threat lies in the unnoticed development of the tumor and the course of symptoms. People simply don’t notice most of them and chalk them up to fatigue, bad weather, blood pressure, etc. Ignoring such symptoms of early-stage brain cancer allows the disease to develop stronger and become more dangerous.

Brain cancer can develop unnoticed by the patient, and symptoms in the early stages are simply invisible. It happens that only after the development of brain cancer to the third or fourth stage, the clinical picture of the disease manifests itself with all its force and then the disease can be recognized.

Therefore, it is extremely important to pay attention to any symptoms of brain cancer and undergo a routine annual examination in order to detect cancer in time.

The first symptoms of cancer appear as general cerebral ones:

• headache;
• dizziness;
• double vision;
• impairment of vision or hearing;
• decreased brain activity;
• hallucinations of various types;
• increased irritability;
• euphoria;
• behavior change;
• a sharp decrease in body weight;
• fatigue, weakness.

But, nevertheless, the signs and symptoms have their differences. For example, headaches develop to such a degree that a person begins to vomit. The pain is systematic, the same.

Symptoms of brain cancer can be completely different and depend on where the tumor is located and at what stages of growth and development it is. Dizziness occurs suddenly and does not change when changing body position. A patient’s sudden weight loss for no apparent reason will lead the doctor to suspect the presence of a hidden oncological process.

It is important to understand that the first signs of brain cancer mean that the process has already begun and how quickly the right decision will be made - seek help from doctors, so you can stop the growth of tumor cells and undergo surgery to remove the tumor.

It all depends on the location of the tumor

Each area of ​​the brain is responsible for its own functions, and only the correct functioning of all departments can maintain constant homeostasis of the body. The tumor can be located in absolutely any part of the brain and the clinical picture development of symptoms.

The location of the tumor in the frontal lobe (glioma) causes epileptic seizures, mental disorders, coordination of movements - there may be disturbances in walking, involuntary twitching.

The tumor in the temporal lobe has quite characteristic symptoms manifested in hallucinations. They can be different: gustatory, visual, tactile or olfactory.

Development in the parietal lobe entails a violation motor functions. There may be paresis in various combinations, tremors, it becomes difficult for a person to hold objects, involuntary twitching.

Tumor in occipital lobe characterized by affecting visual center. Patients may have visual disturbances, but usually without a decrease in visual acuity. That is, visual fields may fall out, there may be hallucinations, or, most often, the appearance of circles, stars, dots or other figures. This symptom differs in that the appearance of the figures is always recorded in only one place.

Tumor growth in the pituitary gland causes double vision, drooping of the eyelid (on the side on which the tumor is located), and impaired eye movement.

If the neoplasm affects the hypothalamus, there are short-term disturbances or clouding of consciousness.

The clinical picture of the disease depends on the location of the tumor. But besides this, the size of the tumor and the stage of development of the process affect the severity, duration and possible addition of other symptoms to general condition patient.

Diagnostics

After a patient comes to the hospital with complaints, he is prescribed instrumental examination and taking tests. If there is suspicion of cancer turns out to be correct, the patient is urgently hospitalized, treatment is developed and prescribed, and the relatives are issued a certificate of temporary disability of the patient.

How to identify the disease?

Now you know that signs of the disease may be invisible and it is important to diagnose brain cancer in time, before the tumor processes have fully developed. Even a simple blood test will show the presence inflammatory processes and the doctor will order an examination to identify the cause.

Useful to know: Brain hematoma: causes, signs and risk factors

As a rule, it is necessary to collect a detailed medical history from the patient and prescribe laboratory and instrumental methods studies: CT, MRI, lumbar puncture, angiography. If a tumor is detected in the brain during examination, a diagnostic biopsy is prescribed in order to identify the presence of a pathological process and begin treatment.

Treatment of the disease

For brain cancer, complex treatment is most often prescribed after a consultation, where doctors of different specializations develop special treatment for each patient individually. It all depends on the stage of the process, the age of the patient, the presence concomitant diseases, number of metastases, tumor size.

As a rule, this is a combination of drug therapy and surgery, since brain cancer is extremely aggressive and quickly depresses the patient. Developing symptoms only worsen the course of the disease. If you manage to defeat the disease at an early stage, then the symptoms of brain cancer recede and your health improves significantly.

Disease prognosis

For brain cancer, the prognosis depends on many factors. At stages 1 and 2, after surgical intervention and drug therapy, the prognosis is quite favorable. The patient quickly regains consciousness, is discharged home and remains under the supervision of an oncologist.

At stage 3 or 4, the prognosis is much worse. Symptoms significantly worsen the patient's condition, aggressive drug therapy and surgery cannot provide a 100% guarantee that other organs have not been attacked by cancer cells.

During the pathology under consideration, increased division and modification of the cells that make up the brain and its components occur: nerve fibers, meninges, blood vessels. Malignant cells can also be brought into the brain through the blood or lymph flow from cancer-affected organs.

This tumor tends to grow into nearby tissues, negatively affecting the functioning of brain structures. This is manifested by vegetative, psychological and intellectual disorders.

The main causes of brain cancer - what factors provoke the development of a tumor?

To date, the exact cause of the disease in question has not been established.

But there are a number of certain factors that often precede the development of brain cancer:

• Staying in the area of ​​radioactive radiation for a long period of time.
• Work in conditions that involve regular contact with chemical agents.
• Injury to the skull.
• The presence of a similar pathology in close relatives is a genetic factor.
• Alcohol addiction.
• Consumption of products containing GMOs.
• Tobacco smoking.
• Diseases that affect protective functions body. First of all, this includes HIV.

Video: First signs of brain cancer

The risk of getting a malignant neoplasm in the brain increases with:

1. Representatives of men's ball.
2. Young patients under 8 years of age.
3. Persons over 65 years of age.
4. Those who sleep with mobile phone near the head.
5. Liquidators of the tragedy at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
6. Patients who have undergone internal organ transplantation.
7. Undergoing chemotherapy as a method of treating a tumor, regardless of its location.

Types of brain oncology and features of their development - degrees of brain cancer

There is a fairly broad classification of the disease in question.

1. Depending on the location, malignant neoplasms are:

• Intracerebral. They are diagnosed in the substance of the brain.
• Extracerebral. Cancer cells do not affect the brain cavity - they affect its membranes and cranial nerves.
• Intraventricular. The tumor spreads to the ventricles of the brain.

2. Based on the etiology of tumors, the following brain cancers are distinguished:

1. Primary. They appear as a result of mutations in the cells of certain components that are located inside the skull. Degenerative changes can affect bones, nerve fibers, blood vessels that supply the brain, gray matter, etc. They are in turn divided into two large groups: gliomas and non-gliomas. Each of these groups can be represented various types malignant neoplasms, which will be described below.
2. Secondary. They develop against the background of metastasis of other internal organs.

3. Primary brain tumors come in several types:

• Astrocytoma. The culprits of this disease are astrocytes - auxiliary cells of the brain. Men are more susceptible to this pathology.
• Oligodendroglioma. It is extremely rare due to the transformation of oligodendrocytes.
• . In practice, this type of intracerebral tumors occurs most often. Research always confirms the presence of modified oligodendrocytes and astrocytes in this type of cancer.
• Lymphomas of the central nervous system. Cancer cells are located in the lymph vessels inside the skull. According to studies, this type of brain tumors often occurs against the background of weak body defenses or after an internal organ transplant.
• Pituitary adenomas. This type of neoplasm is rarely malignant. It is often found in women, and it manifests itself as malfunctions endocrine system: obesity, increased growth hair, prolonged wound healing, etc. In children, this disease manifests itself as gigantism.
• Meningiomas. They are formed from mutated cells of the arachnoid membrane of the brain. They are capable of causing metastasis.
• Ependymoma. The cells responsible for the synthesis undergo modifications cerebrospinal fluid. They come in several classes:
  - Highly differentiated. The parameters increase quite slowly, metastases are not observed.
  - Moderately differentiated. Like the previous class, they are not capable of metastasizing, but the tumor grows faster.
  - Anaplastic. Cancer cells divide quickly enough, causing metastases.

Video: Brain tumor. What to do when your head is swollen with pain?

There are 4 stages of brain cancer:

1. First. The cells of the pathological neoplasm are not aggressive, they are not prone to spreading. Due to mild symptoms (loss of strength, slight dizziness), identifying the disease in question at this stage is problematic.
2. Second. Growth and increased cell degradation are recorded. IN pathological process nearby tissues, lymph nodes, and blood vessels are involved. Surgical treatment does not always give the desired results.
3. Third. Patients complain of severe and frequent headaches, dizziness, and increased body temperature. In some cases, disorientation in space and deterioration in the quality of vision occur. A common occurrence is nausea and vomiting. After appropriate diagnostic measures, the doctor may declare the tumor inoperable. In general, the prognosis for stage three brain cancer is unfavorable.
4. Fourth. Headaches are intense, constantly present, and difficult to relieve with medications. In addition, hallucinations are observed, epileptic seizures, fainting. There are disturbances in the functioning of the liver and lungs due to active metastasis. At this stage, the tumor is not operated on, and all treatment is aimed at eliminating the symptoms.

The very first signs and symptoms of brain cancer – when to sound the alarm?

The disease in question in the early stages manifests itself with nonspecific symptoms. Similar signs are present in some other diseases associated with the functioning of the muscular, central nervous system, and internal organs.

Therefore, the presence of at least one of the conditions described below is a reason to consult a doctor:

• Nausea and vomiting, which do not depend in any way on the time of eating. If vomiting begins soon after eating, the vomit will contain undigested pieces of food. The presence of bile indicates that the patient has not eaten anything for a long time. Main feature this symptom– lack of relief after vomiting, as happens in case of poisoning.
• Night and/or morning headaches painkillers that painkillers cannot cope with. When in an upright position, the pain subsides. When you move your neck or body, the pain intensifies. As the tumor progresses, the pain in the head does not stop.
• Loss of ability to analyze received information.
• Difficulty remembering.
• Impaired concentration.
• Inadequate perception of events.
• . The whole body can be involved in this process, and in some cases the person loses consciousness with a short-term cessation of breathing.

The symptomatic picture of this pathology is divided into 2 large groups:

1. General cerebral signs

Includes the following conditions:

1. Violation of wakefulness and sleep patterns. The majority of the time, amid headaches and weakness, a person sleeps. Waking up can only be triggered by the desire to go to the toilet. After the patient wakes up, he is unable to navigate in time and space, his thoughts are confused, and he does not recognize the people around him.
2. Bursting headaches. After taking diuretics, the pain decreases, but does not completely disappear. Peak pain falls in the morning. This is due to swelling meninges during sleep.
3. Negative reaction of the visual organs to light rays: lacrimation, sudden closing of eyelids, pain in the eyes, etc.
4. Dizziness. The patient experiences a feeling of “wobbly feet,” in which the ground under his feet seems soft and/or sinks.

2. Focal signs

• Paresis or paralysis – when a cancerous tumor is localized in the motor cortex. Often only one half of the body is affected.
• Lack of adequate reaction of the pupils to the light beam.
• Inability to write even a few sentences.
• Autonomic disorders: increased sweating, frequent fainting in the background low blood pressure etc.
• Poor coordination of movements: staggering when walking, standing.
• Difficulty recognizing objects.
• Poor understanding of the meaning of the text read.
• Shifting pupil syndrome.
• Hearing problems. In some cases this leads to deafness.
• Inability to recognize or pronounce individual sounds or words.
• Errors associated with visual function. In addition to deterioration of vision and double vision, there may be difficulties in determining the exact shape and parameters of surrounding objects.
• Loss of sensation in certain areas of the body.
• Hormonal disruptions when the pineal or pituitary gland is involved in the pathological process.
• Psychological disorders: the patient becomes too irritable, sometimes aggressive.
• Difficulty with thinking.
• Various types of hallucinations:
• Auditory – when the temporal zone is involved in the oncological process.
• Visual – if the tumor is located in the occipital region.
• Olfactory – in case of damage to the anterior parts of the frontal lobe.