Chemotherapy and Brain Damage - Is There a Link?

Many chemo patients report mental impairment. Some estimates say as many as 50%. They notice it during and after chemo. The impairment was not present before chemo. Is there a link between chemotherapy and brain damage?

Chemo uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. The body is pumped full of toxins. This would likely cause some cognitive deficits. Mental impairment occurs more often in those treated for cancer involving the reproductive system. Examples are breast and prostate cancers. In these cancers, the chemo levels are very high.

Some call the mental impairment a mental fog. Some call this condition chemofog. The term chemo brain came about in 2004. The term describes the mental fog patients feel during and after chemo treatments.

Researchers have known about chemo brain for over twenty years. Since the 1980's, there are a large number of breast cancer survivors. Many of them have reported symptoms. They started to suspect issues with chemotherapy and brain damage.

They were reporting problems they did not have prior to chemo. Problems with their memory. They were fumbling for words in the middle of sentences. They could not concentrate like before. They could not multi-task any longer. They were having a hard time learning new things. These are typical reports from a chemo brain sufferer. They were feeling half-crippled.

These symptoms lasted for a few weeks to years. Survivors reported different levels of each symptom.

Only recently have there been studies involving chemotherapy and brain damage. The medical profession did not understand the phenomenon. Doctors trivialized the condition for years.

The cause of chemo brain still is not clear. It is not clear how often it happens or what actually triggers it. Some theories are that stress, fatigue and depression causes the effects. Hormone changes, lack of estrogen.

When talking about chemotherapy and brain damage with patients, they have differing views. Some patients have extreme symptoms. Some notice no issues. They are not always sure if they have chemo brain or age-related issues. While other cannot notice a difference before chemo than after chemo.

Medical professionals also have conflicting views on chemotherapy and brain damage.

Some say that the link is real. They point to the large number of documented chemo brain cases. There are also a growing number of studies by researchers. These studies are showing that mental impairment after chemo is real. They are also showing that the impairment can last longer than two years.

In one study, researchers took brain scans of breast cancer survivors. They used chemo patients and patients who survived cancer through surgery. The study showed the brains of chemo patients had to work harder to perform the same tasks.

Others argue the stress of chemo could have an impact on mental function. They also cite reduced levels of estrogen, fatigue, and anxiety. These could all cause chemo brain symptoms. They also point to other medications. Chemo patients often take other drugs to treat chemo side effects.

Another study on chemotherapy and brain damage had a different conclusion. They discovered there might not be a link between chemotherapy and brain damage after all. This study evaluated the cognitive state of women before chemo. Thirty five percent of the women showed some level of mental impairment. Memory was impaired most often.

The conclusion was twofold. First, the cause of chemo brain might be due to factors not considered yet. The second is that any study linking chemotherapy and brain damage must include tests prior to chemo.

The debate about chemotherapy and brain damage will continue.

The bottom line is that the cause of the mental impairment does not matter. What matters is that people are suffering. Chemo brain, cognitive impairment, chemofog, what ever you call it. It has a direct impact on a person's quality of life.

Dr. Henry Mahncke notes how similar chemo brain and age-related mental decay is. Dr. Mahncke is Vice President of Research and Outcomes for Posit Sciences. Posit Sciences develops innovative brain training software. Their software provides brain health and improves cognitive performance.

Brain training is one way to help recover from chemo brain. Thousands have been able to regain their cognitive function due to many different causes. Chemo brain is one of them.

Brain Tumor Signs And Symptoms - What Are The Warning Signs?

A brain tumor is a growth in the brain that may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Both a benign and malignant tumor can cause symptoms because the tumors' growth takes up space and causes pressure and compression on vital nerve tissue. Review these symptoms to detect if you have any of the warning signs of a tumor and learn more about the cause, diagnosis and treatment.

Brain Tumor Signs And Symptoms Cancer Medicine

The most common symptom is a headache. 90% of those with a tumor in the brain will experience a headache during the course of the illness. The headache may be described as a an intermittent (off and on) deep ache, or pressure. It is not usually described as throbbing. The headache may be increased by coughing, straining, or changing positions (i.e. standing to lying down). Headaches caused by tumors are usually more intense in the morning at the early stages of tumor growth.

Other symptoms of brain tumor may include nausea and vomiting (some persons may vomit without any preceding nausea), sudden changes in vision (i.e. double vision), memory lapses, changes in personality, or seizures.

Tumor Cause, Diagnosis and Treatment

There is no known cause for primary brain tumors (tumors that originate in the brain) and most tumors of the brain have spread (metastasized) from cancer elsewhere in the body.

The aforementioned symptoms may be noted and should be evaluated by a physician so a proper diagnosis can be made. The evaluation may include a physical examination and specialized tests such as CT or MRI scans, or EEG (electroencephalogram instrument records brain activity).

Tumors of the brain are treated by surgically removal if possible (inoperable brain tumors can not be removed because they are too large or in an inaccessible area). Radiation treatments or chemotherapy may also be considered as treatment options.

Brain Tumor - There is A Cure

To a layman, brain tumor is basically cancer of the brain. Medulloblastoma, ependymoma, glioma, teratoma, atypical teratoid rhadoid tumor, etc, are names associated with different types of brain tumor. Cancer Medicine

In simple terms, brain tumor is no more than uncontrolled growth of cells forming a lump in the brain. Just like any other form of cancers, brain tumor can spread and proliferate to any other parts of the body. Even before the brain tumor proliferates, or metastasize as a medical doctor or an oncologist would say it, the tumor could wreak havoc in the brain. Our brain, as we know it, controls the rest of the body. Any disturbance up there will affect our normal functioning of the various faculties. Therefore, symptoms of brain tumor really depends on where and how big the tumor is.

This article brings to light a relatively new form of treatment that could bring hope to those afflicted with brain tumor.

The ideal objective of any treatment for brain tumor is total removal of the tumor, without any recurrence and proliferation. The most common treatment is surgical removal of the tumor. Surgery posts the high risks of damaging even a tiny bit of the surrounding structure, tissues or nerves.  Apart from conventional surgery, the newer types of surgery include what is known as stereotactic radiosurgery and gamma knife radiosurgery.  These two forms of surgery are specific, but are still considered ionizing and invasive, respectively. This article shares with the reader a non-surgical, non-ionizing, and non-invasive form of treatment for cancer.

This technology is commercially known as CYTOTRON, or scientifically known as RFQMR or Rotational Field Quantum Magnetic Resonance. Cytotron came into the world in 2006 after more than a decade of research and fine-tuning. It is invented by Dr. Rajah Vijay Kumar from Bangalore, India. Dr Kumar is a tissue reengineering scientist. He works with medical doctors and specialist in inventing the Cytotron. This technology was first successfully applied to the treatment of osteoarthritis. For details on this aspect, please refer to my upcoming article 'Osteoarthritis - There Is cure!'.

The layman explanation of Cytotron in cancer treatment is simplified here. The Cytotron uses radio and near radio frequency to beam specifically on the tumor or cancerous area. What Cytotron tries to accomplish is to induce the self-death of the cancer cells. This is known as apoptosis in medical term. In cancer cells, the process of natural death is missing due to some missing process in the cell cycle. With Cytotron, that process of natural death is restored without affecting the neighboring normal cells. With the many cases that had been treated, the MRI results showed objective evidence of the arrest of cancer growth and also the disappearance of the cancer cells.

One of the most amazing successful cases of Cytotron treatment on cancer was a 7 year-old girl from Ipoh of Perak state, Malaysia. This girl, Ying, was detected with brain tumor when her parents noticed she was not able to behave normally and knocked into things around the house. Her brain tumor led to her loss of vision and, if untreated, she was on the brink of death. About one year after the tumor was detected, it had grown from 3 to 4 centimeters, and then, increased by another centimeter in just another 4 months. Then, she was put on a 28 consecutive, 1 hour per day treatment with the Cytotron. During the Cytotron treatment, her condition had already begun to show improvement. 3 months after the treatment, her MRI clearly showed that the brain tumor growth had been successfully arrested. Half a year later, the tumor totally collapsed. Today, at the age of 9 years old, she has gone back to school like other kids.

To those who are living with the agony of cancer, CYTOTRON, or RFQMR, may bring new light to their lives.

Marijuana Helps Cuts Tumor Growth in Brain Cancer and Help Relieve Pain and Suffering for Others

Most individuals when they hear of cannabis, they think pot, chronic, marijuana, an unlawful herb which can cause them long prison convictions where the authorities throw away the key. Some people have heard that the use of marijuana can drive you nuts. However how many of you knew there is another side to marijuana use. Yes! outside of recreational drug use. Marijuana help A.I.D.S suffers, cancer suffers, suffers of Multiple Sclerosis. Various studies have shown cannabis may be useful in addressing alcohol abuse,attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or AD/HD), collagen-induced arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis,asthma,atherosclerosis,bipolar disorder, colorectal cancer,depression, diabetic retinopathy, dystonia, epilepsy, digestive diseases, gliomas, hepatitis C, Huntington's disease, hypertension, urinary incontinence, leukemia, skin tumors, morning sickness, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Parkinson's disease, pruritus, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sickle-cell disease, sleep apnea, and anorexia nervosa. However regarding some of these claims validation of these results needs longer, controlled studies on broader samples. Which may not occur due to the criminal status of this magnificent herb

Although the extent of the medicinal value of cannabis has been disputed, and despite the opposition to research and use put forward by most national governments, it does have several well-documented beneficial effects. Among these are: the amelioration of nausea and vomiting, stimulation of hunger in chemotherapy and AIDS patients, lowered intraocular eye pressure (shown to be effective for treating glaucoma), as well as general analgesic effects (pain relief). In fact Marijuana has been used in China and India as early as 3000 B.C. to treat a variety of ailments from easing the pain of childbirth to relieving asthma and epilepsy symptoms, even improving appetite and mental or emotional dispositions. In fact marijuana was the weapon of choice when it came to medicinal treatment in pre 1930's U.S.A. Cannabis was used in the treatment of all kinds of malady from tooth ache to several forms of anxiety disorders. However it is in recent times that marijuana also known as Hemp is again finding prominence in the medicinal arena. This was influenced by efforts being done by researchers investigating methods of ascertaining cannabis intoxication when they observed that smoking the drug reduced intraocular pressure. Thus arousing efforts for further research in the medicinal benefits of marijuana.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) published a policy in May 1999 that prescribed the need for further research into the use of marijuana for medical treatment. The NIH maintains that the use of marijuana for medical reasons must involve an analysis of the benefits of use as well as the possible risks. Although the United States has not openly supported any efforts regarding the medicinal efficacy of marijuana. Most other countries have researched and identified various areas in which Cannabis help relieve suffering.

Research released in the British Journal of Cancer reported that the intra-cranial administration of THC was associated with reduced tumor cell proliferation in humans with higher glioblastomaecting the viability of non transformed counterparts. This was supported by Italian researcher who identified "cannabinoids have displayed a great potency in reducing glioma tumor growth. Appearing to be selective antitumoral agents as they kill glioma cells without affecting the viability of non transformed counterparts." What this means really is that cannabiniods which is a component of cannabis effectively isolates and destroy brain cancer cells without harming or affecting healthy brain cells unlike any invasive or radiation therapy known of. Spanish researcher Dr. Manuel Guzman, one of the world's leading experts in the field, wrote in a 2003 review in the journal Nature Reviews: Cancer, "Cannabinoids are selective anti-tumor compounds, as they can kill tumor cells without affecting their non-transformed counterparts." It is likely that cannabinoid receptors regulate cell-survival and cell-death pathways differently in tumor and non tumor cells." But Medicinal marijuana benefits doesn't stop with cancer either, remember I mentioned earlier it also delivers benefit to persons suffering with A.I.D.S

What assistance does marijuana offer A.I.D.S stricken individuals? Here is how marijuana helps; Researchers at Columbia University publicized clinical trial data in 2007 showing that HIV/AIDS patients who breathed in cannabis four times everyday experienced considerable increases in food intake with little evidence of irritation and no impairment of cognitive performance. They reasoned that smoked marijuana has a clear medical benefit in HIV-positive patients. In another study in 2008, researchers found that marijuana significantly reduces HIV-related neuropathic pain when added to a patients already-prescribed pain management regimen and may be an "effective option for pain relief" in those whose pain is not controlled with current medications. Medical cannabis appears to help negate appetite loss, nausea, and pain associated with HIV and AIDS. Additionally marijuana's use has been known to ease the dementia, also known as AIDS dementia complex, HIV dementia, HIV encephalopathy, HIV-associated dementia, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder, and HIV-related dementia suffered by many AIDS patients during the end stages of the disease.

That's cancer and AIDS what else is there? It is a very long list which I will share with in another article. However some individuals may think that cannabis is just great for any disease or disorder. The problem is that every individual responds to cannabis differently depending upon their age and illness, their unique genetics, the setting in which cannabis is utilised, the particular strain, makeup, and potency of the cannabis used, and the unique thinking and emotions of that patient. It remains arguable whether medical marijuana is a legitimate treatment or a miracle drug. I personally cannot substantiate that however from where I stand it seems marijuana is very helpful.

Brain Tumors and Nutrition - Which Foods to Eat to Slow Tumor Growth

Nutrition is crucial for our wellbeing. Our way of eating, however seems not to acknowledge this fact. How, otherwise, would we eat tons of fried stuff, of deep fried stuff especially, like French fries, deep fried meat and other oily food? The average American eats too much fat, and too much heated fat. If he ate more oily fish like salmon or sardines, he would eat better foods. Cancer Medicine

It is thought that at least 35 % of all tumors have a connection with nutrition. When we add certain lifestyle factors like smoking or drinking alcohol, the danger of developing some kind of cancer or tumor increases a lot.

Healthy foods that can protect us come from the reign of the plants. Plants give us certain protective ingredients that give great benefit. to the human being. They protect our cells from oxidation, they help protect cells from cancer and they give us, another protective factor called bioflavonoids. Foods that are rich in botanical factors include berries, dark green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, legumes like beans of all kinds, (including soy) And, of course, whole grains.

Why should we eat broccoli? Broccoli belongs to a group of vegetables that are called cruciferous because its flowers have the shape of a cross. Another vegetable t of the same group hat is very healthy is Brussels sprouts. These vegetables are protective against the formation of cancer, at least this was shown in laboratory. Other vegetables that belong to the same group and that we should eat regularly are cabbage, cauliflower, watercress and some less known kinds. A part from the protective factors they bring with them, they also give us some of the necessary indigestible fibers

As far as brain tumors are concerned, they may be influenced by a healthy diet. Obviously, a healthy diet is only part of the treatment. If you have to undergo chemotherapy or other chemical treatments, agree to them as long as you find an improvement in your health. Some nutritionists suggest the daily intake of at least one to three raw apples. They also suggest to eat whole grain bread and nothing else. As drink, green tea seems to be the choice.This tumor-starving diet seems to have proven to be successful.

If you are not convinced of the tumor starving diet, eat the above indicated vegetables and add also almonds, walnuts and pine nuts to your diet. They will help you overcome your fatigue that comes along with brain tumor.

As already mentioned, another very important nutritional factor are dietary fibers that help prevent cancer. These fibers are the indigestible part of foods. These foods origin from plants. They help to maintain a healthy colon. They also dilute potentially hazardous substances that might induce cancer. The intake of fibers is crucial for our overall wellbeing and health and therefore also useful in case of brain tumor.

Acupuncture for Treating Brain Tumors and Diseases in Quantum Brain Healing

Quantum Brain Healing uses acupuncture along with orthomolecular medicine and other therapies. Acupuncture can be key in treating or healing certain types of diseases. It is extremely important to know and understand which diseases acupuncture will heal. Other diseases will be treated over the long term basis and symptoms will improve.

Acupuncturists know that a calming effect can often be obtained by simple techniques. It can be combined with herbs and is well-known for preventing brain decline and treating changes in mental function, brain damage, ischemia, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, mental retardation, attention deficit disorder, Tourette's syndrome, manic-depressive syndrome, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and schizophrenia. Research around the world has proven its effectiveness in eliminating cysts and treating small tumors. Dr Y Omura, head of The International College of Acupuncture and Electro-Therapy (ICAET) in New York, has researched using acupuncture to treat difficult types of brain cancer for many years. He has developed a diagnostic and treatment protocol that can help some of the most difficult cancer cases be put into long term remission. Cancer Medicine

Quantum Brain Healing will use the main body points, scalp and ear acupuncture points for treating brain and mental function disorders. Electro-acupuncture is often great for treating certain types of brain malfunctions. Early treatment of symptoms can delay or prevent many diseases that occur in multiple family members. Good family health records are always helpful in preventative medicine.

There are many brain diseases and symptoms that can be cured or treated including:

• long term brain damage

• metabolic disorders

• surgical recovery after the removal of a brain tumor

• birth defects affecting the brain

• emotional distress

• addictive behaviors

• mental disorders

• cognitive decline and dementia due to poor blood circulation

Medical research is the investigating the use of acupuncture and herbs to treat the elderly who have had a stroke or suffer from senile dementia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, MS, herpes infections in the brain, Bipolar, anxiety, stress, neurosis, mania, kleptomania, drug addiction, alcoholism, eating disorders, tics, motor problems, ADD, ADHD, or mental retardation. It is very common for herbal formulas or single herbs to be used along with acupuncture for treating brain disease.

©Dr R Stone, MD in Alternative Medicine-India

A Brain Tumor Symptom - Truth About Neck Pain Revealed

Brain tumor symptoms can be hard to recognize, simply because of the variety of symptoms that can occur. Symptoms ranging from headaches and neck pain to seizures and stomach problems are all brain tumor symptoms. These symptoms occur when the brain tumor causes damage to various clusters of nerve cells, causing spurious signals or a sudden lack of signals to various parts of your body. Early detection can be extremely difficult with slow-growing brain tumors because of the gradual onset of symptoms, which may be very subtle at first.

Cancer Medicine With a brain tumor, neck pain can occur at times, but recurring headaches are the most frequent sign of a brain tumor. But diagnosis can be difficult. Most people have headaches, and many have recurring headaches or migraines - but not a brain tumor. Headaches that are caused by brain tumors usually have other symptoms that occur simultaneously. Double vision, vomiting, or confusion are commonly seen with headaches associated with brain tumors, but again, severe migraine sufferers can have these symptoms as well. Sometimes the headaches come while asleep, and are noticed strongly immediately upon awakening, but subside after a few hours. Brain tumors can also cause headaches that get worse with exercise or coughing.

There are several other brain tumor symptoms, neck pain included. Headaches and neck pain are common, but so are gastrointestinal problems. Vomiting is more likely to occur in cases of stem cell tumors in the brain. Often, especially in the latter stages, brain tumors cause confusion, loss of reasoning ability, speech problems, memory loss, and impaired concentration. The brain tumor may also cause the victim to sleep much more than usual. Depending on the location of the brain tumor, between fourteen and ninety-four percent of patients suffer some form of seizures. Partial seizures are not uncommon, where, for instance, only the left side of a persons body will go into a seizure. The patient may also remain conscious during a partial seizure, experiencing odd tingling sensations and confusion. Generalized seizures, as are often experienced by epileptics, are not very common in brain tumor cases.

Usually, the specific symptoms and location of a brain tumor will help a doctor diagnose its type. For example, if the tumor is a brain stem gliomas, the patient will usually suddenly develop problems swallowing, impaired hearing or vision, difficulty or clumsiness walking, vomiting after waking up in the morning, nasal or slurred speech, and muscle paralysis on one side of the face.

Brain Tumor - The Symptoms and Diagnosis

The signs of brain tumor depend on the size, location and type of tumor. Symptoms may appear whenever a tumor pushes a nerve or injures a particular area in the brain. They can also be caused if the brain enlarges or fluids build up in the skull.

Majority of the common signs of brain cancers are the following: Cancer Medicine

- Headaches (regularly worse at daybreak)

- Vomiting or nausea

- Problems in walking or balancing

- Changes in personality, mood or capacity to contemplate

- Memory problems

- Changes in vision, hearing or speech

- Muscle trembling or jerking

- Numbness or itchy feeling in legs or arms

If the symptoms indicate that there is indication of brain cancer, the doctor can do any of the subsequent procedures as basis of its diagnosis:

- Physical examination - the doctor examines general sign of health

- Neurologic examination - the physician checks the attentiveness, strength of muscle, reflexes, coordination and reaction to pain. The eyes are also examined to find out if there is any swelling due to the tumor pushing the nerve which attaches the brain and eyes.

- CT scan - an x-ray apparatus connected to computer which takes series of thorough pictures of a head. The patient is given an injection of special tint in order that the brain can be seen visibly in the picture. The picture may show growths or tumors inside the brain.

- MRI - a forceful magnet attached to computer which makes comprehensive pictures of sections in the body. These pictures are shown on a screen and can be printed also. Sometimes, a particular dye is inserted in order to help illustrate differences in the various tissues inside the brain.

The following tests are also considered to help diagnose brain tumor:

• Angiogram - a particular dye is injected to the bloodstream and runs in the blood vessels inside the brain in order for them to appear on x-ray. If a growth is present, it can be seen by the doctor.

• Skull x-ray - various forms of brain cancers cause calcium accumulation inside the brain or changes on the bones in the skull. Through x-ray, changes can be checked.

• Spinal tap - the physician may take a sample of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid - a fluid that fills up the spaces around the brain as well as the spinal cord). This is done with use of local anesthesia. The spinal tap can be done around thirty minutes. The patient lies flat within several hours after extraction of CSF to avoid headache. Laboratory test is done to check for the presence of cancer cells and other indications of problems.

• Myelogram - refers to the x-ray of the spine or spinal cord. Spinal tap is done by injecting a special dye in the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient tilts to let the dye combine to the fluid. This procedure assists the doctor discover cancer on the spinal cord.

• Biopsy - it is the removal of sample of tissue to search for cancer cells. The pathologist examines the cells under the microscope in order to verify abnormal cells. A biopsy may show tumor, tissue changes which might lead to tumor and other situations. This is the surest way in diagnosing brain cancer.

Foggy Brain (Or Fuzzy-Brain) Following Chemotherapy: Is It Real or Imagined?

Previously only discussed behind closed doors; chemotherapy's aftermath of memory problems, fatigue, anger and despair are now out in the open. While chemotherapy affects each and everyone differently, by understanding what is happening during this crucial time in your life, you can establish a sense of control. With the knowledge of the physiological and psychological effects of chemotherapy treatment, you can have more confidence in your self-perceptions and can assist in your recovery. You can call upon your inner resources (and power) during and after your treatments to help heal yourself. Rest assured that this strength is at your fingertips. So, let us explore some of the explanations for what is happening to your body that will enable you to better deal with these confounding alterations in your life and very being.

First and foremost, realize that the stress that your body is under is enormous. In response to this added stress, your body produces cortisol, which is made by small walnut-sized organs above both kidneys called the adrenal glands. Imagine that you are an athlete about to compete in an event. Your heart rate increases, your muscle tone becomes exaggerated, your pupils dilate to let in light as your brain prepares to control all these events and those to come. Well, your adrenal glands are in a race. They are overworked with the stress of worrying, fears of cancer, along with your efforts to control these fears and unknown future events. You may have gone through surgery or are about to have your cancer removed. Constant stress causes your body to be in a heightened state of tension. This heightened state of arousal (tension) exacerbates your existing feelings of discomfort and vulnerability. The extra cortisol also adversely affects insulin utilization, fat, and sugar processing. You may find that getting up in the morning is difficult. You may have no energy to lift your head off the pillow and find that fatigue sets in faster and lasts longer. The adrenal glands' production of cortisol due to stress is eventually altered. This will further add to your state of depression and create abnormal responses within your brain.

The chemotherapy drugs that you presently take to control any remnants of your breast cancer drastically affect estrogen production. If you are not already menopausal, your body's hormonal balance will be thrust into a rapid state of change. Normally, the onset of menopause is a measured process that allows your body to gradually adjust to the decrease in estrogen (peri-menopausal). However, breast cancer cells are often dependent upon estrogen and, thus, part of the cure is to diminish this source of supply. With the decrease in ovarian and fat production or blockage of estrogen, comes the onset of a menopause-like state. You may find that your skin has a different texture, your sexual organs are drier, your mood has changed and there are rapid oscillations in the way you feel.

Things that normally were taken in stride now become much greater events in your life, which can, in turn, lead to a state of depression. Likewise, your body naturally produces testosterone that helps to maintain muscle and bone strength and works in conjunction with estrogen for sexual arousal. Prior to this instantaneous menopause, your testosterone levels were balanced by estrogen. Now, however, unopposed testosterone may contribute to your feelings of tension and anxiety, or it can cause you to yield to aggressive tendencies that in the past were more easily suppressed.

The brain has message transmitter hormones that are also in a state of turmoil. Your life has suddenly been altered by the discovery of breast cancer. Of course, you contemplate the worst. Surgery and chemotherapy add additional insults to your body. Your sense of worth, empowerment, and control over your life and destiny have been altered by the simple words that you have cancer. The daily pressures of life, raising and caring for a family, spousal obligations, and work activities have put you in a pressure cooker mode. Pressures, which you normally take in stride, become burdensome. This only compounds your anger, episodic mood swings and anxiety or depression. Coupled with the psychological changes are the physical manifestations that may occur due to the chemotherapy and surgery. Your personal identity is now undergoing a transformation. This is not who you are or who you have been.

Added to this is the insult of memory and learning disruption; i.e., where are my keys?, did I do that errand today? This interference in memory and learning are called cognitive loss. Studies confirm that these alterations in your thinking may indeed be real. It is likely that the burden of having breast cancer and the additional strain of going through treatments compounded by your hormonal imbalance and altered cortisol levels, may contribute to the loss of memory and learning difficulties.

Not only do cognitive alterations exist and impact upon your daily activities, but they have far-reaching effects on your family members, friends and business relationships. Some of the losses in memory and cognitive thought may even last years beyond the end of your treatment. You will be undeniably disturbed by these cognitive losses and may not know how to deal with them. This is especially true if you are told that these memory changes, physical disruptions, and social breakdowns are unique to you and not commonly shared by many women in these circumstances.

But as we know now - this is far from the truth.

We do not have all the answers, nor do we know the exact cause of these alterations. Common sense would tell us that they are attributable to many coexisting factors affecting you.

The first step towards helping yourself is to recognize that there is a problem. An honest and open discussion between you and your physicians (oncologist & surgeon) and counselor regarding your experiences and fears, needs to be brought out into the open so that you can better manage your altered lifestyle. Controlling, minimizing, or mitigating the hormonal, physical, and emotional side effects of chemotherapy is a challenge that should be embraced and understood rather than ignored or denied.

One has to realize that the art of medicine is a healing continuum that embodies learning about the disease process, formulating specific treatment options, and then redirecting these parameters to meet your personal and ever-changing needs. Treatments are far from perfect, but strides made within the past decade for curing breast cancer have been tremendous and are responsible for the continued health of countless women and men.

Treatment options are multidimensional, relying on the control of breast cancer through surgery, chemotherapy gene identification, and radiation therapy. Someday we hope to identify and isolate the genetic causes of cancer. Until such time current treatments reflect the present day state of medical research and are still the most effective that humanity has ever yet known.

The healing of the body through the mind-body connection, given the appropriate environment, is legendary. This restorative process can only occur if attended to with the awareness of the problem and the desire to help oneself. Cancer is the Gordian Knot of our era. How do we cure cancer while maintaining the stability and health of the human body?

Multi-tasking:

Multitasking, or simultaneously performing many tasks at once, may be disruptive to the thoughtful understanding of each task that your brain needs to analyze and formulate answers. Try riding five trains at the same time that are going in different directions. Which destination will you reach when traveling in such a chaotic pattern, and do you really save time? Or is it just a huge expenditure of your brain's energy? The brain may process these tasks but there is a toll that must be paid. Multiple centers of the brain light up at once when you try to do simultaneous tasks. Remember that the brain is constantly working to maintain your life functions of breathing, circulation, fighting infection, controlling muscle movement, thoughts, vision, hearing and speech to name but a few tasks.

Asking your brain to jump through hoops to satisfy your multiple comes at a cost. Multi-tasking boosts stress hormones, which are already zooming upward; wearing down your finely balanced internal system resulting in fatigue, loss of focus, and chaos. How often have you forgotten where you were driving when on the phone? A famous actress noted that she likes to save time by reading a book or watching a movie while having sex.

Emotional imbalance & Counseling:

Emotional upheaval and physical distress will affect your family. Surgery upon the breast may leave you with feelings of sexual inadequacy. It is important that you realize that you are still the same woman within and that your family and friends love you.

Anger, when directed for a reason, is healthy; however, when it is free-floating and unbridled it will eat away at you and increase your overall stress level. Reach into your inner core and find a comfortable place where you can allow your mind to be calm - the place where loved ones exist and where smiles and laughter and good times are in abundance. Extend your hand and its warmth will be met by those that care about and for you.

Your mind has an amazing ability to heal you, if you let it. No one denies that you have the right to feel badly, but wallowing in self-pity does not help your body to heal. What can be done with the feelings of isolation, frustration and anger? Confiding your feelings with a friend or counselor helps. Writing your worries down in a private journal to get them off your mind will often soften the tension and distress. Centers such as the Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center will be your advocate; friends await you there to direct you or just lend a hand on a bad day. Likewise, excluding your spouse, significant other, family or friends in the attempt to shelter them, often works in the reverse. Openness allows for greater understanding and compassion. They, too, want to help and may also be feeling frustrated and alone. If you isolate yourself within an impenetrable barrier, those that care about you cannot share their loving warmth. You are counseled to let them into your life to calm the energy imbalances within you.

Exercise:

Jump-start your body with daily exercise. Feelings of well being, due to increased blood and oxygen flowing through your body, are essential and add to your peace of mind. Likewise, exercising daily produces pleasing substances called endorphins, which assist in the regulation of your happiness. The stress created by your body is translated into accelerating levels of cortisol similar to that found in the runner about to start a race. Exercise is a way in which the body can reduce these levels and calm down once again.

Smoking:

Smoking steals much-needed oxygen from your muscles and brain. The 40-plus toxins and nicotine present in cigarette smoke only serve to diminish the oxygen needed to heal you. Nicotine accelerates your heart rate and shrinks down blood vessels throughout your body. This crutch will, in the long run, be more harmful than helpful. Besides robbing your body of blood flow to your internal organs, it permanently alters the quality of your skin and adds additional risks of poor health.

Nutrition:

Your body needs healthy nutritional foods that can sustain it during these added days of stress. There is nothing wrong with the occasional splurge; however, eating a balanced healthy diet will nourish your body and mind. The human body and mind are amazing; however, they need nourishment. The tendency may be to eat out of frustration. And who could blame you. But in the long run eating a diet low in saturated fats and sugars with moderated consumption of alcohol (which is a depressant), will afford you a greater opportunity to heal. Common sense tells us that water (which comprises most of our body), grains, fresh vegetables, unsaturated fats and proteins will replenish the energy source for your brain and motivate your body.

Omega 3 fatty acids are important for the nerves and brain. Fat is a large component of the cells that comprise the nervous system. Take supplements of good quality.

Vitamins such as Zinc and B complex will soothe your mind. Calcium and magnesium will nourish your bones and allow muscles to function properly. Other vitamins should be discussed with your physician prior to starting. During your treatments it is important to ask your oncologist and surgeon which vitamins are acceptable. Likewise, a consultation with a nutritionist knowledgeable about various effects of food and supplements on your treatment will be beneficial. There are numerous books that will augment your understanding of your added nutritional needs, found in bookstores or on the web.

Is chemo-brain real or imagined?

The crux is that normal patterns of forgetfulness occur with the natural aging process. When the emotional intent of the thought and reality of breast cancer is added to the mass of swirling thoughts that the brain has to master minute by minute, it is no wonder that you become overwrought. Family, business and personal obligations, fears of the unknown, and the potential ramifications, estrogen and hormonal imbalance, physical discomfort from surgery or chemotherapy, all contribute to the feeling of having a foggy brain.

You may feel fragile, confounded by the thoughts of illness. The unknown is always worse than actually knowing. Overwhelmed and distraught, your mind has no peace. Constant turmoil precludes clear thoughts. Cancer is a bummer to have. It threatens your very existence. You can overcome these dreaded events that you are going through and come out a stronger and healthier woman. It may be no solace to know that many have traveled the same path, but it does help to understand that your happiness is dependent on your outlook. Living your life, as best as you can, during this difficult time, will help your body and mind. Our cells are renewed each day, giving us the opportunity to grow and become stronger. Healing requires time, positive energy, patience and love of self. Like a paper cut upon your finger, which is initially sore, your healing will require time and soon be a part of your past.

Balance:

Try meditating. This can take various forms. Thinking and repeating to yourself that you are healthy and happy is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Visualize yourself being well, strong and healthy. Visual imagery has been shown to affect the body in a very positive manner.

Surround yourself with friends who are calm and generally optimistic. Negative individuals give off negative energy. Positive energy buoys us up and recharges us. Would you not be more pleased to be around a person who smiles rather than a frequent frowner?

Laugher is contagious and in all likelihood calms the brain down or relieves it of tension.

Focus on what really matters to you. If you find that you are forgetful, make a list of the things that you need to remember. Busy people have a lot on their minds and need reminders. Daily stresses of living exaggerate everyone's forgetfulness.

Take a health break when you can. Stop and breathe, take a brief walk, read an enjoyable book or magazine to clear your mind.

Start a log of your journey. Record the good and the not-so-good. Not as a reminder of these events but to alleviate your mind from having to remember them. Air your thoughts in private and with your family, friends and a counselor or therapist who will guide you through this turbulent period.

Some days may be bluer than others but beautiful golden mornings and stunning sunsets await you.

With your loving family and friends on your side you will be able to reach deep within yourself to find a center of calm within what must seem like an endless storm. Take the time you need for your well being. Peace and tranquility emanates from within our central core.

Difficult as it may seem during these life altering times, having a positive approach and surrounding yourself with the warmth of your family and friends will help to overcome the hurdles faced with having breast cancer. Your mind is an amazing organ of growth and healing. Your mind and body are one. Together they have been known to accomplish unparalleled and only dreamt of deeds.

Congratulations! By endeavoring to understand yourself, you have just realized one of these amazing goals. No one will say that what you endure is easy; but with guidance and balance to your life you can and will flourish.

All Aspects of Brain Cancer Pain Management Explained

Brain cancer patients may experience an intense degree of pain when suffering from the symptoms that the abnormal cells start in the body. Those that suffer from this form of cancer already fail to have a high quality of life when the symptoms start. When pain is added to the other symptoms that the brain tumor is causing, this quality of life is reduced even more.

In most cases, the pain associated with brain cancer commonly accompanies the brain cancer treatment that the patient must undergo in order to prevent the progression of the disease. The good news is that there are many therapeutic solutions to relieving the pain that is felt. Here, you will learn about the aspects of brain cancer pain management.

Pain Risk Factors  Cancer Medicine

There are a couple of different risk factors that may lead to whether or not an individual experiences pain when they have brain cancer. It is important to know and understand that there are two main reasons why brain cancer pain may develop. The first is that it occurs naturally as the cancer progresses.

The second is that it may be a side effect of any and all treatments that are administered in order to stop the progression of the cancer or eliminate tumors associated with the cancer. As a result of the two reasons why this develops, there are many pain risk factors. They include, but are not at all limited to the following:

• Individuals that suffer from sleep complications, such as insomnia, may find that they suffer from mild to severe pain while experiencing cancer of the brain and surrounding areas.

• Those that suffer from psychological conditions such as having an intense degree or fear or anxiety may experience the symptom of pain.

• The type of cancer that is being experienced may have an impact on whether or not pain is experienced.

• The location of the cancer as well as the overall size of the tumor(s) associated with the brain cancer may result in pain among many that suffer from this condition.

Brain Cancer Pain Management

Pain management is more than simply reduce the pain that is experienced by an individual. It is also to increase the overall quality of life that a person experiences. Medical professionals believe that pain should be controlled or that the person that experiences it should alter the manner in which they perceive the pain that is experienced.

When it comes to brain cancer pain management, it is important to understand that there are pharmacological strategies and strategies that are considered to be non-pharmacological. Pharmacological steps include taking medication, having surgery done, using radiation therapy, or even indulging in chemotherapy. Non-pharmacological strategies are often natural or alternative approaches.

The Steps

When attempting to develop a brain cancer pain management program, it is important to first learn all that you are able to pertaining to the condition. You should consider how much time out of your day is spent in pain, the medical advice provided to you by your doctor and what you would like to accomplish in the pain management system. If you do this, you will be able to learn how to appropriately handle the pain that brain cancer often causes.

How to Know If You Have Brain Cancer, What is the Brain?

When trying to find out how to know if you have brain cancer, it helps to have a basic understanding of what the brain is and what role it plays in the body. The brain is described in many different ways, defined as having 5 sections by some resources and having 21 sections in other resources. The depth of the description need not be very complex for a general understanding.

 

The brain is considered the senior organ in the body and the central computer for all body functions in animals. It is composed of soft tissue, is more than 60% fat, and is located just underneath the skull. It is attached above the spinal cord and is the control point for the central nervous system in the body.

 

The brain is linked to all parts of the body by a network of nerves carrying messages back and forth whereby the brain can monitor and control all body activity. Much study of the brain has been conducted by scientists to conclude the brain controls the things we choose to have the body do (like walking and talking) as well as the things the body does automatically that we don't have to think about doing (like breathing.) The brain is also in charge of the senses of the body which are sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. The brain is usually considered to play an important role in a person's memory, emotions and personality.

 

The brain is known to have billions of connections between it and the various parts of the body. These are the connections which pass information and instructions back and forth. The brain is the most complex part of the body. So while much is known about its function and relationship with the rest of the body, much still remains a mystery.

 

It is easy to see, therefore,  that when trying to find out if you have brain cancer how an abnormality in the brain can show up as any one of many different symptoms elsewhere in the body, depending on what part of the brain has the imperfection.

Coffee, Tea, Caffeine and Brain Cancer Risk

The information in this column is intended for informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice or recommendations by the author. Please consult with your physician before making any lifestyle or medication changes, or if you have any other concerns regarding your health.

Coffee and tea are widely enjoyed around the world, and both have been the subject of numerous health claims (most of them unproven). Tea, and green tea in particular, has been the focus of extensive research, with many prior studies suggesting that tea may improve cardiovascular health and, to a much lesser extent, may decrease the risk of some cancers. Much of the published research regarding coffee has, on the other hand, been focused on trying to disprove purported links between coffee consumption and a potential increase in the risk of some cancers. (Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of such research has not identified a strong link between moderate coffee consumption and an increased risk of cancer.)

The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study is a huge ongoing prospective multinational public health study, and several of this enormous study's preliminary results have already been published. The EPIC study is focused on potential links between diet, nutritional status, lifestyle, and environmental factors and the incidence of cancer (among other chronic diseases). (EPIC is one of the largest studies of diet and health ever undertaken, and has already recruited 520,000 research volunteers in Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.) Now, a new update from this historic public health study suggests that increased coffee and tea consumption may be associated with a decreased incidence of malignant brain tumors. This new update from the EPIC study appears in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Following an average duration of follow-up of nearly 9 years, 588 new cases of brain tumors were diagnosed among the EPIC research volunteers. Gliomas, the most common and most aggressive type of brain tumors that occur in adults, were found to be 34 percent less common among people who drank at least 100 milliliters (3.4 ounces) of coffee or tea per day. (Although not statistically significant, this association was also noted to be stronger in men, with a 41 percent lower risk of gliomas in men, as compared to a 26 percent reduction in glioma incidence in women.)

Although it is not clear what causes gliomas of the brain, prior public health studies have at least suggested a link between glioma brain tumors and chronic occupational exposure to high-intensity electrical and magnetic fields, and to rubber and plastics manufacturing. (As I discuss in "A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race, there is also some data linking prolonged cell phone use with an increased incidence of gliomas and other brain tumors.)

Other smaller public health studies have also identified an apparent link between increased caffeine intake and a decreased incidence of gliomas, and there is laboratory evidence available suggesting that caffeine may reduce the growth of malignant glioma cells growing in culture dishes. Thus, these new findings from the giant EPIC study further suggest the possibility that coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages might be able to reduce the risk of gliomas of the brain.

For a groundbreaking overview of cancer risks, and evidence-based strategies to reduce your risk of developing cancer, order your copy of my new book, "A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race," from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Vroman's Bookstore, and other fine bookstores!

Brain Cancer Symptoms

Brain Cancer is a malignancy that can be detected and treated only with a detailed medical examination. It is not a routine ailment since in most cases it is fatal. It normally strikes when one type of the brain cell transforms and loses its normal characteristics and starts multiplying to form an abnormal mass of cells called a tumor. However, not all brain tumors are malignant. Benign brain tumors pose no threat and can be successfully removed.

The malignant brain tumors grow very aggressively and they destroy the healthy brain cells. Continuous growth of abnormal cells also increases the intracranial pressure resulting in malfunctioning of other brain organs and tissues Cancer Medicine .

There are two types of Brain Cancer. The Primary Brain Cancer originates in the brain itself and generally confines itself to the brain only. The second type is the Secondary Brain Cancer which is an extension of a cancer in some other part of the body gradually spreading to the brain.

The symptoms of brain tumor depend on the part of the brain affected i.e. the location of the tumor. There are numerous symptoms which if not cured by basic medication need to be examined in detail for indications of brain tumor. These are:

* Headaches - most common due to increased intracranial pressure as a result of the growing tumor.

* Nausea, Vomiting & Seizures.

* Difficulty in maintaining body balance.

* Short lapses in memory.

* Swelling in the brain.

* Weakness in the arms or legs or both.

* Poor motor functions.

* Slurring.

* Lowered eye vision.

* Spells of dizziness.

* Lack of coordination in speech and action.

* Numbness of limbs.

* Difficulty in recollecting events.

* Hallucinating.

* Persistent general weakness.

* Falling or stumbling.

* Changes in pupil sizes of both eyes.

* Change in gait.

* Cognitive decline.

* Mood changes.

It is advisable to see a doctor whenever you feel you have a tumor. If you do not share your concerns with your doctor, they may not get addressed timely.

Common Symptoms Associated With Brain Tumors

Since many brain tumor symptoms may seem innocuous, like headaches, patients and doctors fail to recognize them as potentially serious or evidence of a life-threatening growth until it's too late. As a result, a diagnosis isn't achieved until the tumor develops to a size or serious level that makes life-saving treatment unachievable.

If detected early, many brain tumors can be treated and possibly cured. New treatments, such as immunotherapy, chemotherapy, gene treatment therapy and radioactive treatments, are being used more often as they develop and become increasingly effective.

Consequently, physicians and patients are being advised to be cognizant of brain tumor symptoms and to do a thorough examination if potential symptoms surface. If a brain tumor is detected early enough, it can be cured. And though brain scans are costly - they are relatively painless and could save your life. To learn about symptoms connected to brain tumors and why you need to be aware, please read on.

Symptoms of Brain Tumors Cancer Medicine

If a brain tumor is still small and fairly young, it can often be treated. However, most symptoms depend on the size of the tumor and where it's found in the brain. For example, a benign tumor may take years to grow and even longer to cause an identifiable sign.

Among the basic harbingers are relentless or continual headaches, especially those that occur at night or are there immediately when an individual wakes up. Typically in young children, headaches happen simultaneously with vomiting or nausea.

Other frequent symptoms include personality alterations, sight or speech problems, behavioral issues, fatigue, numbness or paralysis or instability when walking that gets increasingly worse, seizures, and sensory disorders, like the loss of a sense or smelling something that's not there.

Too often, symptoms such as changes in behavior are ascribed to a mental disorder or to the aging process and are not addressed until it's too late to cure.

The Importance of Detecting Tumor Signs

Tumors that develop in the brain are the second most common cancer in young children, happening approximately as often as leukemia. In adults, they are also increasing. Approximately one-half of primary brain tumors are considered benign - meaning they grow slowly, do not infest nearby tissues and can generally be treated successfully. The remainder are malignant - that is, they are aggressive and encroaching but can often be treated, although they may remain incurable.

For More Information

For more information on brain tumors and their associated signs, contact the American Brain Tumor Association. Their phone number is (800) 886-2282, and they can supply information and referrals for patients and their families.

Recognizing Chemo Brain Symptoms

You may think you are going crazy. Not sure what is happening? You are losing your mind. Are you losing your mind? Maybe. But rest assured. You can get it back again. After reading this article, you will recognize if you are experiencing chemo brain symptoms. You will also get a possible solution that has helped thousands.

Not all medical professionals recognize chemo brain symptoms as real. So patients aren't always told about this side effect. Chemotherapy pumps toxic chemicals into your body. The purpose is to kill cells. So why is it so hard to believe it would affect brain cells? Cancer Medicine

Discussing the issue with others may produce various answers. "It couldn't possibly be the chemo because it doesn't cross the blood barrier." "We are all getting old, dear." And other such dismissive responses. It can be very frustrating. These responses do nothing to help your problem.

More and more research is being done on the topic, so we can expect improved medical responses. Hopefully the controversy will die down soon. Hopefully the future will contain less people surprised by chemo brain symptoms.

Part of the reason it's controversial is because not every chemo patient gets chemo brain symptoms. There are a wide range of symptoms. Each sufferer experiences different levels of each symptom. Some symptoms last a short time, while for others it takes years to shake off.

If any of the following were not present before chemo, you probably have chemo brain symptoms:

Memory. Short term memory is gone. There are memory lapses. A Lot of time is spent hunting for keys, remote, glasses, cell phone, etc.

Concentration. Easily distracted, cannot focus. Cannot read a book for any length of time.

Multi-tasking. When trying to do multiple things at once, you lose track of one of them. Like cooking and talking on the phone at the same time.

Word Recall. Words may elude you in the middle of a sentence. Another word might come out in place of another.

Slower Thinking. It takes you longer to do things than before. You used to be able to pick-up new things quickly, now you struggle.

These are some of the chemo brain symptoms people have reported. This greatly reduces your quality of life. By the end of the day you are left exhausted and frustrated.

But you can be made whole again. You can get your brain back. The brain you had before chemo. Many have reported improvements in just a few short weeks.

The right brain training can make you even sharper than before you had chemo brain symptoms.

Investigate brain training software that has helped others with chemo brain symptoms. Using these methods will change your life. You will not regret it.

Knowledge Is Power For Parents Of Children With Brain Cancer Or Spinal Cord Tumors

As parents, the ultimate dream we have for our children is that their childhoods will be happy ones, and they will grow up to lead long and healthy lives. Yet, every day, across America, there will be nine families whose dreams will be shattered when they learn that their child has a spinal cord tumor or some form of brain cancer. And, by the end of the year, over 3,000 families will have faced that same moment; when time stood still, the world blurred, and their lives changed forever.

From the moment their child is diagnosed, parents embark on a journey that will challenge every aspect of their being - from intellectual and physical, to mental, emotional and spiritual. It is essential that these parents have a strong support network, with family and friends taking on a vital role in that network. Along with that key component, parents also need a structured system that can provide resources to help them navigate the many challenges they will face, and assist them in making the best possible decisions for their child's health and well-being. Cancer Medicine

Once past the initial shock of the diagnosis, parents begin searching for answers to the flood of questions rushing through their minds. Knowledge is power, and early education about this disease can provide a lifeline in these dark waters.

There are several good sources for information on pediatric brain tumors and brain cancer, all of which can provide resources for education, assistance and support--

• Family doctors and pediatricians;

• Children's hospitals and cancer treatment facilities; and

• Nonprofit organizations focused on pediatric brain cancer.

Here are just a few examples of what a parent might find within the FAQ sections of these organizations:

Q: What are the causes of pediatric brain cancer and spinal cord tumors?

A: There are many different kinds of pediatric brain cancer, and their precise causes are still unknown, although research programs are making advancements towards understanding the causes, as well as improving treatments.

Q: What is the prognosis for most young patients with this disease?

A: Current statistics show that one in three patients will survive no more than five years. However, thanks to the progress that has been made in research over the past twenty years, there has been a significant decline in the overall cancer death rates, and it is estimated that there are 25,000 brain tumor survivors in the U.S. today.

Q: What are the treatment options for a child with a brain tumor or brain cancer?

A: Treatment of brain or spinal cord tumors includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, depending on the type, rate of growth and location of tumors. It usually begins with surgical resection to remove all or part of the tumor. Although complete removal of the tumor (gross total resection) is often the treatment of choice, partial removal of the tumor will occasionally relieve a child's symptoms.

For parents who find themselves facing this life-altering journey, help is available in many forms, and from several well-respected organizations. Whether the need involves education about this dreadful disease, finding sources for medical or financial assistance, or simply connecting with others in similar situations, the resources are available. Reaching out to one of these organizations can often make the difference in how this journey is traveled-by the parents, and by the patient.

Headache May Be One of the Brain Tumor Symptoms

Having headache occasionally is quite common to all, and there is nothing to worry. If it is constant or recurring, it creates in many patients a stress. Instantly they rush to their family care doctor or to a special clinic with a fear that it may be one of the brain tumor symptoms. If the doctor suspects symptoms of brain tumor, the patient feels highly afraid of his pathetic condition with each and everything.  Sometimes, stress causes tension headache symptoms which are identified as 'secondary' since stress is the organism's total response to environmental demands or pressures. Whatever may be the causes of headache, clinical specialists do view seriously. Still, the headache is exclusively dependent on the condition of the patient.                                                                                            

The headache with brain tumor symptoms is entirely different from one due to stress. Sometimes, the patient experiences severe headache symptoms and complaints known as "red flags" connected with coughing, sneezing or bending over. All such symptoms are serious to any patient as they can consequently cause other complications. Many patients can also have some other attacks with neurological symptoms like partial memory loss and affected personality. The symptoms can also include dizziness, tinnitus and incontinence. When the diagnosis gives abnormal results and the patient has visual defects or weakness then either a CT or MRI of the brain is needed. So, headache of any nature is serious and needs immediate treatment from a neurological specialist.

Signs of brain tumor headaches:                                                                          

It can produce increased pain all over the day that is throbbing in nature. The pain will be mild in the morning and then gradually progressing to the worst level throughout the day. In some cases, the pain will be deep all through the day. To the worst of all, it extends over weeks or even months together. Some patients may experience the symptoms of migraine.

Treatment                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

There are certain things which should be normally avoided to be free any risky condition. They include chain smoking, consuming tobacco, and consuming excess alcohol.  At the beginning stage, chemotherapy and radiation may be helping you with constant care. For some patients, steroids can relieve pains by progressive steps. The response will be good for steroids or anti-inflammatories. When there is no improvement they need surgery. Many times the symptoms disappear after surgery.

How to Know If You Have Brain Cancer

The most likely reason for asking about how to know if you have brain cancer is that the person or a loved one has experienced some symptoms that are suspected could (but hopefully not) be caused by brain cancer. There are many related questions that follow and this series is a result of research into the various aspects of the issue of brain cancer, including treatments and outcomes.

Research shows that there are areas of agreement as well as areas of disagreement amongst those that provide care and advice. Additionally, there are conflicting reports from brain cancer patients and family members of patients as to the value and effectiveness of both methods of diagnosis as well as treatment choices.

The most common symptoms are: Cancer Medicine

o headaches,

o weakness,

o nausea,

o clumsiness,

o difficulty walking,

o changes in speech,

o vision or hearing difficulties,

o twitching or seizures, and

o numbness or tingling in the arms or legs.

None of the symptoms are unique to brain cancer so they must be taken as indicators only. Also, symptom onset can be quite gradual and is often overlooked.

It is quite common for different medical organizations or practitioners to provide differing lists of the most common brain cancer symptoms. This appears, in part, to be due to the various parts of the brain that could be cancerous and thereby affecting the different parts of the body that are associated with the affected part of the brain.

The following are regarded as less common but possible symptoms:

o altered mental status,

o changes in concentration,

o impaired judgment, memory, attention, or alertness,

o gradual changes in intellectual or emotional capacity,

o impaired sense of smell,

o paralysis of one side of the face or body,

o drooping eyelid or crossed eyes,

o prolonged drowsiness,

o swelling,

o discontinuation of menstruation,

o excess secretion of milk in women, and

o impotence in men.

All research sources were quick to point out that symptoms are not a sure sign of cancer. When asking how to know if you have brain cancer it is important to know that other conditions could also cause these symptoms.

Addition articles in the series soon to be released include statistics, diagnostic choices, treatment choices, what questions should you ask your doctor, is it possible for a cancer patient to ever be cancer free, and patient testimonials (including miracle results).

Common Brain Conditions

There are many different types of brain conditions that affect individuals on a worldwide basis. These conditions involve the brain, are caused by a complication in the brain, or result in a complication to the brain area. Many of these conditions are not curable, but with the technological advances in medicine, there are often many treatments available for those that suffer from these conditions.

These treatments work to reduce and/or completely eliminate the uncomfortable symptoms that are often associated with these brain conditions. In this health guide, you will be introduced to the most common brain conditions that doctors, neurologists, and other types of medical professionals contend with on a regular basis.

Aneurysm

An aneurysm occurs when a bubble or sac-like structure forms on the blood vessel as a result of a weakness in that vessel. In many instances, these weak spots will reach a point in which they are unable to maintain themselves any longer and they rupture. When this happens, naturally blood spreads out over the sensitive, yet vital, structures of the brain. Cancer Medicine

In some instances, the bleeding that occurs may actually go down into the structure of the brain. In nearly all cases of this brain condition, there are no symptoms prior to the actual rupturing of the blood vessel involved. In all cases of confirmed aneurysms, approximately half are said to rupture. When it comes to prevalence among autopsies as far as cause of death, this condition accounts for five percent of all deaths.

Brain Tumor

A brain tumor is a confirmed growth of cells that are considered to be abnormal. These growths are identified as being primary or identified as being secondary. The primary cases originate within the brain or the direct region of the brain. The secondary tumors develop within another region of the body and then reach the brain through the bloodstream. Common examples of brain tumors include the following:

• Acoustic Neuroma

• Brainstem Glioma

• Craniopharyngioma

• Dermoid Tumor

• Ependymoma

• Glioma

• Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma

• Lymphoma

• Oligodendroglioma

• Medulloblastoma

• Pituitary Tumor

• Rathke's Cleft Cyst

• Optic Nerve Tumor

• Vestibular Schwannoma

The symptoms caused by brain tumors vary from one individual to another. The symptoms are based on factors such as where the tumor is located, the exact size of the abnormal growth, and the rate in which the tumor develops and spreads within the brain region.

Concussion

Many individuals experience a concussion at one point or another in their lives. This is a mild type of brain injury that is considered to be traumatic. When an individual experiences this, they could experience neurological based changes that are temporary in nature. The most common symptoms include mood irritability and a mild to severe headache.

Many will experience mild to severe anxiety which may or may not be accompanied by impairments in cognitive functions such as memory lapses, inability to concentrate, and basic levels of perception. Physical symptoms may include, but are not at all limited to, dizziness, ringing sounds within the ears, changes as far as the vision is concerned, and hypersensitivity as far as the central nervous system is concerned.

Conclusion

While this is only a brief list of the most common brain conditions that occur among individuals, it lists the most common that medical professionals contend with on a regular basis. If you are exhibiting the symptoms associated with one of these brain conditions, it is essential to seek medical attention as soon as possible. In some cases, damage that could result to the brain is reversible. However, there are many cases that are not irreversible due to the fact that medical attention was not sought in an appropriate time period.