What Is Brain Cancer?

Brain cancer refers to the growth of abnormal cells in the brain or nearby structures. These cells form a mass (tumour) that can affect how your brain works.

There are two main types:

• Primary brain tumours – start in the brain (e.g., gliomas, meningiomas, medulloblastomas)
• Secondary (metastatic) brain tumours – spread to the brain from other parts of the body (e.g., lung, breast, kidney cancers)

Global Statistics

• Incidence : Brain cancer is the 10th most common cancer globally, with an estimated 308,000 new cases diagnosed in 2020.
• Mortality : Approximately 241,000 deaths occur annually due to brain or nervous system cancers, with glioblastoma being the most common and aggressive form.
• Childhood Brain Cancer : In the United States, 47 children are diagnosed with brain cancer every day, representing about 25% of all paediatric cancers.

Who Is at Risk?

• Age : Some types are more common in children; others in older adults
• Family history or genetic syndromes (e.g., Li-Fraumeni, neurofibromatosis)
• Radiation exposure (especially to the head)
• Weakened immune system
• Environmental exposures (less clearly linked)

Common Symptoms

Symptoms depend on the tumour’s size, location, and rate of growth:

• Headaches (often worse in the morning or during activity)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Seizures
• Vision or hearing changes
• Memory problems or confusion
• Weakness or numbness in limbs
• Balance or coordination issues
• Changes in personality or behaviour
• Speech difficulties

Seek medical attention if you experience persistent or worsening neurological symptoms.

How Is Brain Cancer Diagnosed?

• Neurological exam
• Imaging tests
  • MRI (most detailed for brain)
  • CT scan
• Biopsy
  • Surgical or needle-based to confirm tumour type
• Lumbar puncture (occasionally) To analyse spinal fluid
• Molecular testing Helps guide treatment decisions

Types of Primary Brain Tumours

• Glioblastoma (GBM) : Most aggressive and common in adults
• Astrocytoma : Varies from slow to fast growing
• Meningioma : Often benign but may cause symptoms due to pressure
• Medulloblastoma : More common in children
• Ependymoma : Found in the spinal cord or ventricles of the brain

Treatment Options

Treatment depends on the tumour type, grade, location, and the patient’s overall health:

• Surgery

  • To remove as much of the tumour as possible
  • May include a craniotomy (opening the skull)

• Radiation Therapy

  • Targets and kills cancer cells with high-energy rays
  • Often used after surgery or when surgery isn't possible

• Chemotherapy

  • Uses drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing
  • May be given by pill, IV, or directly into the spinal fluid

• Targeted Therapy

  • Focuses on specific genetic features of the tumour (e.g., bevacizumab for GBM)

• Immunotherapy

  • Boosts the body’s natural defences; still in research for brain tumours

• Tumour Treating Fields (TTF)

  • A wearable device that delivers electrical fields to disrupt cancer cell growth (used in GBM)

Living with Brain Cancer

• Treatment can lead to fatigue, memory issues, speech or movement changes
• Rehabilitation : Physical, occupational, and speech therapy may be needed
• Support services : Psychological support, palliative care, and caregiver resources
• Regular follow-up scans and monitoring are vital

Can Brain Cancer Be Prevented?

There is no known way to prevent most brain cancers. However, minimizing radiation exposure and managing other cancer risks may help reduce overall cancer risk.

Advances in Diagnosis and Research

1. AI-Based Diagnostic Tools

• DeepGlioma : A rapid, artificial intelligence-based diagnostic system that uses label-free optical imaging to classify diffuse gliomas with 93.3% accuracy. This method allows for real-time molecular diagnosis during surgery, aiding in personalized treatment planning.

2. Theragnostic in Brain Cancer

• Theragnostic Imaging : Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging is increasingly used in brain cancer to visualize metabolic and molecular processes within tumours, guiding treatment decisions and monitoring disease progression.

Treatment Innovations

1. Targeted Therapies

• Vorasidenib : Approved by the FDA in August 2024, this oral medication targets specific mutations in grade 2 astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, offering a new treatment option for these patients.

• Tovorafenib : Also approved in April 2024, this drug targets BRAF mutations in paediatric low-grade gliomas, providing a new treatment avenue for children with this condition.

2. Immunotherapy and Radioactive Drug Delivery

• Glioblastoma Treatment : A new therapy involving the direct injection of radioactive drugs into glioblastoma tumours has shown promising results, with one patient experiencing a 50% reduction in tumour size within weeks. This approach aims to deliver potent anti-cancer effects while minimizing damage to surrounding brain tissue. The Sun

3. Adaptive Clinical Trials

• 5G Platform Trial : A £3 million UK-wide trial using whole genome sequencing to tailor treatments for glioblastoma patients. This adaptive trial design allows for real-time adjustments based on patient responses, aiming to identify more effective treatment combinations. Cancer Research UK - Cancer News

FAQs about Brain Cancer

How does brain cancer affect your daily life?

Brain tumours can sometimes make it hard for people to learn, plan, make decisions, concentrate, and make decisions. This might be because of the location of the tumour or its treatments. But it could also be because of things that can come with brain tumours, like fatigue, epilepsy, depression or anxiety.

What to avoid with a brain tumour?

Primary care to preoperative brain tumour patients should be given in terms of preventing exposure to radiations, avoiding cigarette smoking, providing healthy diet, and avoiding chronic stress and environmental pollution and postoperative patients should be taken care including avoiding infections by maintaining proper hygiene

What Are the Symptoms of End-Stage Brain Cancer?

• Frequent headaches
• Agitation and delirium
• Agonal breathing (gasping breaths that occur when a person is struggling to breathe)
• Prolonged confusion
• Hallucinations
• Loss of appetite
• Vision loss
• Involuntary movements
• Lessened bladder function
• Increased pain
• Skin cooling

Why do brain cancer patients sleep so much?

This is due to the proximity of the tumour to the orexin-producing cells in the hypothalamus, which are crucial in regulating wakefulness. These cells may be damaged by the tumour itself, during surgery, and during focal or whole-brain radiation.

What are the first signs that cancer has spread to the brain?

The first signs that cancer has spread to the brain include new or worsening headaches, seizures, changes in personality or mood, confusion, problems with speech or vision, and weakness or numbness on one side of the body. The specific symptoms depend on the tumour’s location in the brain, which determines the affected brain function.

Can you drive with brain metastases? (This advice is valid in the U.K.)

No, you cannot drive with brain metastases, and you must inform the DVLA (Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Agency) as soon as you receive a diagnosis, or your treating doctor may be obligated to report you. Driving is prohibited because brain metastases can affect your vision, concentration, reaction times, and coordination, making you an unfit and unsafe driver. You will be unable to drive for a significant period, and whether you can resume driving will depend on individual medical assessments and the criteria set by the DVLA.

Do I need to tell DVLA about a brain tumour? (This advice is valid in the U.K.)

Once you have been diagnosed with a brain or spinal cord tumour, you must by law inform the DVLA. When you inform the DVLA of your diagnosis, it is advisable to surrender your licence and send it to them at the same time. If you do not do this, the DVLA may revoke your licence.

Where can I find a Specialist for Brain Cancer?

You can search your Brain Cancer Specialist on www.ioncosolutions.com