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Navigating a Brain Tumor Diagnosis
If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with a brain tumor, you likely have a lot of questions about this condition. As daunting as it may seem, arming yourself with information is key to coping with a diagnosis and seeking the best available treatments. This guide covers the basics of brain tumors – from symptoms and diagnosis to treatment options and available support resources.
What Are Brain Tumors and How Common Are They in Singapore?
Brain tumors are abnormal growths of cells in the brain. In Singapore, more than 400 people are diagnosed with brain tumours every year – a tumor originating in the brain. Though we still have more to learn about what exactly causes brain tumors, research indicates that exposure to radiation as well as some genetic syndromes may be contributing factors.
Brain tumors are also more common as we get older, with the average age of diagnosis being 50 years old. However, brain tumors can occur at any age and do not discriminate based on sex or race.
Understanding Brain Tumor Symptoms
Because the skull has limited space to accommodate abnormal growths, brain tumors often press on tissues, nerves, blood vessels or spinal cord and disrupt normal brain function. Symptoms vary greatly depending on the tumor’s location, but may include:
- Persistent or severe headaches
- Seizures or convulsions
- Nausea or vomiting
- Vision, hearing or speech problems
- Loss of balance and coordination
- Changes in mental ability, concentration or memory
- Changes in personality or behavior
- Weakness on one side of the body
If you notice any unusual or persistent symptoms, do not hesitate to see your doctor. Catching a brain tumor early on can vastly improve treatment outcomes. Your primary care physician may perform a physical exam to check your vision, hearing, balance, coordination and reflexes for abnormalities. From there your doctor may order imaging tests like an MRI or CT scan to get a closer look at the structures inside your brain.
Understanding Your Brain Tumor Diagnosis
If imaging reveals an abnormal mass in your brain, your doctor may refer you to a neurosurgeon or neuro-oncologist who specializes in treating brain tumors. Further testing will be necessary to determine if the mass is malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous).
A biopsy is needed to analyze the tumor’s cells under a microscope. From there, your doctors can categorize the type of brain tumor you have and assign it a grade from I to IV based on how abnormal the cells appear.
Higher grade tumors tend to grow more quickly and aggressively than lower grade tumors. Understanding your specific diagnosis is key to developing the best treatment plan for you.
Exploring Brain Tumor Treatment Options
Standard treatment options for brain tumors include:
Surgery: Surgery is often the first line of treatment to remove some or all of the brain tumor. Advances in neurosurgery now allow doctors to map out sensitive areas of the brain beforehand to perform more targeted, minimally invasive operations.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation is often used after surgery (or sometimes in place of surgery) to target any remaining abnormal cells. This can also help prevent recurrence. Newer radiation therapies like stereotactic radiosurgery or proton beam radiation allow doctors to focus beams to tumor sites while minimizing exposure to surrounding tissue.
Drug Therapies: Cancer drugs like temozolomide are commonly prescribed to help slow or stop tumor growth. Some molecularly targeted drugs seek out tumor cells based on genetic profiles. Talk to your doctors about clinical trials that are testing exciting new immunotherapy drugs to harness the body’s immune system against tumors.
Take some time to understand risks and benefits of various treatments before deciding on a plan with your medical team. Your age, overall health, type and stage of tumor can all impact the optimal course of treatment. Consider getting second opinions as needed before starting any regimen.
Living Well With a Brain Tumor
Being diagnosed with a brain tumor turns a person’s world upside down emotionally. On top of making major treatment decisions, you now have to manage side effects and challenging symptoms that impact your quality of life. Focus first on taking care of your emotional health with these tips:
Seek Out Support Groups: No one understands exactly what you are going through like those in the trenches themselves. Connect with communities through organizations like the Brain Tumor Association or the National Brain Tumor Society.
Explore Counseling: A counselor provides judgement-free support and can teach coping techniques tailored to your experience with brain cancer. Having an outlet to share fears in confidence can be extremely cathartic.
Communicate With Loved Ones: Let family and friends know how they can best support you, whether that means rides to chemo, meals delivered to your door, or just someone who will listen. Do not isolate yourself if you can help it.
Focus on Progress Over Perfection: Not every day will be productive and your mood will fluctuate. Your best day living with a brain tumor surpasses someone else’s best day living without one. Celebrate small wins.
With the right information and support network, you have what you need to take on this diagnosis. Be aware of your options so you can make the best choices for your health. And stay hopeful – you have people in your corner helping you fight.