Evaluating whether a Brain Cancer is Primary or Secondary is an essential step in terms of developing an effective treatment plan. A Primary Brain Cancer is one that has started either in the brain or in related structures. A Secondary Brain Cancer is one that began in another part of the body, but spread to the brain after a period of development.
Only about 20 percent of Brain Cancers are primary. This means that while primary brain tumors only account for around 2 percent of all cancer cases in adults, the reach of Brain Cancer indirectly harms thousands more through secondary brain tumors.
It is also worth noting that while the causes of Primary Brain Cancer remain largely unknown, it has been theorized that some inherited conditions could increase the risk of this form of cancer. More research is needed in order to develop both our understanding of what causes Brain Cancer and the steps that we can take to avoid it.
Meningiomas are, simply put, tumors that arise from the coverings of the brain and spinal cord. They typically are found on the outer curve and top of the brain. Meningiomas are fairly common, accounting for nearly a third of all Primary Brain Cancers.
In order to truly grasp what it is like to live with a Meningioma, one must first consider the symptoms that those suffering from it sometimes experience. While the symptoms vary in relation to the position and size of the tumor in the brain, some common ones include headaches, weakness, and personality changes.
One major issue with the discovery of Meningiomas is the degree to which they can remain dormant for long periods of time, growing silently until they become too large to stop. While they grow relatively slowly, they often reach fairly large sizes before altering the typical functioning of the brain, something which makes early treatment of Meningiomas a challenge.
Glioblastomas are cancerous tumors made up from the supportive tissue of the brain. They are highly dangerous due to their rapid rate of reproduction and their tendancy to invade other portions of the brain before action can be taken. In fact, around 13,000 people die of these brain tumors each and every year in the United States alone.
The symptoms of Glioblastomas may on the surface seem fairly similar to those of Meningiomas. They include: memory loss, nausea, headaches, and alterations in personality. However, because the cancerous cells come from normal brain cells, it is easy for them to invade healthy brain tissue. This accelerates the timetable of the cancer, making it easier to discover while also making it more dangerous to contract.
Over 90 percent of Glioblastomas fall within the category of Primary Brain Cancers. These form very quickly and are very agressive, leading to symptoms that at times can seem crippling. This combined with the fairly common nature of this type of Brain Cancer may explain why the majority of people who contract Primary Brain Cancer do not even survive their first year of being sick.
The use of antiviral drugs has been a treatment method that has bore some success in recent years. For instance, a 2006 clinical trial conducted by Dr. Cecilia Soderberg-Naucler made use of Valcyte - an antiviral drug usually used to treat viruses in AIDS patients - to combat some of the more aggressive forms of Brain Cancer.
The results were shocking, with 70 percent more patients surviving past the two year mark. In fact, the average survival rate for patients recieving this antiviral treatment was three years higher than those only exposed to traditional treatement measures. After recieving this innovative treatment, one of the patients went so far as to remark, "I know I am alive today because of Dr. Cobbs."
While the results in this trial are not reason enough to entirely alter current treatment plans, their encouraging findings suggest that the general trends that dictate Brain Cancer research are positive on balance. As Dr. David Reardon, director of neuro-oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute puts it, "[This is] very exciting data."
One of the most valuable ways to approach an issue as large as Brain Cancer is to experiement with what may seem like crazy ideas. That's exactly what Dr. Ricardo Komotar, chair of the Florida Neurosurgical Society did with his Visualase Thermal Therapy System, a laser based therapy designed to treat advanced forms of Brain Cancer with minimal side effects.
While current applications of the treatment have been limited, the leap in technology is impressive. It utilizes a 3-millimeter laser probe to seek out and essentially cook the cancerous tumor from the inside out without harming healthy brain tissue. The technology as it currently exists is meant for those with Brain Cancers that have advanced to the stage of being considered inoperable or beyond the control of traditional treatments.
It is technology such as this that must be explored further in order to advance the fight against Brain Cancers. As Komotar himself puts it, "This game-changing technology provides hope for brain cancer patients who otherwise have no treatment options".
Founded over 40 years ago, The American Brain Tumor Association was the first nonprofit organization in the world to set its sights solely on eliminating the risk of Brain Tumors. Every dollar donated to them is used to not only pursue breakthroughs in Brain Cancer diagnosis, but also to support the needs of both patients and those that look after them.
Their intellectual credibility is protected by a scientific advisory council that consists of over 30 top researchers well-versed in the topic of Brain Cancers. Beyond advising the American Brain Tumor Association on the scientific trends worth noting, the council also makes funding recommendations to make sure that every dollar donated has the opportunity to contribute to the saving of innocent life.
The importance of their life-saving research simply cannot be overstated. A donation directed towards this organization is a donation to turn the tables on cancer, and to better the odds of the hundreds of thousands of people that must battle this terrible illness each and every day. You can assist them in their fight by clicking on the button below to donate.
The National Brain Tumor Society has been searching tirelessly for potential breakthroughs in Brain Cancer research for well over 30 years now. Their goal is simple: to provide hope for those currently afflicted with a form of Brain Cancer while also funding boundry-pushing research to ensure that this issue becomes one of the past.
As it stands, the National Brain Tumor Society has awarded more than 31 million dollars across 244 top research and care grants. This tremendous achievement is one that has not one that has not only saved lives in the past, but has also put in place valuable care systems that will continue to protect and improve the quality of life well into the future. Beyond directly funding individual research grants, they have also made a point to collaborate with several of the top authorities in Brain Cancer research in an effort to make the most out of every dollar donated to them.
All of this has been accomplished while maintaining financial transparency. In compliance with this fact, their financial records are on display for the public to scrutinize in great detail. Simply put, their interests are aligned with those who suffer from Brain Cancers, and as such they seek to take every step possible to end this terrible disease. You can assist them in this battle by clicking the button below to donate.
With recent advancements in online communications, it is now possible to join the fight against Brain Cancers without spending a single penny. This is the power of word of mouth, the power of sharing our thoughts and ideas to make a change. You can click on the buttons below to get started. Spread the word!