I was just wondering about brain tumors. Can you die from one? How is a brain tumor treated/detected?

Answer 1

A tumor that begins in the brain is called a primary brain tumor. In children, most brain tumors are primary tumors. In adults, most tumors in the brain have spread there from the lung, breast, or other parts of the body. When this happens, the disease is not brain cancer. The tumor in the brain is a secondary tumor. It is named for the organ or the tissue in which it began.

Treatment for secondary brain tumors depends on where the cancer started and the extent of the disease. a person has symptoms that suggest a brain tumor, the doctor may perform one or more of the following procedures:

Physical exam—The doctor checks general signs of health.

Neurologic exam—The doctor checks for alertness, muscle strength, coordination, reflexes, and response to pain. The doctor also examines the eyes to look for swelling caused by a tumor pressing on the nerve that connects the eye and brain.

CT scan—An x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed pictures of the head. The patient may receive an injection of a special dye so the brain shows up clearly in the pictures. The pictures can show tumors in the brain.

MRI—A powerful magnet linked to a computer makes detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed. Sometimes a special dye is injected to help show differences in the tissues of the brain. The pictures can show a tumor or other problem in the brain.

The doctor may ask for other tests:

Angiogram—Dye injected into the bloodstream flows into the blood vessels in the brain to make them show up on an x-ray. If a tumor is present, the doctor may be able to see it on the x-ray.

Skull x-ray—Some types of brain tumors cause calcium deposits in the brain or changes in the bones of the skull. With an x-ray, the doctor can check for these changes.

Spinal tap—The doctor may remove a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that fills the spaces in and around the brain and spinal cord). This procedure is performed with local anesthesia. The doctor uses a long, thin needle to remove fluid from the spinal column. A spinal tap takes about 30 minutes. The patient must lie flat for several hours afterward to keep from getting a headache. A laboratory checks the fluid for cancer cells or other signs of problems.

Myelogram—This is an x-ray of the spine. A spinal tap is performed to inject a special dye into the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient is tilted to allow the dye to mix with the fluid. This test helps the doctor detect a tumor in the spinal cord.

Biopsy—The removal of tissue to look for tumor cells is called a biopsy. A pathologist looks at the cells under a microscope to check for abnormal cells. A biopsy can show cancer, tissue changes that may lead to cancer, and other conditions. A biopsy is the only sure way to diagnose a brain tumor.

Surgeons can obtain tissue to look for tumor cells in three ways:

Needle biopsy—The surgeon makes a small incision in the scalp and drills a small hole into the skull. This is called a burr hole. The doctor passes a needle through the burr hole and removes a sample of tissue from the brain tumor.

Stereotactic biopsy—An imaging device, such as CT or MRI, guides the needle through the burr hole to the location of the tumor. The surgeon withdraws a sample of tissue with the needle.

Biopsy at the same time as treatment—Sometimes the surgeon takes a tissue sample when the patient has surgery to remove the tumor.

Sometimes a biopsy is not possible. If the tumor is in the brain stem or certain other areas, the surgeon may not be able to remove tissue from the tumor without damaging normal brain tissue. The doctor uses MRI, CT, or other imaging tests instead.Many people with brain tumors want to take an active part in making decisions about their medical care. They want to learn all they can about their disease and their treatment choices. However, shock and stress after a diagnosis of a brain tumor can make it hard to think of everything to ask the doctor. It often helps to make a list of questions before an appointment. To help remember what the doctor says, patients may take notes or ask whether they may use a tape recorder. Some also want to have a family member or friend with them when they talk to the doctor—to take part in the discussion, to take notes, or just to listen.

The doctor may refer the patient to a specialist, or the patient may ask for a referral. Specialists who treat brain tumors include neurosurgeons, neurooncologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists. The patient may be referred to other health care professionals who work together as a team. The medical team may include a nurse, dietitian, mental health counselor, social worker, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech therapist. Children may need tutors to help with schoolwork. (The section on "Rehabilitation" has more information about therapists and tutors.)
Getting a Second Opinion

Before starting treatment, the patient might want a second opinion about the diagnosis and the treatment plan. Some insurance companies require a second opinion; others may cover a second opinion if the patient or doctor requests it.

There are a number of ways to find a doctor for a second opinion:

The patient's doctor may refer the patient to one or more specialists. At cancer centers, several specialists often work together as a team.

Answer 2

There are many kinds of brain tumors, Some can be removed surgically and others cannot. It depends on where it is in the brain. Not all tumors are malignant, especially if found in time. My brother had an inoperable brain tumor. He was treated with a new chemo and it shrink over 90%. Just when we all thought he was going to be alright, the tumor came back, invaded his spine, he went blind in one eye, lost his sense of taste and died shortly after. There are no guarantees for any type of tumors and don't be fooled into someone telling you there is. If a doctor finds a brain tumor and says it is inoperable, then be prepared for the worse and hope for the best.

Answer 3

i am a radiation therapist and i treat brain tumors. while i'm not an expert, there is some pretty accurate information here and the best info is to see a doctor and the sooner the better-not because it is a malignant tumor but because the sooner you find out for sure, the sooner you can relax or start the attack.
some of the symptoms are headache, nausea, vomiting, hormone changes, or sometimes no symptoms at all. i've had patients who are involved in car wrecks, have a CAT or MRI scan because they hit their head on the steering wheel and they find a brain tumor. one thing i didn't see mentioned is the Gamma Knife-it is a radiation treatment for some types of inoperable brain tumors. there are LOTS of different types of tumors-those that strike mostly in children, those that strike mostly adults and those in the middle and the type determines the medical treatment. i've seen patients survive years after treatment and i've seen patients not make through their treatment.
hope this answers some more questions.

Answer 4

It's best you ask a qualified doctor.
A brain tumor can kill you.
It can cause symptoms like headache, vomiting, blurred vision, weakness, inability to move etc.
Some are malignant (cancers) and need to be treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Some benign (non-cancer) ones need only surgery.
Brain surgery is a superspecialty and is best done by an expert with a good team of surgeons and anesthetics.
Brain tumors can be detected by a variety of scans like a CAT scan, an MRI, a PET scan etc.
Thats a basic run down. t can get very complicated if you go in to the types the prognosis and the way they behave. I have a couple of friends who survived. I know some who didnt...

Answer 5

You can die if it has gone undetected for a long time. The tumor gets bigger and puts pressure on the brain. You lose speech, thought patterns and other functions. It is detected using a MRI scan. Surgery will remove the tumor if it is malignent. If it is benign there may be other alternatives.

I think they use lasers to help with the surgery. Ask a Doctor for accurate information as there is even disagreement amongst them about treatment.

Although Yahoo Answers is a good service, I wouldn't rely on it for this type of help.

Answer 6

it's usually detected because you have symptoms...headache, vision problems, trouble thinking clearly and then you have a cat scan......many brain tumors are benign and can be surricallty removed....radiation can shrink tumors, gamma knife and chemotherapy if they are cancer.....if treated aggressively you will live through a brain tumor

Answer 7

yes you can die in fith grade my best friend died. all of the sudden she had a stomach ache and then she went to the hospital for a checkup to see what was wrong and they found a brain tumor and she died 1 year 4 months later

Answer 8

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Answer 9

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Answer 10

Yes you can die from one. It is detected initially by headaches and blurred vision, and then confirmed and located by an MRI scanner. It is treated by being physically cut out, zapped with lasers, chemotherapy or drugs.