Brain Cancer

Brain cancer is cancer of the brain tissue in the head. There are several types of cancer that affect the brain including both primary brain tumors that originate in the brain tissue and metastatic brain tumors which are cancers which have spread from other organs (lung, breast, skin, etc.). Both types are discussed in this section.

The brain and nervous system is one of the organs in our bodies that is so inextricably "us" in that it is the seat of our emotions, our personalities, our intellect, our memory and how we interact with the world around us. Therefore, diseases of the nervous system can be particularly hard on patients and their family emotionally. Information about cancers of the brain and how it impacts their bodies can help to reach understanding and emotional healing. This section aims to give a general overview of the various forms of cancers that affect the brain, how they present and how they are typically treated.

Information about Brain Cancer

What is It? Learn more about cancer of the brain and get general information here.

Types of Cancer of the Brain: There are several types of cancer which can affect the brain. Learn more about the types and their differences here.

• Malignant Glioma: One of the most common primary types of cancer of the brain, gliomas are tumors of the supporting cells of the brain, the glial cells.
• Astrocytoma: The most abundant glial cells in the brain, astrocytes are the origin of the most common type of cancer.
• Oligodendroglioma: The other major glial cell type in the brain, oligodendrocytes can give rise to this other form of glioma.
• Glioblastoma Multiforme: One of the most aggressive forms of cancer anywhere in the body, glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM, is a very malignant form of glioma which is unfortunately not uncommon. Learn more about this disease here.
• Brain Metastases: Even more common than primary cancers of the brain, that originate in the brain itself, metastases from cancers in other organs is a frequent finding in patients with widespread cancer of various sources.

What are the Symptoms? Learn more about the typical symptoms that patients with brain tumors present with.

Cancer Treatment: Treatment of cancer in the brain has many similarities to treatment of other cancers, focusing on surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment, although there are some unique features to treatment of these tumors.