Brain Cancer Facts

Because it occurs in the part of the body that controls our body function and emotions, a diagnosis of brain cancer can be very frightening. Fortunately, medical advances have made it possible to remove some cancers without causing any damage to the brain. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are also available to treat some cancers of the brain.

Types

• Though not all of them are cancerous, there are more than 120 different kinds of brain tumors.

Misconceptions

• There is no evidence to support the widely popular theory that cell phone use causes cancer in the brain.

Risk Factors

• Chemists, embalmers and people who work in oil refineries seem to exhibit a higher risk of developing brain cancer.

Symptoms

• Although not necessarily indicative of a brain caner, symptoms can include weakness, headaches, blurred vision, nausea, trouble walking, personality changes and seizures. There are some types of brain cancer that have no symptoms.

Causes

• With the exception of metastatic tumors that spread from cancer in another part of the body, the cause of many brain cancers is not known.

Expert Insight

• According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, 21 percent of all childhood cancers are cancers of the brain or nervous system.