The Effects of Brain Cancer

More than 17,000 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with a brain tumor every year, according to a 2009 report from the University of Maryland Medical Center. While some of these are diagnosed as benign, a number are found to be cancerous. Brain cancer is a serious disease, and affected individuals experience a range of physical and emotional effects. These effects can be mild to debilitating, depending upon how far the cancer has progressed.

Pain

• Pain is something most individuals with brain cancer will experience. The severity of the pain will depend on where the brain cancer is specifically, and its progression. Whether the pain is acute or chronic, physicians will work with their patients to address the pain and help them manage it. Mild to severe headaches are one type of pain that brain cancer patients may experience. Because brain cancer effects the nervous system, individuals may experience other types of pain as well.

Sickness

• Individuals who are dealing with brain cancer may experience different types of sicknesses. Nausea and vomiting are fairly common effects of brain cancer, as is drowsiness. According to the Yale Brain Tumor Center, one of the most common effects of brain cancer is seizures. These seizures may affect your whole body or different parts of your body, such as twitching in your legs or arms. You can control some seizures through medication.

Neurological Effects

• Because cancer is affecting your brain, you may experience a range of neurological effects. Memory loss and confusion are among these, as well as difficulties with coordination, speech and eye movement. Brain cancer patients also may experience changes in speech, hearing, personality or memory.

Depression

• Individuals with brain cancer may experience depression, which is a common symptom. Whether it's caused from chronic pain or just a result of the situation, depression can be very difficult to deal with. Your doctor may prescribe drugs to help you deal with your depression, depending upon its severity. Many cancer patients deal with clinical depression, which may affect their survival chances, according to doctors at the University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Support Systems for Brain Cancer Patients

• The best support group a patient can have includes her family and friends. However, spending time with others who have experienced or who are experiencing the condition can help as well. The National Brain Tumor Society provides a lot of information and helps patients connect with others in a supportive way through its website at www.BrainTumor.com. There are many online support groups, and individuals can find local support groups as well (see Resources). Leaning on a healthy support group can help you find answers, tips, suggestions and the strength to keep fighting.