Brain Cancer Survival Rate - Dare to Know Your Chances

A brain cancer survival rate refers to the percentage of people who were reported still living after being diagnosed with the cancer about 5 yrs ago.

Basically, brain tumor is the abnormal growth of cells in the brain and we commonly refer to it as cancer cells. There are different ways in which a tumor may spread. One is that it can be a cause of the spread of cancerous cells originating from another body part or the cancer cells are really coming from the brain itself.

It is true that exposure to harmful chemicals leads to abnormal growth of brain tumor. It was statistically confirmed that about 80% of brain cancer patients are suffering from oligodendroglioma.

Cancer of the brain remains one of the most incurable cancers with an average survival period of one to two years.

Factors Affecting Survival

A five-year brain cancer survival rate may be influenced by several factors including the size of the tumor, at which part of the brain, the severity of the cancer and the stage. In most occasions, the general health of the patient is also an indicative factor of survival.

How do you calculate the rate of survival?

Survival statistics are based on a large number of people, and should not be used to predict the survival of an individual or patient.

Healthline.com reported that children at the age of 14 have around 73 percent chance of surviving cancer of the brain and live until five years of more, while the rate drops to 55 percent with young adults between 15 and 44. Middle-aged patients between 45 and 64 have a rate of 16 percent, and older people have a survival rate of only 5 percent.

Other facts

Statistical facts show that with the proper combination and usage of radiotherapy and chemotherapeutic drugs, the lives of those with brain cancer may be prolonged. In some patients, the quality of live may even be improved but there are those who easily give up and were not luckily able to live more than 2 years.

The brain cancer survival rate presented here is based on a relative result. The total 5-year brain cancer survival rate from the years 1995-2001 was more than 33%. The relative survival rates at 5 years for brain cancer by race and sex were:

• 32.1 percent of Caucasian men
• 37.7 percent for African-American men
• 33.5 percent of Caucasian women
• 37.5 percent for African-American women.

Brain cancer survival rate statistics reveals that about 85% of physical disorders were affected by the negative mental and emotional stress at the fourth/metastatic stage of the disease.

Many patients could attest to the fact that negative emotion and mental stress weaken the immune system despite the fact that there is no such direct connection between negative emotion and cancer, medically speaking. This is one thing we should remember when dealing with patients suffering from cancer, in general.

There are still a lot of thing you need to know about the recent brain cancer survival rate. Get an up-to-date information by visiting Cancer Survival Rates.

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Adult Brain Tumor Risks, Diagnosis, and Treatment

A brain tumor is a mass or growth of abnormal cells that have multiplied out of control. There are many different types of brain tumors. Some are benign, or non-cancerous, while others are classified as malignant, or cancerous. Symptoms you experience and treatment options depend largely on the type of tumor as well as its size and location.

Primary brain tumors are those that originate in the brain or tissues surrounding it. These tumors are much less common than secondary tumors, which occur when cancer from another part of the body metastasizes or spreads to the brain. While any type of cancer may do this, melanoma and cancers of the breast, colon, kidney, and lung are the most common to metastasize to the brain.

Researchers have not been able to determine exactly what causes brain tumors to form. Only a few risk factors have been documented. Exposure to radiation therapy of the head may put you at a higher risk for developing brain tumors. Certain genetic syndromes may increase your risk as well. Typically, there is not a clear indication of what caused the tumor to form. Research continues to determine if cell phones may contribute to the formation of brain tumors. At this time, no clear conclusions have been made linking the two.

There are no reliable screenings that detect brain tumors before symptoms appear. Patients may suffer from a variety of symptoms before visiting their physician for diagnosis. The size, location, and rate of growth of the tumor often determine what symptoms occur. Some of the most common symptoms may include:

Headaches that occur more often and become more severe over timeBlurred or double visionHearing lossUnexplained nausea and vomitingChanges in personalityConfusionSeizuresWeakness or loss of movement in an arm or leg

If you experience any of these symptoms, visit your physician for a diagnosis. He or she will recommend a variety of tests to determine whether or not a brain tumor is the problem. Checking your vision, hearing, coordination, and reflexes with a neurological exam may indicate which part of brain is affected. An MRI allows the physician to scan your brain and evaluate the situation. A CT scan may be administered to determine if there is cancer in another part of your body that may have spread. If a tumor is found, the patient may undergo a biopsy to diagnose the tumor as benign or malignant.

Benign tumors are less aggressive than malignant ones and do not normally spread to surrounding tissue or other parts of the body. Even though they are not cancerous, benign tumors can still be very serious and possibly life threatening. If they are located in a vital area of the brain, exert pressure on sensitive nerve tissue, or increase pressure in the brain, these tumors may pose a serious risk to the patient. Benign tumors are often successfully treated with surgery, reducing the patient's risk of disability or death.

There are three standard types of treatment for malignant tumors: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. New treatments are constantly being researched and used in clinical trials throughout the world. For some patients, clinical trials are the best choice of treatment. Your cancer care team will make recommendations for the treatment options that best suit your particular situation.

It is important that those patients who are dealing with a brain tumor not only get the best treatment available, but also find support to cope with their diagnosis. Talk with your physician or oncologist about support options in your area.

Laura Mims is a writer for FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, which specializes in oncology, cancer care, and cancer treatment in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

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Late Effects: Cognitive Changes That Can Result From Cancer Treatment

Interviews with families and patients show that a cancer diagnosis and treatment is unbelievably stressful and draining, and it feels as though a child who survives surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and any other issues and complications that come their way has certainly dealt with enough. Unfortunately, survivors of childhood brain tumors frequently develop problems after the initial battle is won, in the areas of intellectual ability, academic achievement, memory, and attention. Cognitive changes are not uncommon among brain tumor survivors, however, the extent to which any one change will take effect depends on many different factors, including tumor location and surgery, age at diagnosis and treatment with radiation therapy.

Neurological problems such as seizures and muscle coordination problems are relatively common among childhood brain tumor survivors. These sorts of disabilities often develop around the time of diagnosis or after initial surgery, but sometimes they may first appear months to years after diagnosis. Radiation injury to the brain may, on rare occasions, cause delayed neurological problems that may become not become apparent until 10 or more years after treatment.

Neurosensory problems such as impaired vision and hearing may also develop, both early in the course of diagnosis and treatment and years after treatments are finished. Radiation can cause delayed visual problems through several different mechanisms. Direct damage to the eye nerves (optic nerves) can infrequently result in visual changes years after treatment. In rare instances, previous radiation can produce cataracts in the eyes that can interfere with normal vision. If your child has had surgery near the eye or eye nerves or has had radiation to the head, regular visits to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) are highly recommended. Hearing difficulties are also common after treatment for brain tumors and, in general, remain stable or even decrease in severity over time. Under certain circumstances, though, hearing problems have been shown to get worse or appear for the first time months to years after treatment ends. Children who receive treatment with the combination of the drug cisplatin and radiation to the brain appear to be at the greatest risk for developing delayed hearing problems. Periodic hearing tests should be performed for all children at risk for hearing problems as well as for any child who is experiencing academic or learning difficulties.

Learning disabilities are particularly common among brain tumor survivors and are difficult and frustrating. Many children with learning disabilities require special education services at school. Moreover, one may observe deterioration in function over time, particularly in children who were treated with radiation to the brain at a young age. Like any other problematic issue, early detection of a problem is the best way to combat it, and this assessment is best accomplished by working closely with a pediatric neuropsychologist who has experience working with children with brain tumors. As symptoms may develop over time, it is extremely important to reassess cognitive functioning periodically in all survivors who are at high risk, as well as in survivors who are experiencing academic difficulties. This is done by administering a battery of tests known as psychometric or neuropsychological tests.

Most major medical centers will have trained neuropsychologists on staff, as will many schools, who can administer these exams. It is critical at the time of testing that you have available to you a detailed history of your child's previous therapy. This should include the exact diagnosis and date of diagnosis, the names, modalities and total doses of all chemotherapy drugs, the doses and sites of all previous radiation therapy, the sites of all surgeries, and the start and stop dates for each treatment. This information can usually be obtained from the team supervising your child's cancer therapy. At the end of treatment, it's a good idea for you to ask your child's neuro-oncology team to review with you the treatments your child received as well as any late effects that might occur as a result of these therapies. If appropriate, this may be the time to begin to make arrangements for follow-up treatment with specific specialists (for example, a neuropsychologist or pediatric endocrinologist), as preparing for your child's follow-up care early, at the end of planned therapy, helps ensure a smooth transition from treatment to life after treatment.

"We created a medical data sheet to hand over to all new medical professionals we came into contact with. It was helpful that we maintained our journal even after treatment ended, for over the years, it is a quick and easy resource to rely on."
-Parent of Brain Tumor Survivor

If problems are identified, then the school must provide your child with appropriate services. Although this is now mandated by federal law, you and the members of the medical team may need to advocate for your child to get all the services to which he or she is entitled.

Late effects are new problems that can occur months to years after therapy has ended. Whether or not a child will develop a late effect depends on a number of factors. The most important of these factors include the type and amount of treatment an individual received (for example, radiation therapy, specific chemotherapy drugs) and the child's age at the time of treatment. Other factors include the type of tumor and its location within the brain. In general, children who are treated at a young age (younger than 7 years) and those who receive the most intensive therapy (for example, high doses of radiation combined with high doses of several chemotherapy drugs) are more likely to develop late effects.

However, it is important to remember that everyone is unique and that no two people react in exactly the same way to a given treatment. Equally important is that being at risk for a given problem does not necessarily mean a child will develop the problem. Clearly, knowing the details of your child's cancer treatments is essential and will help your child's health care providers, both current and future, determine which late effects your child may develop over time. Knowledge is power and it can only help you to combat cognitive problems that may arise.

Joseph Fay, Executive Director of Children's Brain Tumor Foundation

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What Is an Oligodendroglioma?

At the age of 6, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It is most commonly found in adults, so perhaps that means I am mature, but likely it only indicates a lack of fortune.

Oligodendroglioma is a type of tumor that is thought to originate the oligodendrocytes in the brain. Most of the time oligodendrogliomas occur in adults; only four percent of them occur in children. On average, patients diagnosed with them are about 35 years old.

Oligodendrogliomas originate from an unknown source at this time. Some studies have shown a link to a viral cause while others have found a genetic cause. More than likely, both are causes.

There is no way to tell if a tumor is an oligodendroglioma aside from taking a biopsy. They often take a shape similar to a fried egg and sort of wrap around healthy cells. This can lead to headaches, dizziness, and seizures. Since oligodendrogliomas can occur anywhere in the brain, they can ultimately have a number of different symptoms associated with them. For instance, visual loss, motor problems, and even cognitive difficulties can result depending on the location of the tumor.

Many experts believe that oligodendrogliomas are ultimately incurable. They tend to be slow growing and are difficult to remove completely and so recurrence is almost certain. Depending on the "grade" of the tumor, victims typically live anywhere from 3-12 years (although I have made it almost 30). Of course this range is only semi-accurate as severity of the tumor, type of treatment, general health at the time of diagnosis, etc., all have a significant impact on the survival rate of oligodendrogliomas and any type of cancer for that matter.

There are a number of different approaches to dealing with oligodendrogliomas including:

1. Surgery- obviously one way to remove any tumor is to surgically excise it. This may be a particularly important approach when the tumor is directly affecting particular brain structures.

2. Radiation therapy- this may be done in addition to surgery or as a standalone treatment to destroy the tumor cells. However, it can also damage healthy tissue.

3. Chemotherapy- this is a natural approach to any tumor because it can be effective at killing off tumor cells, but it often also brings harsh side effects.

4. Stereotactic Surgery- this is a relatively recent approach that allows doctors to "target" cells three dimensionally and essentially "shoot" them with radiation. That way only the bad cells are affected, unlike with radiation.

Oligodendrogliomas are terrible things to have and I regret to admit that I can personally attest to that fact.

I have additionally written my experiences on my blog at http://www.oligodendrogliomas.com/

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Returning to School After a Cancer Diagnosis

"Back to normal" means "back to school" for most children who have been treated for a brain or spinal tumor. When your child returns to school, you want him or her to be treated as normally as possible and it will take the cooperation of both the school and the health care professionals working with your child to make this happen.. To make the transition back to school an easy one the teachers and school nurse should be encouraged to prepare classmates by providing them with information about the disease and treatment and answering any questions they may have. Let the teachers and classmates know what to expect and give them an opportunity to express their concerns and feelings. It is important for teachers to communicate to other students that cancer cannot be caught and that radiation treatments do not make a child who has them "radioactive." These types of open conversations may eliminate children's curiosity and make it easier for them to accept your child back into the class and help them to accept the differences in their classmates and make them more empathetic and willing to help. Some medical centers provide an education team consisting of a child life worker and health care practitioner who can help prepare the class for your child's return, which in some cases may be helpful.

In order to make the re-entry into the scholastic environment less abrupt for your child, the students and the teachers, a slow, transitional approach to reentering school can be helpful, perhaps only having lunch, attending specific classes, or going on a field trip with the class prior to a full-time return to school. It is important to update your child's teachers and the school nurse with whatever medical information will help them help your child in school. The more knowledgeable and familiar the teachers are with how your child functions, the more the classroom environment can be adapted to your child's special needs, no matter what level of school they may be returning.

Before your child returns to school, set up a meeting with the teacher, school nurse, and principal. This meeting will give you an opportunity to discuss any special requests or concerns you might have. Suggest that the meeting also include health care professionals such as neuropsychologists familiar with brain tumor treatments, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and shunts and give your child's teacher a copy of Cancervive Teacher's Guide for Kids with Cancer. You might want to meet or speak with the teacher on a weekly basis to monitor your child's progress; it might also be helpful to connect with your other children's teachers as well. Remember to keep an open line of communication with your child's school. The role the teacher plays is very significant to your child's developmental adjustment and recovery. The teacher and/or school nurse must inform you of any communicable diseases, such as chickenpox, that any class member has contracted. If your child is still in treatment and has not had chickenpox, exposure to this virus can be dangerous, and you should contact your physician immediately. (Chickenpox is worrisome primarily after chemotherapy; doctors rarely worry after radiation therapy.) If informed, teachers can deal successfully with problems concerning your child's self-image and relationships with peers as they arise.

Holding a meeting prior to your child's return to school can be helpful in determining any accommodations that may be needed to meet your child's special needs. Check to see if your school has wheelchair accessibility for both the classrooms and toilet facilities, as special bathroom privileges may be needed. Your child may need playground or gym exemptions, if he or she is easily fatigued or has coordination problems. Seating arrangements in the classroom may need to be adapted if your child has suffered permanent or temporary hearing or visual impairment. You may want to discuss modifying homework assignments with the classroom teacher. If your child needs to take medications during the day, it is very important that you inform the teacher and the school's principal and nurse what the medications are for and what their side effects may be. All of these procedures, if reviewed beforehand, will make a child's return to school much smoother.

The level of parental involvement wanted by a child varies by age, gender, and individual personality. It is important to discuss returning to school with children no matter what age to be sure everyone is on the same page and children are allowed to have a voice in the involvement of their parents in their school. For older children, such as those entering high school, autonomy and a sense of independence is viewed as a necessity for many and for this reason the teacher-parent relationship is very important, because although parents may not be wanted by children in their scholastic environment, teachers have a unique view and can not only watch out for a child but do so in a way that is not considered intrusive. In this way, parents can stayed updated on their child's progress without infringing on their child's world that they are more assuredly desperate to reenter.

Joseph Fay, Executive Director of Children's Brain Tumor Foundation

Joseph Fay, Executive Director of Children's Brain Tumor Foundation, http://www.cbtf.org/

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Cell Phones and Brain Cancer: Is There a Link?

With the recent announcement by WHO (world health organisation) about the potential dangers of cell phone radiation, we are all naturally concerned, especially those of us who use cell phones regularly and/or who have kids with cell phones. What is safe, we wonder, in terms of use, cell phone type and exposure? Are some cell phones safer than others, and are there ways in which we can limit the dangers by changing our usage patterns?

While the answers are still coming in, there are things we can do to help protect ourselves. These tips come from a variety of sources, including a brain scientist who has recovered from brain cancer (Dr. David Servan-Schreiber - if you have not yet read his book, Anticancer, A New Way of Life go get it! It's an excellent read for anyone wishing to prevent cancer, or already dealing with the health challenges cancer presents). Simultaneously, we are all terrified of cancer but somehow in denial that it will ever touch us personally. It's time we look clearly at the rampart cancer rates of the last decade and take as many steps as we can personally to protect our health.

When it comes to this health issue, we are all exposed to radiation in varying degrees, even those of us who do not have a cell phone. In North America, unless you live in the remote wilds and are completely off the grid, you're likely affected, even if from cell towers and criss-crossing signals in the air. Experts are telling us that cordless phones pose similar risks, and it s only as more studies come to completion that the alarming statistics are becoming available. Nonetheless, mobile phones and smart phones are here to stay, so let's do what we can given that reality.

For one thing, most mobile phone manufacturers now offer a protection rating on their phones, as consumers become increasingly aware and concerned. Ask your provider about your specific phone and be sure to check the rating of any phone you buy. Other tips include using a headset rather than putting the phone directly to your ear when talking, and leaving the phone away from your wear until someone answers; according to experts the signal is stronger when the phone is ringing, before it connects. The signal is also stronger when you are between cell towers, so if the connection is bad hang up and try later when it's safer. For children and teens with developing brains, limit cell phone use and if anything, encourage texting over speaking (who ever thought anyone would say that?).

Shauna writes about cell phone safety at her cell phones students website. You can also find out more about brain health at her health and vitamin site. Take your own health seriously and be your own health advocate, so you can live the best life possible and have the vitality to achieve your dreams!

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Loss and Bereavement: The Support Services for Families With Children With Brain Tumors

There are many thoughts that run through a person's mind when they learn that their child or sibling has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. What will my child's life and my life be like now? How will this affect me? How will our family survive such a trauma? These and a million other questions come to mind when your child is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Many parents and children feel grief towards a life that was lost and these feelings can occur whether or not there was a death. The life you were planning for yourself or your child may no longer be possible and you have to cope with all of these new feelings while still managing day to day life, a daunting task.

Perhaps more devastating is the actual loss of a child. This experience is heart breaking and life altering for parents, siblings, other family members and friends, as it does not follow the proper course of life. The process of grief differs from person to person. Grief is a very subjective emotion and depending on the age and the relationship a person had with the child, their reaction to the loss will take on a variety of forms. For many, however, it is a long and painful journey, and it causes some to feel alone and forgotten by others who go on with their lives.

There are many new emotions and unexpected feelings that accompany the loss of a child such as, anger, guilt, abandonment, depression, etc. Though there is no way to completely quell all the feelings that occur with losing a child, there are support services and networks of other parents to help you cope with such a tragic loss. The support you can receive from others also dealing with a loss helps you understand that you are not alone and many, if not all, of the feelings you may be having are normal, in a way and this type of support is immeasurable.

Many are not aware of the different avenues you can take when seeking support. The social workers at many organizations are available to help you determine what services will be the most appropriate in helping you and your family manage all of the psychological and emotional difficulties that are associated with losing a child.

"The feeling of connecting to other parents is that sense of knowing that you are not alone." -quote from a bereaved parent

These organizations typically offer many programs including a Loss, Grief and Bereavement Program for families who have lost a child. Their goal is to support families through this difficult experience by connecting them to other bereaved families, providing supportive services, and offering therapeutic and educational information. We know everyone has his or her own unique way of grieving. It is for this reason that we offer different forms of support to address varying needs and ages.

Through interaction with bereaved parents, as well as siblings, we have developed a variety of services within our Loss, Grief, and Bereavement program that will attend to a wide range of families all coping in their own way.

Services include a parent mentor program, online support groups and discussions for parents and caregivers, bereaved sibling support, counseling, and referrals to a variety of grief and bereavement resources. The families who participate in our programs provide us with vital information so we can better assist future families. It is a horrible thing to lose a child and there is no way to ever heal such a wound but the goal of many organizations is to provide the best support possible for families.

Joseph Fay, Executive Director, Children's Brain Tumor Foundation

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