In 2021 alone it’s estimated that more than 84,000 Americans will be diagnosed with a brain tumor, according to the National Brain Tumor Society. Of those, about 59,000 will be benign and 25,000 will be malignant. Still, a person has less than a 1% chance of developing a brain tumor during his or her lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Let’s look at the common symptoms of brain tumors – keeping in mind that symptoms can change depending on the size and location of the tumor. Here is a list of some symptoms a patient may experience:
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Mood swings or personality changes
- Memory loss
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Weakness or numbness
Brain tumors, again depending on where they are located, can also affect your vision, hearing, speech, swallowing or ability to read and write. They can cause trouble with movement, walking, balance, and cause facial numbness, weakness, or pain.
All these symptoms can also be attributed to a whole host of other medical issues. But if you notice any of these symptoms or any changes to your health, you should definitely make an appointment to go see your doctor.
Brain Tumor Causes
The causes of brain tumors are not really understood, according to the American Cancer Society, there are not many well-established risk factors, but there are some.
Here are some risk factors for brain tumors:
- Family history – It is considered rare for a brain tumor to be genetic, but if several members of your family are diagnosed with a brain tumor, talk to your doctor.
- Age – Risk may increase with age.
- Race – Brain tumors are more common in Caucasians, followed by African-Americans, and Hispanics.
- Chemical and radiation exposure can increase your chances of a brain tumor.
- A weakened immune system can also increase your risk.
Brain Tumor Treatment Statistics
- The average survival rate for all primary brain tumor patients is 75.2%. Those rates can change based on the age of the patient and the type of tumor.
- For non-cancerous brain tumor patients, the average five-year survival rate is 91.7%.
- For a brain cancer patient, the five-year relative survival rate after a diagnosis is 36%.
- The average age for diagnosis of a brain tumor is 60 years old.
- About 700,000 Americans are living with a primary brain tumor. Of those, 70% are benign and 30% are malignant.
- About 58% of brain tumor patients are female and 42% are males.
Brain Tumor Treatment Miami
Brain tumors are often treated with chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, and surgery. Sometimes doctors use a combination of treatments to kill the cancer. Treatment depends on the type of tumor, a person’s age, overall health, the likelihood of the tumor to metastasize, and a list of other factors. In short, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment.
However, if your doctor recommends radiation, the experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami can help.
CyberKnife uses pinpointed radiation to kill the tumor and prevent it from growing. It can be used to treat both benign and malignant brain tumors. Since CyberKnife is so precise it minimizes damage to healthy tissue around the brain tumor, which can be a big issue with standard radiation.
For patients who are not surgical candidates or those who do not want surgery, CyberKnife could be a beneficial alternative treatment option.
Plus, patients generally need fewer treatments with CyberKnife than with traditional radiation. Most side effects are mild and temporary but can include fatigue and nausea.
“A brain tumor diagnosis is scary, but it’s not a death sentence,” says Dr. Mark Pomper, Board Certified Radiation Oncologist and Medical Director at CyberKnife. “I tell my patients to get all the information they can and make an informed choice on the best treatment option for their particular brain tumor. I want patients to know that CyberKnife has been used safely for three decades. It is an especially effective modality when it comes to brain tumors because of its accuracy. We can target the tumor without damaging healthy tissue. When it comes to the brain or quite frankly anywhere, targeted treatment is a huge advantage that CyberKnife has over other options.”
For more details or to schedule a consultation with one of our cancer experts at CyberKnife Miami, call us at 305-279-2900 or go to our website www.cyberknifemiami.com.