Brain Tumors

Types of Brain tumors

The exact cause of brain tumors is only rarely determinable, so it is often hard to explain why some people develop brain tumors, while other don’t.

 Brain tumors are abnormal growths of cells in the brain. They can be primary in origin, when they originate from the brain cells, or they can be secondary or metastatic, when the tumor originates somewhere else in the body and then spreads to the brain through the bloodstream.

Brain tumors can be also classified in benign and malignant types, depending on their behaviour: malignant tumors tend to have a more destructive effect on the brain tissue than benign tumors do.

However, whether benign or malignant, brain tumors do always cause neurological symptoms, due to a direct compressive, impairing effect on the adjacent brain tissue. Symptoms vary from individual to individual and can include nausea and vomiting, headaches, seizures, vision deficits, hearing and speech problems, motor and balance problems, as well as behavioural, cognitive and memory problems.

Although it is not possible to determine the exact cause for most brain cancers, there are some known risk factors which might play a role at least in a few number of cases. These include radiation exposure (especially radiation therapy), a family history of certain inherited diseases of the nervous system and immune system impairments. Cell phone radiation has been advocated as a possible risk factor for the development of brain tumors, as well. However results are still quite controversial and further studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.  

Types of Brain tumors

So far there is no way to prevent the development of brain tumors, and hence early treatment is paramount in order to slow down, and sometimes reverse tumor progression, as well as to relieve neurological symptoms. Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the standard treatment options for brain tumors. Sometimes doctors prescribe steroids as well, to reduce the swelling inside the brain. Whenever possible, surgery is the first choice treatment, although it is not always able to remove all cancer cells from the tumor site. In the last case, patients need to be given radiation therapy or chemotherapy after surgery, to kill the remaining cancer cells.

Brain tumors and cure

The chance of cure depends on many factors, including the type and extent of the tumor, its location within the brain, whether it can be removed by surgery and whether there remain some cancer cells after surgery. Also the age and general health of the patient are important predictive factors for treatment outcome.

Patients often need to receive different types of tests during or after brain tumor treatment, in order to assess the efficacy of treatment and detect recurrence early. Because the cost of  treatment and tests is generally high and can place a large financial burden on the patient and his or her family, it is advisable to have it covered by an appropriate international health insurance plan before the disease occurs.

 International Health Cover is an global Health care Insurance advisor. We have excellent relationship with major International medical insurance carriers. We  can guide you through each step of the choice of your medical insurance and provide you with personalized  recommendation over a range of International Health Insurance insurance solution.