What Are Brain Metastases?
When cancer cells from another region of the human body enter the bloodstream, they spread to the brain. This permits them to migrate far beyond the cancer's original location. Cancer cells can harm the brain if they pass through the blood-brain barrier. Solitary brain metastasis occurs when cancer cells develop a single tumor in the brain. Brain metastases are a type of multiple tumor growth. Any cancer can metastasize to the brain, but breast cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma are the three most common.
Colon cancer, gynecologic malignancies, and renal cell carcinoma are all tumors that frequently spread to the brain. A malignancy can spread to single or numerous places in the brain. It can also extend to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or the leptomeninges, the brain and spinal cord's outer layer. They frequently travel to the cerebral hemispheres or the cerebellum, where they coalesce into a mass. Several years after primary cancer, some metastatic brain tumors arise. Others spread so swiftly that they are discovered before the underlying cancer has spread. When cancer cells enter the brain and form a tumor, they can cause a variety of symptoms that resemble those seen in nonmetastatic brain tumors.
What Are the Symptoms of Brain Metastases?
The symptoms of brain metastases range based on a number of factors, including the size of the tumor or tumors and their location in the brain. Brain metastases may bleed and cause immediate and severe symptoms. Cancer of the temporal lobe, for example, might impact language and learning, which are controlled by this brain region. Not everyone with brain metastases, however, experiences symptoms. As a result, continuing cancer treatment is essential for detecting metastatic cancer early. The following are some possible symptoms: a persistent or severe headache, numbness or tingling in one part of the body, seizures, vomiting or nausea, and a change in emotion or behavior. Some of the above symptoms are comparable to those linked to cancer treatment or the disease itself, according to doctors. As a result, based only on their symptoms, patients should not presume the disease has progressed to the brain. Instead, one should schedule an appointment with an oncologist soon away.
What Is the Difference Between a Primary Brain Tumor and a Secondary (Metastatic) Brain Tumor?
A primary brain tumor is a tumor that forms in the brain. A metastatic or secondary brain tumor occurs when cancer spreads from another part of the body to the brain. The majority of initial brain tumors are benign, but metastatic brain tumors are malignant. However, benign brain tumors that grow large enough to push on adjacent nerves, blood vessels, or brain tissue can alter how the brain functions. Primary brain tumors are less prevalent than metastatic brain cancers.
How Are Brain Metastases Diagnosed?
The following tests can be employed to detect brain metastasis:
-
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): It is performed using strong magnets and radio waves to create a clear image of the brain. This is the gold standard in tumor testing that offers information on the tumor's location, size, features, and pressure effects with the introduction of an intravenous contrast agent.
-
Computed Axial Tomography (Cat) Scan or Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: With or without intravenous contrast, provides several images of the brain. Computed tomography (CT) scans are usually used as the first diagnostic examination. The attending neurosurgeon or neuro-oncologist may request additional tests if a metastatic tumor is detected. Additional body imaging may be required and is typically obtained in the form of computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, as well as a bone scan. These tests can discover a primary neoplasm in another part of the body.
-
Biopsy: It can be performed to make a final diagnosis by the healthcare professional. They accomplish this by taking a little piece of tissue from the tumor and examining it under a microscope. A biopsy may be performed as part of surgery conducted to remove all or some parts of the tumor by the healthcare professional.
How Are Brain Metastases Treated and Managed?
Treatment for brain metastases can help to alleviate symptoms, limit tumor growth, and prolong life. Because brain metastases frequently recur even after successful therapy, the doctor will prescribe close follow-up after treatment. Medication, stereotactic radiosurgery, surgery, whole-brain radiation therapy, or a combination of these are standard treatment options for persons with brain metastases. The medical team may consider pharmacological therapy for brain metastases in certain circumstances. The type, size, number, and position of the tumors, as well as the signs and symptoms, general health, and preferences, will determine which treatments are best for the patient. Discuss the treatment objectives with the doctor.
-
Medications for Symptom Management: Medications can help the patient manage the signs and symptoms of brain metastases and make them feel better. Steroid medications are used to minimize signs and symptoms, and high-dose corticosteroids may be given to reduce swelling around brain metastases. If the patient has seizures, anti-seizure medications can be given, and the doctor may prescribe medication to prevent further seizures.
-
Surgery: If surgery is a possibility for the patient and their brain metastases are in regions where an operation can be performed, the surgeon will try to remove as much cancer as possible. Even eliminating a piece of the tumor could help to alleviate the discomfort. Neurologic impairments, infection, and bleeding are among the dangers of surgery to remove brain metastases. Other dangers may vary depending on where the tumors are placed in the brain.
-
Radiation: In order to kill tumor cells, radiation therapy uses high-energy beams like X-rays and protons. The treatment for brain metastases may include radiation of the entire brain or whole-brain radiation, which kills tumor cells by delivering radiation to the entire brain. Fatigue, nausea, and hair loss are all possible side effects. Whole-brain radiation is linked to cognitive deterioration over time. Radiosurgery with stereotactic accuracy where each beam of radiation, which is not extremely powerful, but the spot where all the beams converge, which is the site of the brain tumor, receives a very high dose of radiation to destroy tumor cells. Nausea, headaches, convulsions, and vertigo or dizziness are all possible side effects. Stereotactic radiosurgery is thought to have a lower risk of long-term cognitive deterioration than whole-brain radiation.
-
Rehabilitation After Treatment: Because brain tumors can form in areas of the brain that control motor abilities, speech, vision, and thought, rehabilitation may be required as part of the recovery process. The doctor may refer the patient to the physical therapy that can help them regain motor skills and muscle strength that have been lost. Following a brain tumor or other sickness, occupational therapy can assist the patient in returning to their normal daily activities. If the patient has trouble speaking, speech therapy can assist.
-
Palliative Care: Palliative care is a type of medical treatment that focuses on relieving pain and other symptoms associated with a serious illness. Palliative care specialists collaborate with the patient, their family, and the doctors to add an extra layer of support to the patient's other therapies. Palliative care is delivered by a team of medical, psychological, spiritual, and social work experts. This group strives to improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their families.
Conclusion:
Cancer cells migrate through the bloodstream to the brain, where they cause tumors to form. Pain, behavioral changes, and seizures are all possible symptoms. However, because not everyone suffers from symptoms, continuous monitoring by an oncologist is necessary to discover signals early. Metastatic brain cancer is a fast-moving disease that can drastically alter a person's life. There is neither a correct nor an incorrect response to a diagnosis. Some people opt to treat cancer aggressively, doing everything they can to extend their lives. Others would rather reduce pain and spend more time with their loved ones. People may benefit from talking about treatment alternatives and receiving social and emotional support.
