Brain Tumor Treatments: Myths & Facts You Should Know

Mere word ‘Brain Tumor’ is scary as people feel insecure & angry about this condition. It is largely due to the myths which are associated with brain tumor, brain tumor surgery & brain tumor treatment. The success rates of brain tumor treatment vary, depending on size and location of tumor in the brain. Survival rates of brain and spinal cord tumors are based on outcomes of people. Information provided here is an attempt to empower the reader with true facts concerning brain tumors.

Myth 1: Brain tumor is a very rare medical condition.

Truth: Wrong, brain tumors are not rare but relatively infrequent. There are only few people who are able to access proper healthcare & seek treatment. Owing to lack of advanced technology & facility for diagnosis & detection, it was earlier felt that brain tumors were a rare phenomenon. However, now with MRI & CT scans have made it quite easy to identify & detect brain tumors.

Myth 2: Benign brain tumors are not any serious issue.

Truth: Wrong again, benign or noncancerous brain tumors are still a serious issue since it depends upon where it is located & its accessibility for surgical removal. When benign tumors are located in inaccessible areas of the brain from where brain tumor surgery cannot be performed, then it is as bad as any malignant tumor located anywhere else in the brain.

Myth 3: Lifestyle modifications will help prevent developing brain tumors.

Truth: No, lifestyle changes are unable to prevent brain tumors. But changes in lifestyle are good for many other types of health concerns & good for overall health & well being of a person. Proper diet, regular exercise & avoiding intake of toxic substances will invariably boost health.

Myth 4: All brain tumors have the same symptoms.

Truth: All brain tumors & brain tumor patients do not have similar symptoms, though they may have some symptoms which are common among them. Generally, as all brain tumors expand inside head they raise pressure inside skull & therefore common symptoms include headaches, vomiting & giddiness. However, other symptoms like weakness, seizures, loss of hearing or vision or speech & loss of balance depend upon the location of brain tumor inside skull.

Myth 5: Young people do not have brain tumors.

Truth: This is not true as age has got nothing to do with brain tumors as they can also develop in newborns. However, it is a fact that brain tumors among old people often turn out to be malignant (cancerous) in most cases.

Myth 6: Brain tumor treatments will stop them from developing again.

Truth: This is far away from truth, although benign tumors rarely develop after removal by surgery, barring a few cases which have been reported to recur even after a gap of 10 – 15 years. Nevertheless, regular follow-ups with the neurosurgeon are absolutely necessary after surgery to rule out recurrence of brain tumors. Moreover, early diagnosis & prompt brain tumor surgery will ensure better outcomes. Thanks to advanced diagnostic techniques & brain tumor treatment options, patients with the most malignant tumors are able to survive & live for years without experiencing any trace of recurrence of brain tumors after surgery.