Brain Metastase Case Study

A SEGA is a non cancerous tumor that occurs in the brain (TS Alliance). Treatment of this type of tumor is difficult, but possible. Barnes Jewish Hospital located in St. Louis Missouri offers treatment for patients with otherwise inoperable brain tumors. The treatment is provided by new technology that include the ablation of the tumor. Dr. Eric Leuthardt performs this surgery with a system known as the NeuroBlate. This system has been FDA approved for neurosurgery (Barnes Jewish Hospital). By taking a part in a clinical trial using the NeuroBlate technology, many patients are given a normal life

The brain is made up of millions upon millions of cells. These cells are formed from before birth, up until about 7 years old. Once these brain cells stop dividing, they are never meant to divide again. You can see that the division of brain cells is under strict regulation and control. When this control is lost in a single cell, then it starts dividing in an uncontrolled manner. All of the data obtained through research on cancer shows that this disease is caused by a rapidly dividing cell, with no regulators to stop it from dividing. As the cell makes more and more copies of itself, it grows to form a tumor. This is known as cancer.

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of malignant brain cancer in adults. On average, 8 of every 100,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with glioblastoma every year – representing approximately 2% of all cancers diagnosed [1]. Glioblastoma tumors form when astrocytes, star-shaped cells which support and protect the brain, re-enter the cell cycle and start to rapidly divide. Because the brain is supported by a large network of blood vessels, tumors grow quickly and are difficult to remove surgically. Present treatments for glioblastoma are limited to surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy; however, despite these interventions tumors are likely to regrow. Consequently, typical survival time following glioblastoma diagnosis is less than 2 years.

Glioblastoma (pronounced like gleO blastoma) is an incurable brain cancer,Survival rate is usually measured in months.This became a word that was instantly defined, researched, dissected, feared, and tried to comprehend and understand by family,friends and acquaintances of Larry McKee (McKee)who was personally affected from this single word, it was quickly added to their vocabulary, because of the of the events that transpired on October 22, 2011 that forever changed lives “Glioblastomas are tumors that arise from the astrocytes- the star-shaped cells that make up the “glue-like,” or supportive tissue of the brain. These tumors are usually highly malignant (cancerous) because the cells reproduce quickly and they are supported by a large network of blood vessels.”(A.B.T A..) He was diagnosed with stage four.

Brain cancer develops from cells within the brain. The brain controls the vital functions of the body, including, speech, movement, thoughts, feelings, memory, sight, hearing, and more. Brain cancer affects people in many different ways. Brain cancer is diagnosed at the local stage in 76.6% of people. The 5-year survival for localized brain and other nervous system cancer is 36.3%. Brain cancer will cause anything from headaches to balance and walking problems, changes in your vision, muscle twitches, memory problems, and nausea and vomiting.

Recently I discovered that I have brain tumor. My surgery is scheduled in two weeks, unfortunately this requires an incision in my frontal lobe. This will cause loss of intelligence, personality, and behavior. I have Fourteen days left with a fully functioning brain, wanting to spend this time doing what I love made me decide what to do. In this two week period I will focus on family, friends, and some of my favorite activities. The first five days are going to be spent with my family at Smith Mountain Lake. Following the time at the lake I will rent a beach house and pack it full of my longtime friends. Lastly in the final days leading up to my surgery I will be in the mountains doing what I personally enjoy most. Overall I will be relaxing,

The American cancer society estimated that 18,500 people would be diagnosed with brain tumor and those 12,760 men and women would die of brain cancer in 2005.The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimated that 22,070 new cases of brain and other central nervous system (CNS) cancers would be diagnosed in the United States in 2009. The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) clarifies this statistic further by estimating that 62,930 new cases of primary brain tumors would be diagnosed in 2010. By the year 2030, there will be 26 million new cases, and the death toll will reach to around 1.7 million people. According to World Health Organization (WHO), there are more than 120 types of brain tumors.

CNS tumors represent the second most frequent tumor of childhood and the most common pediatric solid tumor; approximately 2,200 patients under the age of 20 are diagnosed each year with invasive CNS tumors, and CNS tumors are the number one cause of death from childhood cancer. [1] Therapeutic strategies generally involve surgery as a primary intervention, but complete resection is often not possible due to tumor location. In such cases, adjunct therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, may be required based on the tumor histology and presence of residual tumor. [2]

Primary brain cancer develops from cells within the brain. Part of the central nervous system (CNS), the brain is the control center for vital functions of the body, including speech, movement, thoughts, feelings, memory, vision, hearing and more.

Glioblastoma Multiforme is a highly malignant, fast growing cancer that affects the surrounding brain tissue. Brittany Maynard was 29 years old when she died, on November 1, 2014. Maynard was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme on January 1,2014. After many tests, the doctors told her she had six months to live. She then moved from California to Oregon for that state’s Death With Dignity Act. The right-to-die law should be in every state because a person should have the right to make the decision to end his or her’s own life.

On April 14, 2012, my husband was diagnosed with a Glioma Brain Tumor. Even three and a half years after his diagnosis, I still don’t really know much about Gliomas, so I have decided to research this topic.

Malignant gliomas are the most common type of primary brain tumors. As already shown in the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS) report from 1998 – 2002, gliomas account for approximately 80 % of all malignant brain tumors and at least 30 % of all brain and CNS neoplasms (Ostrom et al., 2014). A number of putative risk factors that have been associated with brain tumors have been discussed. However, there is no clear cause for brain and CNS tumors. Less that 1 % are linked to lifestyle or environmental factors (Parkin, Boyd, & Walker, 2011). The only exposure that has been shown to affect glioma risk is ionizing radiation and has been classified as a cause by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (Cogliano

Tumors are an area of swelling in a part of the both that does not always create inflammation. These tumors are usually created by an irregular growth of the tissue. There are two individual kinds of tumors, one called malignant, which is cancerous and the other benign, which is noncancerous. There aren’t any environmental factors that can usually cause either one of these tumors. Genetic disease although, can cause certain tumors that can overpower the genes that stop the formation of tumors. A genetic disease such as neurofibromatosis type 2 can be a prominent cause of a cancerous brain tumor.

The drug is called temozolomide (Temodar) and is used to treat anaplastic astrocytoma which is a form glioma that is considered to be high on the grading scale. Usually, a high-grade glioma would be a Grade III tumor that reoccurs after other therapies (Johnson et al. 2005). A few years later, in 2005, temozolomide earned full approval for high-grade gliomas. The data from the research showed that adding the temozolomide to the initial radiation therapy, it increases survival, of what would usually be two years by as much as 50 percent. In the same year, researchers discovered that patients with tumors could benefit from temozolomide (Temodar) therapy when carrying a specific alteration in a gene. This alteration is called MGMT. The MGMT gene plays a part in repairing DNA damage that occurs within cancer cells. This also includes damage that has been caused by chemotherapy. Researchers are continuing to explore ways of better identifying which patients are the most likely to respond positively to this chemotherapy (Cohen et al.

When I was 17 years old, my father was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Without a doubt it was an event which marked my life and helped me mature in many aspects. I witnessed how my father began to lose his cognitive functions like his ability to focus, changes in his personality, behavior and emotions. This was the first time that I felt interested in learning how the brain process the information and motivated to learn more regarding this disease in order to help him. After my father passed away, my mother fell into a depression so I began to search for ways to improve her emotional state by reading books and magazines on the subject.