Biology on Brain Tumors - Research Paper Example

All types of brain tumors can be life threatening mainly because of their invasive nature in the minimal space of the intracranial cavity. Since the skull protects the brain well, early detection of brain tumor is not often possible. Therefore, detection of brain tumors generally happens only in advanced stages when its causes unrecovered damages in the brain; and this problem increases the severity of this disease. Brain tumors can damage brain in a number of ways. Usually, brain tumors shift the brain or press it against the skull and damage healthy brain tissues and nerves.

Type of symptoms of brain tumors may be greatly influenced by the affected location as different parts of the brain have entirely different functions. It is less likely that brain tumors will spread to other organs outside the central nervous system. Head ache and nausea are some of the most common symptoms of brain tumors and the symptoms will be very severe in the morning. Seizures, difficulty in thinking or speaking, loss of balances, personality changes, paralysis in side of the body, troubles in vision, confusion, and memory loss constitute other major symptoms of brain tumors.

As many of these symptoms may indicate other common medical problems, people would not consult doctor at initial stages and this situation adds to the fatality of brain tumors. Brain tumors are of two types including primary brain tumor and secondary (metastatic) brain tumor. The major difference between these two is that the primary brain tumor is developed in the brain itself whereas the metastatic brain tumor is initiated as a cancer in another body part. In common cases, primary brain tumor will not spread to other parts of the body.

According to pathologists (qtd in National Brain Tumor Society, 2011), primary brain tumor can be grouped into two categories such as glial tumors and nonglial tumors. Glial tumors are composed of glial cells, which contain astrocytes, Schwann cells, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and ependymal cells. The nonglial tumors originate in brain structures including glands, nerves, and blood vessels. In contrast, in case of secondary brain tumors, some of the cancer cells reach the brain through blood or from the adjacent tissue.

Clinical practitioners note that secondary brain tumors are the most common type of brain tumors (National Brain Tumor Society, 2011). How it affects the body? To a great extent, impacts of brain tumor on the body depend on a number of factors such as its type, location, and involved area of brain. Once the human brain develops brain tumor, the tumor cells may mutate and grow and thereby damage other parts of the brain. Clinical practitioners claim that brain tumors will cause troubles to hearing or speech gradually.

In advanced stages, victims’ arms and legs may lose sensation and their other body functions may be seriously affected. Sometimes, brain tumors will cause additional damages to the brain because skull is solid and it cannot stretch as the tumor grows. Tumors developed in the area of basal ganglia cause issues like abnormal movements and abnormal body positioning. Patients’ attitude towards the disease is a major factor determining the effects of brain tumor