Learning about Brain Cancer
- Braydin Lewis, 18, recently had surgery to remove a golfball-sized brain tumor after he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer. He also underwent proton therapy for treatment.
- Symptoms of brain tumors are often caused by increased pressure in the skull. Symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, balance problems, personality or behavior changes, seizures, drowsiness or even comas. It is important to note, however, that these symptoms are not exclusive to brain tumors.
- Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of brain cancer. And though it technically has no cure, one of our experts says a diagnosis does NOT mean you are dead.
Lewis, an 18-year-old hockey star, was busy chasing his dreams playing for a junior hockey league club in Michigan when he was diagnosed with a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma. But since undergoing emergency surgery to remove the golfball-sized (2-inch) malignant brain tumor from his right frontal lobe on June 2, he is doing much better. He’s also received proton therapy treatments to treat his brain cancer.
Read More"Keep a positive mindset," Lewis advised. "It'll be a lot easier for you and your family members.
“If you're positive and you keep pushing to keep pushing, keep pushing, and when you have that satisfaction of saying, you're cancer-free, it'll be the best day for you and for everyone around.”
If you’d like to donate to Braydin and his family as his brain cancer journey continues, check out his GoFundMe page.
What Are Brain Tumors?
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), brain tumors account for 85 to 90 percent of all primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord and acts as the main "processing center" for the nervous system. Normal function of the brain and spinal cord can become difficult if there's a tumor present that puts pressure on or spreads into nearby normal tissue.
Can Cell Phones & 5G Cause Cancer? A Leading Brain Cancer Doctor Says "No"
There are many different types of brain and spinal cord tumors. Some are more likely to spread into nearby parts of the brain or spinal cord than others. Slow-growing tumors may be considered benign (non-cancerous), but even these tumors can cause serious problems.
General Symptoms of Brain Tumors
Symptoms of brain tumors, as a whole, are often caused by increased pressure in the skull. This pressure can be caused by tumor growth, swelling in the brain or blockage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), according to the American Cancer Society.
General symptoms may include the following:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Balance problems
- Personality or behavior changes
- Seizures
- Drowsiness or even coma
Additionally, MD Anderson Cancer Center notes that changes in the ability to smell can be a sign of brain tumors, and, more specifically, "strange smells" can be a symptom of seizures which can result from brain tumors.
Still, it is important to note that these symptoms are not exclusive to brain tumors. You should always consult with your doctor if any health problems arise.
Understanding Glioblastoma: A Type of Brain Cancer
Glioblastoma, also known as glioblastoma multiforme, is an aggressive form of brain cancer. It's considered the most aggressive primary brain tumor, and it doesn't technically have a cure. The standard of care treatment for someone with GBM usually consists of a surgical resection followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Nevertheless, brain cancer treatment options are expanding thanks to research. Dr. Henry Friedman, a neuro-oncologist at Duke University Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet that progress is being made.
"You are not dead just because you've been diagnosed with a glioblastoma," he said.
Along with his Duke colleagues, he's looking into a new therapy that combines the modified poliovirus and immunotherapy.
"The modified poliovirus is used to treat this tumor, by injecting it directly into the tumor, through a catheter. It is designed to lyse the tumor and cause the tumor cells to basically break up" he said. "I think that the modified poliovirus is going to be a game-changer in glioblastoma… but I should also say that its reach is now extending into melanoma soon to bladder cancer."
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
