Brain Cancer

Presented by Amal Oladuja and Michelle Garro

Introduction

Brain Cancer

Anatomy

• Brain cancer can spread to any tissue in the brain

• Brain Anatomy

Genes Involved

• Glioblastoma– C/EBP

– Stat3

Symptoms

• Headaches (severe in the morning)• Nausea and vomiting• Vision and Hearing problems

Diagnosis

• Imaging tests: CT or MRI• Biopsy• Spinal Tap

Complications

• Problems with walking and balance• Memory problems• Muscle jerking and twitching• Numbness in arms or legs• Seizures

Contributing Factors

• Radiation to head• Genetic Risk• HIV Infection• Smoking• Environmental Toxins

Forms

• Brain tumors can be:– Benign– Malignant

• Two Main Types: – Primary – Metastatic

Stages

• Grade 1– Slow growth– Easily treated

• Grade 2– Tumor is bigger– Has potential to become more dangerous

• Grade 3– Aggressive tumor – Cancer cells can be easily distinguished from brain cells

• Grade 4– Tumor is perilous– Difficult to treat

Stages of Brain Cancer

Treatment

Individualized for each patient:• Surgery

– W/Knife– W/O knife:

• Stereotactic Radiosurgery

• Radiation• Chemotherapy

Side Effects of Surgery

• Brain swelling• Damage to tissue• Change in mental status • Weakness in muscles • Changes in brain functions

Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

• Skin damage and skin sensitivity

• Hair loss

Side Effects of Chemotherapy

• Hair loss• Nausea• Vomiting• Weakness• Damaged kidney and reproductive

organs

Prevalence

• Gender:– Females:

• 0.54% risk of being diagnosed*• 0.41% chance of dying from tumor

– Males:• 0.66% risk of being diagnosed*• 0.5% chance of dying from tumor

• Age:– 60% of brain cancer patients are 50-70

years old

Prevalence (cont’d)

• Males more at risk• Middle aged and older • People of European descent• Workers in factories involving toxic

chemicals

Epidemiology

• 15-20 cases out of 100,00 people• ~17,000 diagnosed w/primary cancer

each yr in US• ~13,000 of those diagnosed die from

brain cancer

Prevention

• Avoid toxic chemicals and environmental toxins

• Avoid HIV infections

• No smoking!

• *Lessen cell phone use

Awareness

• Brain Tumor Foundation• International Brain Tumor Alliance• Walk Around The World for Brain Tumors• International Brain Tumor Awareness Week

Sources• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/braincancer.html• http://www.emedicinehealth.com/brain_cancer/page8_em.htm• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8426015.stm• http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1157902-overview• http://www.csmc.edu/5192.html• http://www.ehow.com/about_5084861_stages-brain-cancer.html• http://www.abta.org/• http://images.healthcentersonline.com/cancer/images/article/BrainAnatomy_captione

d.jpg• http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/metastatic • http://www.virtualtrials.com/symptoms.cfm

• http://www.decodeme.com/risk-for-brain-cancer-glioma • http://www.revolutionhealth.com/conditions/cancer/brain-cancer/facts-statistics

• http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/brain.html • http://www.braintumorfoundation.org/• http://www.theibta.org/• http://www.gfmer.ch/selected_images_v2/detail_list.php?offset=15&cat1=3&cat3=96&stype=d