Brain tumor,a life threatening health disorder.For many years human physiologists and other scietists have carried intesive researches about this health implication but still it is not yet known what causes it but a few factors such as exposure to radiation,family history of certain genetic disorders like lindau disease do contribute to it.They only give its defination as an abnormal growth of cells within the brain(uncontrolled cell division),or in the central spinal canal. The brain,a delicate soft and spongy mass of tissue enclosed within the skull, separated by three thin membranes called meninges.

Fig.1

Figure 1 shows a picture of a human brain together
with the three layers of meninges, the dura mater,
the arachnoid mater, and the pia mater.


Tumors of the meninges are called meningioma and are often benign(cancerous),neoplasms(tumors).From this statement a conclusion can be drawn that they are many different types of brain tumors.There are over hunderd and twenty types of brain tumors.The following are just a few commonly diagonised brain tumors:Chordoma ,CNS Lymphoma ,Craniopharyngioma ,Brain Stem Glioma ,Ependymoma,Subependymoma ,Medulloblastoma ,Meningioma ,Metastatic brain Tumors.

Fig. 2

Figure 2 shows a picture a person affected by brain tumor

Brain tumor oocur at two stage levels;primary and secondary stage.Primary tumors(normally called truetumors) are commonly located in the posterior cranial fossa in children and in the anterior two thirds of the cerebral hemisphere in adults.This does not necessarily mean that other parts of the brain cannot be affected. these primary neoplasms (tumors)can also be originated from the central spinal canal.

In general, brain tumors are more common in males than females. However, meningiomas are more common in females.

Fig 3

Figure 3 above, a graph released by the New Mexico Tumor

Registry shows that the incidence of brain tumor and other

cancerous diseases in males are higher than in females. The

color blue represent males and purple, females.

Secondary tumors of the brain develop from malignat organ (cancerous organs). The cancerous cells then leak into the lymphatic system and blood vessels, circulate through the bloodstream until they reach the small blood vessels of the brain, here they continue growing and dividing.Most common types of cancers that bring about secondary tumors of the brain are lung cancer, breast canser, skin cancer kidney cancer and caner of the colon.Secondary tumors are usually called metastatic tumors (the spread of cancer from part of the body or organs into another not directly connected to it)unlike the the seconadry tumors, the primary tumors do not metaztize to other organs but can only metaztize within the cranial cavity.

Brain tumors threat levels and symptoms depends on the combination of factors like the type of tumor,its location, its size and its state of development. Possible symptoms include,gradual loss of movement or sensation in an arm or leg,unsteadiness or imbalance,especially if it is associated with headache Loss of vision in one or both eyes,double vision,hearing loss with dizziness,speech difficulty of gradual onset and memory loss.

After an intensive assesment the doctors usually suggest a treatment.The treatment generally involves surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, brachytherapy, or some combination of these.

Fig. 4

Figure 4 shows some of the possible

treatments of brain tumor.

There are many debates concerning brain tumor which are yet not clear like the issue of cell phones causing brain tumor. Some specialists in the brain claim that long term and frequent use of cell phones which receive and emit radio frequency may be associated with an increased risk of brain tumors however the National Cancer Institute (NCI) told a congressional panel that published scientific data indicates cell phones are safe.
The fact remains that brain tumor is deadly though there are a lot of questions are still awaiting answers about it.
What people can do is to protect themselves from factors which are claimed have contribution like an exposure to radiation...

REFERENCES

1.Cancer.net [online] available http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/Brain+Tumor Accessed [15 july 2010]

2.Google [online] available http://www.google.com.my/images?hl=en&q=brain%20tumor&gs_upl=14762,6568,9,0,163,426,1,5,0,1,1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi Accessed 10 july 2010

3.Paul M. Zeltzer MD,2004-12-15, Brain Tumors: Leaving the Garden of Eden,a survival guide to Diagonisis, Publisher: Shilysca Pr 2004-12-15

4.Wang, H.-W., S., Chen, Y., Zhang, X., Yang, J., Zhao, S., Ding, H.-F., Lu, D. (2010). Analysis of specialized DNA polymerases expression in human gliomas: association with prognostic significance. Neuro Oncol 12: 679-686