Brain Tumors Q & A

What causes brain tumors?

DNA inside every cell determines when the cell grows and dies. Some genes, called oncogenes, promote growth and help cells stay alive. Other genes, called tumor suppressor genes, slow down cell growth, repair DNA mistakes, and make cells die at the appropriate time. Brain tumors develop when changes occur in your DNA that alter the growth process, allowing cells to grow faster than normal and multiply uncontrollably. Inherited tendencies and environmental influences affect your risk of developing a brain tumor, but exactly what makes DNA change is not yet known.

What are the different types of brain tumors?

More than 150 different types of brain tumors have been identified. They’re placed into two groups: primary and metastatic. Primary brain tumors arise from brain tissues such as nerves, blood vessels, and glands in your brain. They may be malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous). They rarely spread to other parts of your body, but they can invade nearby areas and destroy brain tissue. Metastatic brain tumors are more common than primary brain tumors. They develop when cancer starts elsewhere in your body and spreads to the brain. As one example, more than 40% of patients with lung cancer develop metastatic brain tumors.

What are the symptoms of a brain tumor?

The symptoms that develop depend on the location of the brain tumor, but you’re likely to experience one or more of the following:

• Headaches
• Change in personality
• Hard time speaking or thinking
• Difficulty swallowing
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Seizures
• Weakness in one part or on one side of your body
• Vision or hearing changes
• Nausea and vomiting

How are brain tumors treated?

Brain tumors are treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery — alone or in any combination. Surgery, however, is usually the first line of treatment. During surgery, Dr. Shulman removes as much of the tumor as possible without affecting brain function. Even if the entire tumor can’t be removed, reducing its size relieves symptoms and leaves a smaller mass that must be treated with radiation.

What is minimally invasive brain surgery?

Dr. Shulman specializes in minimally invasive brain surgery, which can be used to remove many brain tumors that once required a large incision and removal of a large section of the skull. Minimally invasive surgery uses small incisions and specialized tools that access the brain through nasal cavities or a small “keyhole” opening in the skull. This type of surgery significantly minimizes your risk of damage to healthy brain tissue, nerves, and blood vessels.