The brain is the most important organ in the body. It keeps your body’s systems at optimum performance – including the function of every cell and drop of blood. Brain cancer consists of primary brain tumors that begin in the brain and almost never spread to other parts of the body, and secondary tumors (metastasis), which are caused by cancer that started in another part of the body.
When a patient hears the word “tumor” in the context of their brain, there is instant panic and fear. Even a benign (non-cancerous) tumor in the brain can interfere with key functions of your central nervous system, depending on the location and size.
As we have mentioned, a tumor that first develops in the brain is called a primary tumor. These can form in the actual brain tissue or near the brain in the nerves, pituitary gland, pineal gland, or in the membranes that cover the brain.
Symptoms of a brain tumor
- Sudden headaches or changes in your personal headache patterns
- Gradual worsening of headache severity
- Constant increasing number of headaches
- Difficulty balancing, dizziness or nausea (possible with vomiting)
- Vision disorders, such as blurry vision, double vision, or changes in peripheral vision
- Hearing impairment
- Numbness, lack of mobility, or loss of feeling in the extremities
- Confusion or inability to remember common tasks, people or things
- Changes in personality, behavior and mood
- Convulsions
3 main risk factors for brain cancer
Cancer that begins in other parts of the body and spreads to the brain is known as secondary or metastatic. This is the most common form of brain cancer and is generally diagnosed in those who have had some type of cancer in the past. The cancers that metastasize to the brain most frequently are breast, colorectal, kidney, lung and melanoma (the most serious form of skin cancer).
Age
The risk of all cancer (including brain cancer) increases as we get older. More than 75% of all cancers are diagnosed after age 55. However, there are certain types of rare tumors that only appear in children.
Family history
If someone in your family has had a brain tumor, it increases your risk. However, the number of brain tumors linked to family history is miniscule.
Radiation
Yes, one of the three traditional cancer treatments (along with surgery and chemotherapy), radiotherapy increases the risk of brain cancer. This includes radiation from cell phones.
Naturally, there are other risk factors including lifestyle (smoking and drinking), environmental toxins, heavy metal toxicity, serious inflammation and chronic infection.
Nevertheless, your age, family history and radiation treatments (to “cure” cancer) are what put you at greater risk of developing a cancerous tumor in the brain.
What you should consider if you have brain cancer
First of all, never lose hope. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle to prevent the illness is the best course of action for overall health of the body. However, if you have been diagnosed with brain cancer, consider all of your options and choose wisely according to your circumstances.
Alternative solutions
Treatments such as the use of Essiac tea, Hoxsey tea, paleo and vegan diets, and others; herbal remedies, hyperthermia and oxygen therapy (just to name a few), should without a doubt be considered. Curiously, these “alternative” therapies have been used for thousands of years, which is why they are really, by definition, “traditional”.
Traditional
Treatments for brain cancer depend on where the tumor is located, how large it is, and if it can be reached safely. Oncology is based almost exclusively on “the big 3” (surgery, chemotherapy and radiation), despite the fact that radiation is one of the causes of brain cancer. Surprisingly, these “traditional” treatments have existed for less than a century, and their success rate is less than 5%, which is why they should really be called “alternative” treatments. If you are going to use any of these therapies, determine what is the right moment to do it and if it is really very necessary.
Complementary/Integrative
This treatment includes methods such as acupuncture and meditation to control the side effects of these 3 traditional treatments that we have mentioned and have shown excellent results. There are other cutting edge therapies that you will have to consider if you are diagnosed with brain cancer.
It’s important to do your homework. Know your body, understand your risks and protect yourself in as many ways as possible from all forms of cancer and other serious illnesses.
Implementing prevention techniques can reduce the incidence of cancer by more than half. The big pharmaceutical companies and the cancer industry don’t want you to know that. They don’t want you to take care of your body and avoid the majority of cancers through natural means, such as changes in lifestyle and diet. That would affect their profits.
