The brain is an important organ that controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, respiration, and every process that regulates your body.
Healthcare providers do not know exactly what causes a brain tumor. But certain factors may raise your risk.
A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain. The tumor can either originate in the brain itself or come from another part of the body and travel to the brain.
A glioma is a type of brain tumor that originates from glial cells, which help support the function of the other main brain cell type—the neuron.
A meningioma is a tumor that grows in the meninges, the layers of tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord.
Sometimes brain tumors start in the lung, breast, skin, kidney, or other body parts and spread to the brain. These are called secondary or metastatic brain tumors.
It's OK to feel overwhelmed and afraid. But you shouldn't let those feelings stop you from finding out as much as you can about your cancer and about the choices you have.
Before your healthcare provider can recommend a treatment plan, they need to know the grade of the cancer. The grade tells your healthcare provider how likely the tumor will spread and how it might respond to treatment.
If your healthcare provider thinks you might have a brain tumor, you will need exams, imaging scans, and tests to know for sure.