Brain Cancer (cont.)

Medical Author:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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In this Article

• Brain cancer facts
• What is brain cancer?
• What is metastatic brain cancer?
• What causes brain cancer?
• Do cell phones cause brain cancer?
• What are the symptoms and signs of brain cancer?
• What tests are used to diagnose brain cancer?
• What is the treatment for brain cancer?
• What are the side effects of brain cancer treatment?
• What is the prognosis (outcome) of treated brain cancer?
• What can I do to help my family (and me) cope with my diagnosis of brain cancer?
• How is brain cancer prevented?
• Where can I get more information about my type of brain cancer?
• Patient Comments: Brain Cancer - Symptoms
• Find a local Oncologist in your town
• Brain Cancer Index

Although there is no way to prevent brain cancers, early diagnosis and treatment of tumors that tend to metastasize to the brain may reduce the risk of metastatic brain tumors. The following factors have been suggested as possible risk factors for primary brain tumors: radiation to the head, HIV infection, and environmental toxins. However, no one knows the exact causes that initiate brain cancer, especially primary brain cancer, so specific preventive measures are not known. Although web sites and popular press articles suggest that macrobiotic diets, not using cell phones, and other methods will help prevent brain cancer, there is no reliable data to support these claims.

There are many types of brain cancer. For more specific information about a cancer type, questions and discussions with the patient's treatment team are the best way to obtain specific information. Also, there are many online resources available about brain cancer types. Often, these resources provide additional detailed information about pathology, statistics, treatments, and support groups for brain cancer patients. A few of the web sites are listed below.

"Brain Tumors," National Cancer Institute

"Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment," National Cancer Institute

"Brain Cancer," eMedicineHealth.com

Additional resources from WebMD Boots UK on Brain Cancer Treatment

REFERENCES:

American Cancer Society. "Brain/CNS Tumors in Adults." <http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BrainCNSTumorsinAdults/index>.

Switzerland. World Health Organization. "IARC Classifies Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields as Possible Carcinogenic to Humans." May 31, 2011 <http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf>.

United States. National Cancer Institute. "Adult Brain Tumor Treatments." Mar. 31, 2011. <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/adultbrain/Patient>.