How long does a brain tumor take to grow? This is a common question that people have when it comes to brain tumors. The answer depends on a number of factors, including the cause, the person’s health, and what type of tumor it is.
Medically reviewed by Nicole Aliling, MD · Neurology · Centre Médicale Internationale
How long does a brain tumor take to grow? This is a common question that people have when it comes to brain tumors. The answer depends on a number of factors, including the cause, the person’s health, and what type of tumor it is.
Read on to learn more about how brain tumors grow, how they spread to other parts of the brain.
Doctors use the term “grade” in order to describe the growth of a brain tumor. There are 4 different grades, and the higher the grade, the more serious the brain tumor.
Here’s a quick rundown of each grade:
It’s also possible for the grade of a brain tumor to change over time. This means that a Grade I tumor can become a Grade II tumor or higher.
If a biopsy sample is taken to determine the tumor’s grade, it’s possible for it to not represent the entire tumor. This means that the sample that was examined might be a Grade I or II tumor, but the rest could be a Grade III or IV tumor. Thus, regular consultation with a doctor or specialist is required.
If a brain tumor is malignant, which means it’s cancerous, then there’s a possibility that it could spread to other parts of the brain.
There are two main ways that this could happen:
Treating this form of brain tumor can be done through surgery to reduce the size of the mass or take it out completely. Doctors can also recommend chemotherapy or radiotherapy to kill off any diseased tissue, make the tumor smaller, or slow down its growth.
In cases like these, treatment is more difficult. Doctors will have a hard time trying to find out where the cancer is, and treatment will be more complex.
It’s also possible for brain tumors to not originate from the brain. In people with lung cancer or breast cancer, there is a chance that cancer can spread to the brain. This is known as a metastatic brain tumor, and treatment for it usually involves also treating the main form of cancer.
Treating metastatic brain tumors can also be difficult, especially if the patient’s illness is already in an advanced state.
Brain tumors are a complex disease that may require advanced procedures to treat. However, there’s no need to worry, as the chances of developing a brain tumor are less than 1%. So long as you keep your body healthy and active, and have regular checkups, there should be nothing that you need to worry about. For any concerns, it’s best to consult your doctor.
Learn more about Brain and Spine Disorders here.
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Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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