What Causes Brain Cancer?
Primary brain tumors arise from many types of brain tissue (for example, glial cells, astrocytes, and other brain cell types). Metastatic brain cancer is caused by the spread of cancer cells from a body organ to the brain. However, the causes for the change from normal cells to cancer cells in both metastatic and primary brain tumors are not fully understood. Data gathered by research scientists show that people with certain risk factors (situations or things associated with people that increase the probability of developing problems) are more likely to develop brain cancer. Individuals with risk factors such as having a job in an oil refinery, as a chemist, embalmer, or rubber-industry worker show higher rates of brain cancer. Some families have several members with brain cancer, but heredity as a cause for brain tumors has not been proven. Other risk factors such as smoking, radiation exposure, and viral infection (HIV) have been suggested but not proven to cause brain cancer. There
No one knows the exact brain cancer cause or causes, and doctors can seldom explain why one person will get brain cancer and another person will not. However, brain cancer research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop brain cancer. A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chances of developing a disease.
The exact causes of the brain cancer is unknown. The possible genetic factors, environmental toxins, radiation, and cigarette smoking have all been linked to cancers of the brain. The following have been positively linked as the primary cause of the brain tumour but is not known for sure. • Radiation to the head • Certain inheritance • HIV infection Symptoms of Brain Tumors? Not all the brain tumours cause symptoms but some such as tumours of pituitary gland are found mainly after certain death. Symptoms are numerous but are not sure to be related to brain tumours. The only possible way to detect brain tumour is to undergo diagnostic testing. Some symptoms are caused by swelling of brain caused by tumour or other surrounding inflammation.
Brain cancer is not necessarily the same thing as a brain tumor. A brain tumor is a lump of tissue made up of cells that can be detrimental to normal brain functions. However, the tumor can be made of benign cells, making it different than a cancerous, or malignant, tumor. Malignant tumors can either originate in the brain or can move there from another cancer-infected organ, such as the lungs. If the brain is not the original site of cancerous cells in the body, the malignant brain tumor is called metastatic. There have been many theories about what causes malignant brain tumors. Some experts believe it is caused by overexposure to certain chemicals. This evidence is somewhat supported by research that shows higher cancer rates in people with certain professions that involve chemicals, such as oil refinery workers. However, there are so many possible causes of cancer it is difficult to tell whether the correlation is coincidental or causal in nature. Many experts believe that genetic
