Small Cell Brain Cancer Overview

Small cell brain cancer is a secondary type of cancer. Secondary cancer is the result of another type of cancer (called primary) which moves to another place of the body and initiates a tumor. In this case, small cell brain cancer is the result of small cell cancer of the lung metastasized in the brain. In fact, tumors of this type of cancer would look exactly as small cell lung tumors but will be located in the brain.

Small cell brain cancer signs and symptoms
Symptoms of small cell brain cancer are very similar to symptoms of other types of cancer: headaches, blurred vision, vomiting, nausea and weak extremities. Small cell lung cancer signs include: coughing, chest pain, loss of appetite, general weakness, blood in the sputum,and difficulty of breathing. Remember that small cell brain tumors are secondary. Once small cell brain cancer signs and symptoms manifest, the patient may experience small cell lung cancer symptoms

Small cell brain cancer diagnosis
This type of cancer is diagnosed by the same techniques used for other types of cancer. MRIs, CT scans and positron emission tomography (PET) scans are available to diagnose small cell brain cancer. Unfortunately, once detected, the cancer has already metastasized in the brain so cancer cells and tumors will be found in other places of the body (mainly the lungs).

Small Cell Brain Cancer Treatment Options
Since small cell brain cancer is of the secondary type treatment are aimed at the primary cause: the small cell lung cancer. The lung cancer must be controlled to avoid more spreading, which is done by surgery and chemotherapy. If cancer is controlled at the lungs, then it is possible to attack the small cell brain tumor by surgery. Brain radiation is another possibility for treatment but it all depends of the extent of the brain cancer.

Small cell brain cancer is poorly understood and treatment options are limited. Unfortunately the prognosis is not good for patients who have developed this type of cancer. Quality of life of the patient is of paramount importance so adequate measures should be taken to alleviate the suffering of patients with small cell brain cancer.

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Adult Brain Tumors Treatment