Brain Stem Glioma
Brain stem gliomas occur in the brain stem, as the name shows. It has many common symptoms. Misha's tumor formed itself on her brain stem.
These kinds of tumors are dangerous because the brain stem controls many of your bodily functions, such as alertness, movement, and breathing. If during treatment, the surgeon was to damage the brain stem at all, things could get very bad.
Characteristics
Symptoms
Treatment
Surgery may not be an option because the brain stem controls vital life functions and can easily be damaged. Radiation therapy can reduce symptoms and help slow the tumor’s growth. Low-grade brain stem gliomas can have very long periods of remission.
These kinds of tumors are dangerous because the brain stem controls many of your bodily functions, such as alertness, movement, and breathing. If during treatment, the surgeon was to damage the brain stem at all, things could get very bad.
Characteristics
- Named for its location at the base of the brain
- Can range from low grade to high grade
- Occurs most often in children between three and ten years of age, but can occur in adults
Symptoms
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Speech or balance abnormalities
- Difficulty swallowing
- Weakness or numbness of the arms and/or legs
- Facial weakness
- Double vision
Treatment
Surgery may not be an option because the brain stem controls vital life functions and can easily be damaged. Radiation therapy can reduce symptoms and help slow the tumor’s growth. Low-grade brain stem gliomas can have very long periods of remission.
Link to National Brain Tumor Society website:
http://www.braintumor.org/patients-family-friends/about-brain-tumors/tumor-types/brain-stem-glioma.html