What are brain metastases (metastatic brain tumors)?

Metastases to the brain are termed brain metastases. Brain metastases are possible for any malignancy. However, the most common types of cancer that metastasize are melanoma, lung, breast, colon, and kidney cancers.

One or more brain tumors may progress to become brain metastases. They compress the surrounding brain tissue as they grow. Headache, personality changes, confusion, seizures, alterations in vision, difficulty speaking, numbness, weakness, or loss of balance are some symptoms that may result from this.

These can include surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or chemotherapy, depending on the progression of cancer to the brain. Other therapies may be employed to reduce pain and discomfort related to cancer.

What are the symptoms of brain metastases?

The following are common symptoms of brain metastases:

• Headache
• Seizures
• Weakness in arms or legs
• Unsteadiness
• Memory loss
• Speech disturbance or inability to speak
• Other symptoms and signs may include:
• Changes in behavior and personality
• Blurred or disturbed vision
• Numbness
• Deafness

What are the causes of brain metastases?

When cancer cells from a previous tumor break off and find their way into your brain, this may lead to a metastatic brain tumor. Usually, cancer cells pass through your bloodstream. Scientists do not know why some primary tumors metastasize more frequently than others.

The following are the most common types of brain metastases:

• Lung cancer: Metastatic brain cancer develops in about 50% of lung cancer patients. Small cell lung carcinoma is more prone to brain metastases.
• Breast cancer: Brain metastases occur in about 10% to 15% of all patients with metastatic breast cancer. Triple-negative and HER2+ breast cancers are more likely to develop metastatic brain tumours.
• Melanoma: Brain metastases occur in about half of melanoma patients.

These are some of the rare causes of brain metastases. They include thyroid, colon, and kidney cancers.

How are metastatic brain tumours diagnosed?

If you have cancer and you are experiencing symptoms of a brain tumour your physician will conduct tests. If you have a primary cancer that is likely to spread your doctor will examine you for brain metastases even if you are asymptomatic.

Tests include:

• Neurological examination: Your doctor is going to examine all changes in the mental state, hearing, and vision as well as the reactions of reflexes, balance, and coordination, which might possibly point out to which area of your brain the tumour attacks.
• Blood studies: To trace tumour markers—substances that are known to be linked to particular forms of cancer from your blood work—you might require blood tests.
• Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI takes detailed pictures of your brain using radio waves, a big magnet, and a computer. A safe contrast agent that makes tumours more visible on the MRI will be injected into you for a contrast-enhanced MRI.
• Biopsy: If the tests carried out so far do not make it possible to reach a diagnosis, you might need a biopsy. To look for cancer cells, your doctor will remove a small piece of tissue from your tumour. This is usually during the surgical procedure aimed at removing the entire or partial tumor.

How are metastases to the brain treated?

The aim of treatment for metastatic brain tumors is to reduce your symptoms and either stop or slow the growth in your brain by your tumor. Some of the treatments include:

• Control symptom drugs.
• Surgery and radiation treatment.
• Anti-cancer drugs.
• Control symptom drugs.

Your physician can start with medication. Your doctor, for example may start by using corticosteroids that will counter the oedema of your brain producing headaches, then anticonvulsants which are aimed to treat or even prevent a seizure.

Surgery and Radiation Therapy

Most commonly used treatment protocols for metastasis in the brain include tumor(s) removal: it can either be partial removal or complete removal

• Gamma Knife® radio surgery and stereotactic radio surgery: This is the most common treatment for brain metastases, which medical providers use in the US. Though the rest of your head and brain receive a relatively small amount of radiation, providers will use high doses to target brain tumors. Usually, one session is required for stereotactic radio surgery.
• Radiation therapy of the whole brain: Your doctor may put you on this drug if you have multiple brain tumours or if the cancer has spread to the membranes covering your brain. We call this leptomeningeal disease. Treatment typically involves ten to fifteen sessions over a period of two or three weeks.
• Brain surgery: To cut out the tumor or tumors, your doctor may perform conventional surgery.

Cancer drugs

Depending on the type of primary cancer you have, your doctor may recommend medication therapy in addition to surgery or radiation:

• Chemotherapy: The blood-brain barrier prevents most chemotherapy drugs from crossing over and being effective on metastases that develop in your brain. Certain chemicals in your blood, including chemotherapy drugs, are blocked by this barrier from reaching your brain. However, if the metastases have advanced to the fluid around your brain, medical experts may deliver chemotherapy directly to that area.
• Targeted therapy: These drugs interfere with the ways cancer cells multiply. Researchers have reported that certain types of breast and lung cancers that have spread to the brain might respond well to targeted therapy.
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy drugs support your body's defenses against cancer. They help treat some brain metastases of melanoma and lung cancer.

Can I prevent metastatic brain tumors?

Most metastatic brain tumours arise from melanoma and existing breast and lung cancers. The first step to reducing your chances of developing brain metastases is to treat those cancers. The next step is to understand how likely you are to get them.

Ask your doctor how likely you are to get metastatic brain tumours.

What are my chances if I have brain metastases?

Brain metastases are often curable. In addition, treatment may be used to prolong life and improve quality of life even in patients without curative options. Previously, the life expectancy was considered to be less than six months in most cases with brain metastases. However, most people diagnosed with this condition are living longer and controlling their symptoms much better because of new drugs that have stretched the timeline. Most patients with brain metastases actually survive their brain tumour or tumors.

However, many of the questions that most patients with brain metastases have are quite personal, such as how quickly their tumour will develop. Among other factors, your experience is influenced by the type of cancer you have, the number of tumours you have, and how you react to therapy.

The best person to discuss how these factors affect your prognosis is your healthcare professional. Find out from them what to anticipate given your condition.

What time should I see my doctor?

Call your provider if you have new or worsening symptoms related to your original cancer or brain metastases. Your doctor needs to know about these changes in order to monitor your health and find useful therapies.

Is there anything I should ask my doctor?

You are already managing one kind of cancer with a metastatic brain tumor; therefore, you might be interested in knowing what this new diagnosis entails. Ask your provider the following questions to help you understand your situation better.

• What effects might brain metastases have on me?
• Which treatments would you recommend?
• Which side effects are related to this treatment?
• Does having brain metastases mean I will develop cancer elsewhere in my body?
• Which resources can you recommend that could provide me with more support?
• How is my prognosis?

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for brain metastases?

Tender Palm Hospital, owned by doctors, is renowned for attracting the most experienced professional in the country. With the finest neurologist and neurosurgeons specialized in brain metastases. Tender Palm stands out as the premier Neurology hospital in Lucknow, India. Boasting cutting-edge infrastructure and advanced technology, Tender Palm ensures top-notch medical care for its patients.

To seek an expert consultation for any Neurology condition

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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