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Where Should You Find Reliable Brain Tumour Information?
The rise of the internet was originally seen as a wonderful way to ensure easier access to information. But, all too often, this benefit is offset by inaccurate content or even deliberate misinformation.
Many people will look back at the pandemic as a prime case in point, with all kinds of speculation about ‘miracle cures’ for Covid, and misinformation about vaccines.
The need to find reliable information and the risk of falling foul of inaccurate information are as true for cancer as they are for any other medical condition. This is one of the reasons for March being Brain Tumour Awareness Month.
As MacMillan Cancer Support notes, many people will look in the wrong places for information on brain tumours, especially when the issue is in the news because a famous person is affected.
It gave the example of TV presenter Davina McCall, who had a benign colloid cyst removed following diagnosis.
It is essential, therefore, that if you do seek information online, you use reliable sources such as official medical websites, such as ours, or those of a cancer charity or medical specialist site. This does not mean you have to try to read up complex medical literature, as this will not be fully comprehensible to anyone without significant specialist knowledge. However, what you can benefit from is understanding the meaning of various terms so that you can be aware of the main types of tumour, what symptoms could lead to a diagnosis, how a diagnosis takes place and what treatments are used.
These cells are found in both the brain and spinal cord and they come in different categories, partly because there are different types of glial cells.
As well as different locations, these tumours can vary in how aggressive they are. This is graded from 1-4, with a Grade 1 tumour being the least aggressive and a Grade 4 tumour the most aggressive.
Astrocytomas can be grades 2,3 or 4; oligodendrogliomas are usually a 2, but one variant, anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, are a 3, while glioblastomas are always a 4. Benign gliomas are usually grade 1 or 2.
This can be used either to shrink a tumour or to slow down re-growth of any remaining cells that are still present after surgery. How much (if any) of a tumour can be surgically removed depends on factors such as its location.
Finding out more information about brain tumours is important in other respects. This includes understanding some key distinctions between tumour types, such as between benign (non-cancerous) tumours and malignant (cancerous) tumours.
In addition to some gliomas being benign, other examples of benign tumours can include:
It is important for patients and their families to have a broad and accurate knowledge of brain tumours. This is important to help them approach treatment with an understanding of what can be done and why, as well as being able to give informed consent.
There are many different kinds of brain tumours, but the more each patient and their loved ones know about the type they have been diagnosed with and its characteristics, the more they can feel involved in important decision-making during the treatment process.
Learn more about our advanced radiotherapy and neurosurgical treatments for Glioma on the Queen Square website.
Many people will look back at the pandemic as a prime case in point, with all kinds of speculation about ‘miracle cures’ for Covid, and misinformation about vaccines.
The need to find reliable information and the risk of falling foul of inaccurate information are as true for cancer as they are for any other medical condition. This is one of the reasons for March being Brain Tumour Awareness Month.
As MacMillan Cancer Support notes, many people will look in the wrong places for information on brain tumours, especially when the issue is in the news because a famous person is affected.
It gave the example of TV presenter Davina McCall, who had a benign colloid cyst removed following diagnosis.
How Can You Be Confident That Information Is Reliable?
When seeking information on brain tumours, it is important to consider the following issues:- There will be some inaccurate and misleading information out there, produced by those who lack medical knowledge or want to sell ‘alternative’ remedies
- There are many different types of brain tumour, so information on one case may have little or no relevance to another
- Symptoms that may hint at a brain tumour can vary depending on factors such as where it is located and how fast it is growing
It is essential, therefore, that if you do seek information online, you use reliable sources such as official medical websites, such as ours, or those of a cancer charity or medical specialist site. This does not mean you have to try to read up complex medical literature, as this will not be fully comprehensible to anyone without significant specialist knowledge. However, what you can benefit from is understanding the meaning of various terms so that you can be aware of the main types of tumour, what symptoms could lead to a diagnosis, how a diagnosis takes place and what treatments are used.
What Are The Different Types Of Glioma?
A prime example of this is the different kinds of glioma. This is a class of brain tumours that arises in the glial cells, which, when functioning correctly, aid the process by which the brain sends information via the nerves to enable various parts of the body to function.These cells are found in both the brain and spinal cord and they come in different categories, partly because there are different types of glial cells.
- Astrocytomas, which arise in the star-shaped astrocyte cells and are the most common type of glioma
- Glioblastomas, which also come from the astrocyte cells but are now given their own classification as they are the most aggressive (fast-growing) type of brain tumour
- Oligodendrogliomas, which arise in the oligodendrocyte cells
- Gliomas can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous)
As well as different locations, these tumours can vary in how aggressive they are. This is graded from 1-4, with a Grade 1 tumour being the least aggressive and a Grade 4 tumour the most aggressive.
Astrocytomas can be grades 2,3 or 4; oligodendrogliomas are usually a 2, but one variant, anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, are a 3, while glioblastomas are always a 4. Benign gliomas are usually grade 1 or 2.
How Do Differences Between Tumours Influence Treatment Decisions?
These differences can have an impact on the approach to treatment. While surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible is always the primary response, radiotherapy is also commonly used, generally with a gamma knife being deployed for precision.This can be used either to shrink a tumour or to slow down re-growth of any remaining cells that are still present after surgery. How much (if any) of a tumour can be surgically removed depends on factors such as its location.
Finding out more information about brain tumours is important in other respects. This includes understanding some key distinctions between tumour types, such as between benign (non-cancerous) tumours and malignant (cancerous) tumours.
In addition to some gliomas being benign, other examples of benign tumours can include:
- Meningiomas
- Schwannomas
- Pituitary adenomas
It is important for patients and their families to have a broad and accurate knowledge of brain tumours. This is important to help them approach treatment with an understanding of what can be done and why, as well as being able to give informed consent.
There are many different kinds of brain tumours, but the more each patient and their loved ones know about the type they have been diagnosed with and its characteristics, the more they can feel involved in important decision-making during the treatment process.
Learn more about our advanced radiotherapy and neurosurgical treatments for Glioma on the Queen Square website.
