The Lowdown on Brain Cancer

Your brain is one of your most vital organs. It controls your memories, your movements, your emotions, your five senses - basically everything! So what happens if your brain gets sick or injured? For Headache Awareness Week in June, Kidzworld takes a look at what it means to have brain cancer.

Brain Cancer - What Is It?

Brain cancer is what happens when a tumor (a cluster of abnormal cells) grows on or in the brain. Brain tumors can either start inside the brain or spread there from another part of the body. If it starts in the brain, it's called a primary tumor. If it starts from somewhere else in the body, most likely in the lung, kidney, breast, colon or skin, it's called a secondary tumor.

Brain Cancer - Signs and Symptoms

Epileptic seizures (all of a sudden).

Headaches.

Vomiting.

Double vision.

Facial paralysis.

Tremors.

Personality changes.

Brain Cancer - Treatment

Depending on how serious the tumor is, brain cancer is treated with surgery, radiation (powerful energy waves like x-rays) and chemotherapy (anti-cancer drugs). Surgery to remove the tumor is risky and isn't always possible because it can damage other healthy parts of the brain.

Brain Cancer - Did U Know?

Brain tumors account for 20-25% of pediatric cancers.

Certain types of brain tumors are more likely to occur in kids because they grow from "young" cells. Common ones include medulloblastoma, astrocytoma and brain stem glioma.

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