No one wants to receive the unhappy news that they have a brain tumor. Fortunately, malignant brain tumors are relatively rare, accounting for around two percent of all cancers diagnosed in the U.S. Because most primary brain cancers are difficult to treat, the question is often asked, “Is brain tumor prevention possible?”
The most common type of primary malignant brain tumor is known as a glioma. It’s usually diagnosed with the use of brain imaging after a patient presents with the characteristic symptoms of headache, loss of memory, personality changes, visual changes, vomiting, or seizures. Once the tumor is diagnosed, neuroimaging can be used to determine the grade of the brain tumor which gives some indication as to how aggressive the cancer is. In some cases, surgery can be curative while in other cases it only relieves the bulk of the tumor so the remaining cancer can be reduced by radiation and chemotherapy. If complete surgical removal isn’t possible, the long term prognosis is usually unfavorable.
Because of the difficulty in curing most malignant brain tumors, the question of brain tumor prevention takes on importance. What are the risk factors for a malignant brain tumor? There are certain genetic diseases that increase the likelihood of developing a malignant brain tumor. One such genetic disease is neurofibromatosis which gives rise to a variety of skin manifestations as well as an increased risk of brain tumors. There are also a variety of other less common genetic diseases which also increase the risk of malignant tumors of the brain.
If you are fortunate enough not to have one of these genetic diseases, is brain tumor prevention possible? The only risk factor that’s been proven to increase the risk of brain tumors is exposure to high-dose ionizing radiation. Persons who have been previously treated with radiation therapy for cancer or who have been in close proximity to a nuclear blast would have an increased risk of developing tumors if this association holds true. Other risk factors that have been scrutinized include use of alcohol, smoking, use of cell phones, hair dyes, pesticides, and consumption of nitrates and nitrosamines in foods. Although some studies suggest that these factors may play a role, most studies have been inconclusive.
If you’re concerned about brain tumor prevention what steps should you take to reduce your risk? It would seem prudent to avoid smoking or excessive use of alcohol and limit consumption of processed meats which tend to have high levels of nitrates, thought to increase the risk of several types of cancer. Should you be concerned about cell phone use? Although a study carried out in the U.K. in 2006 showed no correlation of cell phone use with brain tumors, a Swedish study showed that using a cell phone for an hour or more per day increased the risk by up to 240%. Pretty sobering news if you use a cell phone frequently!
Although there’s limited information on how to prevent brain tumors available at this point, practicing a healthy lifestyle seems to help reduce the risk of a variety of types of cancer and chronic disease.
Reference:
- American Family Physician, May 15, 2008.
