Every year, about 3,100 children in the United States are diagnosed with brain and spinal cord tumors. The word tumor is a very broad term, describing an abnormal mass caused by uncontrolled cell growth. When discussing brain tumors, the term "tumor" is often used interchangeably with the term "cancer."
The first symptoms that appear usually result from the tumor mass exerting pressure on nearby structures or blocking the normal flow of fluids through the brain. These symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, weakness or lack of coordination, seizures or visual changes.
Together the brain and spinal cord comprise what is known as the central nervous system (CNS). Childhood brain tumors are quite different from those in adults. Most adult onset brain tumors arise from cancer in another part of the body which has spread to the brain. In children, most brain and spinal cord tumors are primary, meaning they originate from the cells of the brain. While primary tumors of the central nervous system are relatively rare in adults, they are the most common solid tumor in children.
Children's brain tumors also behave differently than those of adults. Children's brains are still growing and forming connections, which makes them both more vulnerable and more resilient than adults. These facts underscore the importance of choosing a program with extensive experience treating childhood brain and spinal cord tumors.
|
