Brain tumors (meningiomas)

General.
Namely named things to understand them.
What is a brain tumor?

When there is a cell proliferation, the part of the organism concerned increases in volume, it is a tumor, which can be benign or malignant, depending on the case.
benign tumor is characterized by slow and progressive growth and does not spread to other parts of the body.
A tumor is malignant when its growth is rapid, that it extends to other organs by metastases or it recurrences after excision or treatment. Tumors appear when cells start to divide anarchically. They develop either in the brain (primary brain tumors) or elsewhere in the body, as in the lungs, then migrate into the blood towards the brain (secondary tumors). Brain tumors can develop from meninges (meningioma), from cerebral nerves (neuroma), or from brain tissues (glioma), or constitute the extension of another cancer (metastases).

The different brain tumors

1. Gliomas (astrocytomas and ogliodndrogliomes) represent 60% of primitive brain tumors and can be of low grade or high grade.
   Rather, they are developed in adults at the expense of cerebral hemispheres, and cerebral, and the cerebellum in children.
2. Meningiomas. They are frequent and most often benign, according to medical terminology (ie non-rootful, but it is rarely "Benin '" in the current sense of the term, to have tumors in the cranial box). They are formed under the meninges.
3. Glioblastomas

Who can be reached?

With very rare exceptions, brain tumors are not hereditary.
The meningiomas are mainly female , since many meningiomas are fueled by progesterone (including pregnancy, but also the Androcur , and other progestins, Lotéran Lotényl) )
all age groups are likely to develop a tumor, including young people.

Symptoms of brain tumors

The doctor assesses the symptoms, which vary depending on the location:

• Headache
• Epilepsy
• Losses of knowledge
• Nausea, vomiting
• Weakness of half of the body, sensitivity disorders
• Language disorders
• Behavioral disorders, personality change
• Vision disorders
• Hearing disorders
• Balance disorders, frequent falls, clumsiness
• Smell
• Burning sensation
• Fatigue, apathy
• Facial spasms
• Paresthesias (tingling, numbness)
• Cervico-brachial neuralgia
• Front bump
• Intracranial hypertension
• Respiratory breaks

Exams

1) The brain scanner

It was not until the early 1960s that the idea of ​​examining the brain without opening it was born. The X -ray transmitting device revolves around the patient and takes pictures from various angles.
To detect meningiom, we will prefer MRI with injection.

2) Imaging in nuclear magnetic resonance

Magnetic resonance imaging allows you to visualize the interior of the cranial box. The principle of this examination is to obtain images from the interior of the body by pulse of radio waves.
The images obtained are reconstructed on a computer. To obtain better images, it is necessary, in some cases, to inject an intravenous contrast product.

3) Additional examinations

Additional examinations can be requested: ophthalmological examination, arteriography, lumbar puncture, electroencephalogram.

Brain tumor treatments

1. Neurosurgery , which is the oldest method, which consists in directly removing the present tumors (s )
2. Radiotherapy , which has become more and more precise, stereotaxic for example . Read our article here .
3. Chemotherapy (if the tumor is malignant) Treatment with chemical molecules aimed at stopping the development of cancer cells.
4. Drug treatments, for comfort or because the tumor is inoperable.
5. Important many meningiomas require no operation, simply monitoring, after stopping hormonal treatment , to see if the meningioma regresses or stabilizes (which is mainly the case). Only a neurosurgeon who knows the problem of meningiomas in women well is able to determine the procedure for a given meningioma, and for a given patient. Not being operated on does not mean not to suffer, and what is better for yourself is to be discussed with the neurosurgeon.
   

Be silent or speak

After questioning his patient, after having prescribed various examinations, the doctor is able to identify the nature of the tumor and define the stadium.
It will be necessary to announce it to the patient, to offer him the specific treatment.
It is never easy, both for the doctor and for the interested party, to reveal and receive this news.

Whatever the diagnosis, the doctor's explanations and his discussion with the patient are essential.
The way the disease is announced is as important as the new one itself . The patient must be informed in a human and decent manner.
This is the difficulty faced by doctors and generalists. Giving bad news is an unpleasant role by which we risk attracting aggressiveness or anger of the patient, or to cause crying.
The idea of ​​provoking strong emotions sometimes makes the doctor go back, for professional and also emotional reasons.
Finally, many doctors choose to shelter the patient safe from strong emotions. The major argument reinforcing this position is that it must be said what the patient wants to hear. The diagnosis is always followed by a shock, a suffering, expressed or not.
It sometimes happens that some people with fragile looks hide great courage and a lot of determination to fight while others who seem very strong let themselves be killed and disarm by a stroke of fate escaping their control

The evolution of society has made the public authorities have taken measures by creating a law on the rights of patients.
Today, the patient can access his medical file. But each person is unique and there is no comparison to establish between this or that person.
What happens when everything changes and you have to face a diagnosis of a brain tumor, for yourself or concerning a loved one?

The diagnosis falls, the questions arise

1. Why me?
2. Should I tell my loved ones and if so, how do I do it?
3. What treatments will we offer, will I bear them?
4. Which doctor to choose?
5. Will I be able to continue my professional life?

Everything is questioned.
All these elements are a source of anxiety, even depression in some patients and their family circle.
If you want to chat with people in your situation, you can ask our private Facebook group

The shock is the first emotion felt at the announcement of a diagnosis of a brain tumor, because no one is prepared to hear it say.
Doctors know for the most part, that when we announce bad news, the ensuing amazement prevents the patient from taking into account all the parameters.
Accepting the diagnosis and making front is an everyday challenge.

Live with a brain tumor

At the announcement of the disease, it is the shock, you with the feeling that your life changes.
You ask yourself multiple questions. You wonder what impact it will have on the life of your loved ones.
The disease is not fighting alone, but with relatives, friends, doctors, associations.

Small practical tips

When you go to the doctor or neurosurgeon

Note your questions in writing as they come to you, and above all, try to get answers.
Do not be afraid to take notes.

At your place

Take the time to distract yourself, stroll, rest, take care of yourself.
Do not overload your days.
Dare to breaks from you, without feeling in any way guilty that this or that thing will not be ready in time.

Learn to help

The sorrow of each individual is unique, always different.
Learning that you have a brain tumor is an intense emotion. It is said that sadness is a universal experience. Only those who are capable of love, those who hold men and things, experience sorrow.
The question that bothers many people and prevents them from approaching someone in distress is: "What should I tell them?". But we don't necessarily have something to say, listening to what they have to tell us, maybe more than enough.
What you need is to adapt to his new life, make those around them do it too, and, if it is not the case, move away from "negative" people.
Anyway, it is in the test that you recognize your own. We can expect a certain form of aggressiveness on the part of the entourage. Depression and despair are the emotions you feel when you learn that you have a brain tumor. We can feel abandoned, we are dark, sad, shot. And yet, life must continue, it is full of hope, and all the doctors and other people who will surround you will fight with you.

Relations with loved ones

When a person has a serious illness, the whole family is in sickness.
The support of loved ones is essential because it represents the family and social life that continues.
You have to stay in line with those around you, because you need human warmth, compassion. Do not fold in on yourself, don't be afraid to talk about your anxieties, your fear. Do not hesitate to ask your loved ones for help. Some people are just waiting for that, but they don't know how to get useful, so help them help you.
Act, take the first steps, inform those around you. Talk about your illness with naturalness, show it that you can live normally, because you know the price of life.

Getting aware of the limits, being patient with yourself and asking for help facilitates things.
As Laura says: "I am bored by my old life, but my new normality does not define me. It is part of my journey and my recovery process. When I need calm, I explain to my children. I do not want to hide the reality that I have been confronted with, but I want them to see how important it is to recognize and accept its limits.

The close entourage also sometimes also needs help

The disease is not only an upheaval for the patient, it is also so for those around him.
Supporting a patient for many years is not easy, you need nerves to the test, very strong morale, but that is not given to everyone.
Reconsing your life according to all of this is extremely complicated.
You have to adapt, without suggesting to the patient that you upset your life to consolidate his. Everything must be done gently, fingering, prudence. Your entourage will have to understand and help you too.
Sometimes you will criticize yourself for being a little harsh with the patient but it is because you are saturated. You no longer dare complain because you feel guilty of being healthy. We cannot master everything.

Conclusion

It is true that at the announcement of a brain tumor, everything can switch to your life. But, for some people, the hardest part is not knowing. By knowing the truth, we are better armed to fight. When the diagnosis is confirmed, it is necessary to warn its entourage because it could feel rejected and perhaps dispossessed of something. Obviously a single woman with young children will have more difficulties than a woman with a loving spouse and already large or no children. Not being alone, as for many situations in life, is essential.

Thanks to Corinne Dubos, psychologist, for the many exchanges that made this article

Brain tumors (meningiomas)- generalities

Brain tumors - Live with a meningioma

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