Cancers of the Central Nervous System
If you or one of your loved ones have been diagnosed with a cancer of the central nervous system, you probably have questions. We address some of the most common questions below, but know that you can always contact us if you don’t find the answers you need here. Our resources page also provides additional information.
What are cancers of the Central Nervous System?
The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is a complex organ with the four main parts, the meninges, the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. The spinal cord, meanwhile, is made up of the thin tube of nerve tissue that runs down your back into your pelvis and is protected by your spine.
Cancers of the CNS are sorted into types depending on the location that the cancer occurs in and the grade of the tumor involved. Tumors that start in the brain are called primary brain tumors, and while they may spread to other parts of the brain they rarely spread to other parts of the body. Tumors that have started elsewhere and spread to the central nervous system are called central nervous system metastases.
Cancers of the Central Nervous System
If you or one of your loved ones have been diagnosed with a cancer of the central nervous system, you probably have questions. We address some of the most common questions below, but know that you can always contact us if you don’t find the answers you need here. Our resources page also provides additional information.
What are cancers of the Central Nervous System?
The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is a complex organ with the four main parts, the meninges, the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. The spinal cord, meanwhile, is made up of the thin tube of nerve tissue that runs down your back into your pelvis and is protected by your spine.
Cancers of the CNS are sorted into types depending on the location that the cancer occurs in and the grade of the tumor involved. Tumors that start in the brain are called primary brain tumors, and while they may spread to other parts of the brain they rarely spread to other parts of the body. Tumors that have started elsewhere and spread to the central nervous system are called central nervous system metastases.
Glioblastoma multiforme tumors are a fast-growing cancer that forms from the glial tissue of the brain and spinal cord. This cancer is also called GBM, glioblastoma, and grade IV astrocytoma, and contains cells that look very different from normal cells. Meningioma tumors, meanwhile, form as part of the meninges- the thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.
Skull base cancer tumors sit just below the skull in the areas behind the eyes and nasal cavity, or in the area where the spinal cord, blood vessels, and nerves enter the brain. Spinal cord tumors, or cancers that form within the spinal cord, are rare- although it is common for metastases to form.
Who is at risk for cancers of the Central Nervous System?
While the cause of most adult brain and spinal cord tumors is not known, there are risk factors which may increase a person’s chance of developing a tumor of the CNS. This includes being exposed regularly to vinyl chloride, a substance used to make plastics.
Some infections can increase the risk of cancers of the central nervous system, including being infected with the Epstein-Barr vius or the AIDs virus. In addition, receiving an organ transplant may increase the risk of primary CNS lymphoma, due to the weakening of the immune system.
There are also several genetic syndromes that may increase the risk of such tumors, including neurofibromatosis type 1 or 2, von Hippel-Lindau disease, or tuberous sclerosis.
And of course, one of the best known risk factors for brain tumors is radiation exposure, especially in patients who received radiation in children for ringworm of the scalp or for for leukemia.
What are some symptoms of cancers of the Central Nervous System?
While many of the following symptoms can be caused by other conditions it is important to note any changes in your body or symptoms you are worried about with your healthcare team in order to see if additional diagnostics are necessary.
Some symptoms of cancers of the brain include headaches that do not get better with standard treatments and which are often worse upon waking. Sometimes this includes headaches that go away after vomiting. Other symptoms include seizures, unusual drowsiness or sleepiness, and sudden changes in personality, behavior, or the ability to focus. It is also important to note any loss of appetite or frequent nausea, as well as trouble with balance or walking.
Meanwhile symptoms of cancers of the spinal cord include a back pain that spreads from the back towards the arms or legs, as well as weakness or numbness in the limbs and difficulty walking. Other symptoms include changes in bowel habits or difficulties with urination.
Headaches
Seizures
Unusual drowsiness or sleepiness
Sudden changes in personality, behavior, or the ability to focus
Trouble with balance or walking
Back pain that spreads from the back towards the arms or legs
Weakness or numbness in the limbs
Difficulty walking
Changes in bowel habits or difficulties with urination
How are cancers of the Central Nervous System treated?
While every specific cancer is different, with different patients receiving different treatments depending on their tumor location and the grade of the tumor, is is common for primary CNS tumors to be treated with some combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
For most tumors of the CNS in most locations, complete or nearly complete surgical removal is generally recommended. Removing cancer tissues help to decrease the pressure of the tumor on nearby parts of the brain or spinal column, and surgery is often used in conjunction with adjuvant therapies such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy in order to kill any cancer cells that may be left.
In addition to post-surgery adjuvant therapy to kill remaining cancer cells, radiation therapy and chemotherapy may be used prior to surgery to shrink tumors or cause them to cease their growth. There are a variety of radiation therapies that may be used, including IMRT radiation (sometimes called intensity-modulated radiation therapy), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) may also be used to treat cancers of the CNS. Different from traditional surgery using incisions, SRS instead uses multiple precisely focused radiation beams and 3D images to produce targeted, high doses of radiation. Stereotatic radiosurgery causes fewer and milder side effects than conventional radiotherapies, but some possible long-term side effects of stereotactic radiosurgery include changes to your eyesight or hormone levels, as well as the possibility of radiation necrosis (a small area of dead cells developing at the treatment site).
What are some common side effects of treatment of cancers of the Central Nervous System?
Although cancer treatments including radiation do sometimes come with side effects, taking good care of yourself before and after treatments can help.
Side effect: Fatigue
What you can do: Get plenty of rest, and request help with your daily tasks if needed. When possible, eat well and do some light to moderate activity.
Side effect: Low blood cell counts
What you can do: Avoid strenuous activity, forceful coughing, or strong blowing of the nose. Eat high-protein foods and drink plenty of fluids.
Side effect: Sore Mouth and Throat
What you can do: Take extra care with your oral care, and rinse your moth before and after every meal and at bedtime with a mix of 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1 quart water. Ask your healthcare team about flossing, as it may not be recommended if you haven’t flossed regularly previously.
Side effect: Nausea and vomiting
What you can do: Talk to your healthcare team about antinausea or anti-emetic drugs to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. Also consider drinking small amounts of room-temperature beverages throughout the day and eat easy-to-digest foods without strong smells or that are especially fatty or spicy.
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