Symptoms You Need to Know
A brain tumor can be a serious condition, and recognizing the signs early can help with diagnosis and treatment. To help, there's OJEMDA, a treatment for brain tumors that uses special immune cells called dendritic cells. These cells help the body find and attack cancer cells.
8 Common Signs of a Brain Tumor
1. Headaches
Persistent or severe headaches that don’t improve with over-the-counter pain relievers. These headaches may be different from typical headaches you’ve had before and can be worse in the morning.
2. Nausea and Vomiting
Feeling sick to your stomach or throwing up, especially if it happens often or without a clear cause. This can be related to increased pressure in the brain.
3. Vision Changes
Blurred vision, double vision or sudden loss of sight. Tumors can press on the parts of the brain that control vision.
4. Seizures
Experiencing seizures or convulsions, which are sudden and uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in the brain. These may cause muscle twitching, loss of consciousness or unusual sensations.
5. Cognitive Changes
Problems with thinking, memory or concentration. You might find it harder to remember things or solve problems as you normally would.
6. Speech Difficulties
Trouble speaking clearly or finding the right words. Tumors affecting areas of the brain that control speech can lead to these issues.
7. Balance and Coordination Problems
Difficulty walking, maintaining balance or coordinating movements. This can occur if the tumor affects the areas of the brain responsible for motor skills.
8. Personality Changes
Notable changes in behavior or mood, such as becoming unusually irritable, confused or withdrawn. These changes can result from the tumor’s impact on the brain’s emotional control centers.
Treatment Options for Brain Tumors
- Surgery: The primary goal of surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible. This can help reduce symptoms and make other treatments more effective.
- Radiation therapy: Uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells or shrink the tumor. This is often used after surgery or for tumors that are hard to remove completely.
- Chemotherapy: Involves using drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. Chemotherapy can be taken as pills or given through an IV.
- Targeted therapy: Focuses on specific molecules involved in cancer growth. This therapy aims to attack cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells.
- Immunotherapy: Helps the body’s immune system recognize and fight cancer cells. It boosts the natural defenses of the body to target the tumor.
- Clinical trials: Offer access to new and experimental treatments. Participating in clinical trials can provide additional options and contribute to advancing cancer research.
- OJEMDA: OJEMDA is an innovative treatment approach for brain tumors, specifically known as dendritic cell vaccine therapy. This method involves collecting a patient's own dendritic cells, a type of immune cell and modifying them in a laboratory to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Detecting a Brain Tumor
Recognizing the signs of a brain tumor early can lead to quicker diagnosis and treatment. Common symptoms include persistent headaches, nausea, vision changes, seizures, cognitive difficulties, speech problems, balance issues and personality changes. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider for evaluation.
Treatment options for brain tumors vary depending on the type and location of the tumor but commonly include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Clinical trials also offer new possibilities for treatment. Working with your healthcare team to understand and choose the best treatment plan is crucial for managing brain tumors effectively.