1. Brain cancer is mistakenly connoted as brain tumor.

• Not all tumors are cancerous; it can either be benign or malignant.
• Benign tumors are simply mass of cells, as the term implies it is not cancerous and does not spread to other parts, however it can still disrupt brain activity but the progression is at a very slow rate.
• On the other hand, malignant tumors are composed of abnormal cells and grow rapidly.

2. It is the second leading cause of death.

• Brain cancer and all types of cancer have a very high mortality rate next to heart disease as s recorded by the Center for disease control and prevention.
• It can occur to both children and adults.

3. Brain cancer arises from the transformation of a single cell.

• This cell undergoes molecular and genomic mutation and loses its standard characteristics which spread aggressively affecting adjacent healthy tissues.
• Brain cancer can arise from other cancer cell located elsewhere in the body that is spread through the blood stream or the lymphatic system.
• This process is called metastasis.

4. Gliomas are the most prevalent brain cancer type.

• Most brain cancer cells lodge on the cerebrum appearing as multiple masses upon viewing on a scan.
• Cancer stages are graded from I, II, III and IV. It is classified depending on the severity and how serious the cancer is.
• Glioma arises from the glial cells, the most abundant type of cells in the nervous system.
• It accounts about 80 percent of all malignant brain tumors.

5. Brain tumors may not always manifest symptoms.

• Symptoms vary in the extent of brain cells involved and the onset is very gradual.
• It may sometimes being overlooked by the person who has it.
• In cases of specific brain lobe involvement (eg. motor center, frontal lobe or parietal lobe) symptoms are more pronounced.
• In general, symptoms of brain cancer may resemble with that of many other illnesses.

6. Brain cancer can cause seizure.

• Enlargement of tumor cells or inflammation cause pressure to surrounding structure of the brain including nerves.
• Edema associated with brain tumor is quite similar to edema due to brain injury and this may trigger abnormal neuronal activity resulting in seizure.
• Cortecosteroids are often used to address brain swelling and anti-epileptic drugs for the episodes of seizure.

7. Brain cancer may cause personality change.
• One of the four major lobes of the brain is the frontal lobe which carries out an individual’s mental and cognitive processes.
• Tumor arising on this site may alter its normal functioning.
• Behavioral changes like emotional instability, aggression or disinhibition are noticeably observed.

8. Pain is one of the most common neurological complications of brain cancer.

• Brain cancer comes with numerous complications.
• Pain, which is neurogenic in origin, cannot be relieved completely.
• It can be managed through therapy and other pain reliving strategies such as nerve block or through surgical intervention to destroy nerve of the pain pathway.

9. Brain cancer prognosis is poor.

• Brain tumor is very rare but deadly.
• Even with the advancement in biomedical research, the cure still poses a challenge due to its delicate location, in the brain.
• Morbidity for patients is usually from sequel of the treatment options of cancer management.
• Early detection of brain cancer is vital in preventing the rapid worsening of symptoms and damaging complications to the brain.

10. The immune system gives hope to the cure of cancer.

• Scientists are on their unstoppable search of new avenues for cancer treatment.
• An ongoing research on immunotherapy offers a chance to fight back destructive cancer cells wherein its focus is on the immune system shouldering the workload by producing adequate defense against malignant tumors.