What are brain metastases?
The spread of cancer and manifestation of tumors in the brain is called brain metastases. 30-40% of all brain tumors are caused by seeding of a primary tumor.
30-40% of all brain tumors occur because of metastasizing tumor. Most common cancers that metastasize into the brain are
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Skin cancer (melanoma)
- Renal cancer
- Testicular cancer and
- Colorectal cancer
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Symptoms of brain metastases
Brain metastases can cause a wide range of signs and symptoms. Anyhow, these symptoms can also occur due to other health conditions. Frequent signs of brain metastases include:
- Headache
- Seizures
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Changes in behaviour
- Problems with speech
- Problems with memory
- Weakness of different parts of the body and problems with balance
How to treat brain metastases?
Treatment plans are designed following a multimodal approach to control the growth of brain metastases, relieve a person's symptoms and may lead to a prolonged life. At the Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center the team of specialists may combine different approaches such as external beam radiation therapy, surgical and radio-surgical procedures (Cyberknife). Chemotherapy is also used if the tumor is likely to response to such a treatment (chemosensitivity – sensitivity of the primary tumor to chemotherapy).
Click here to find the range of therapy options of the European Surgical Centre for Metastatic Disease.