Stages of brain cancer

Malignant oncological processes in brain tissues are formed as a result of abnormal development of the cellular structure. Experts usually classify four stages of brain cancer depending on the degree of neglect of the disease and its prevalence in tissues.

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Stages of Brain Cancer

The stages of brain cancer determine the nature of the prognosis, the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention, the possibility and fullness of the patient's further life. The stage of development of a malignant neoplasm can be diagnosed using additional methods: magnetic resonance and computed tomography, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, etc.

Determining the stage of the oncological process is extremely important, as it directly affects the choice of therapeutic procedures and medical prescriptions.

At the initial stages, the neoplasm does not leave the boundaries of the tumor formation zone. Clear localization is a good sign that makes it possible to perform surgical intervention with a high probability of complete recovery.

Early stages of growth are characterized by slow and low-aggressive malignancy of the cells of the formation. But the higher the stage, the more its size increases, cancer progresses, cells multiply, the process of metastasis dissemination throughout the body begins. Tumor growth is activated over time, capturing new areas of healthy tissue.

Let's take a closer look at the four stages of brain cancer.

Stage 1 brain cancer

Stage 1 of brain cancer is the initial stage of malignant neoplasm formation, in which the tumor is localized in the superficial cell layer, without affecting deeper tissue areas. This stage of cancer tumor development is called compensated, since it is more treatable than others, and the survival rate of patients at this stage is close to 100%.

Cancer cells in the first stage are practically non-aggressive, prone to diffuse metabolic process. Their forces in this period are directed exclusively to ensuring their own vital activity, and not to cell division and progression of neoplasm growth.

The first stage of growth tends to be protracted and can remain latent for several years or even decades.

Detecting a malignant tumor at an early stage is quite difficult, so it is rarely detected at the stage of 100% potential cure, usually this happens only by chance. Scientists around the world are working on this problem, and I want to believe that it will soon be possible to detect cancer at the incipient stage.

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Stage 2 brain cancer

Progression of growth and degeneration of brain cells, activation of the life process, increase in the scale of layered damage to brain tissue with transition (invasion) to other nearby tissues - all this constitutes a brief description of the second stage of brain cancer.

At this stage, the tumor becomes aggressive, the mutation of cancer cells becomes chaotic, their division occurs in an accelerated mode. Any cancer cell can multiply countless times, contributing to a significant and rapid increase in the size of the malignant formation.

The progression of the tumor in the second stage leads to the fusion of adjacent tissues involved in the pathological process. Mutated cells, which, due to their constantly growing number, require more and more nutrients, capture the blood and lymphatic vessels passing nearby, which, in turn, begin to grow into the body of the tumor, thereby providing it with nutrition and oxygen saturation.

The second stage involves the vascular system and healthy tissues, so the survival rate of patients after treatment procedures at this stage is about 75%.

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Stage 3 brain cancer

Stage 3 cancer is detected more often than the initial stages, since at this stage, as a rule, there are already characteristic symptoms with which patients seek medical attention. This is a sharp loss of weight, increased fatigue, a significant weakening of the body's immune forces, anemia, and body temperature may rise unreasonably.

When the tumor grows, it puts pressure on certain areas of the brain responsible for certain functions in the body: this depends on the specific location of the tumor in relation to the brain. Clinically, this is manifested by constant and significant headache, impaired motor coordination, dizziness, and visual disturbances. Bradycardia, nausea, and vomiting that do not bring relief are possible.

The third stage of brain cancer involves the spread of the process to nearby tissues and lymph nodes, with elements of metastasis through blood and lymph flow.

The survival rate of patients with treatment started at the third stage of the cancer process is about 30%.

Stage 4 brain cancer

The last and most severe stage 4 of brain cancer development. Characterized by the mass appearance of daughter tumors in the body, capable of developing in absolutely any organ and corner of the body. The damage to the meninges is so large-scale that the question of surgical intervention is sometimes no longer an issue, the emphasis is on maintaining vital functions of the body, symptomatic treatment, pain relief and attempts to at least slightly prolong the life of the patient.

Symptoms expressed in speech disorders and disturbances of consciousness may be supplemented by epileptic seizures and hallucinations. Signs of damage to other organs gradually join in: the urinary system, lungs, liver, and abdominal organs.

However, even with such a diagnosis, one should not despair: stage IV brain cancer is difficult to treat, but modern methods make it possible to control the process, stopping the growth and spread of the tumor, significantly prolonging the patient’s life.

Stage 4 brain cancer is such a serious stage that malignant cells can spread to any organ, even a distant one, manifesting itself in the development of new tumors.

To prescribe and conduct adequate and effective treatment, it is especially important to determine the stage of tumor development. This will allow us to present the overall picture of the disease, predict the effectiveness of therapeutic methods, and, finally, establish the patient's chances of survival. Brain cancer stages are not a statistical formulation, but a necessary medical classification for determining the scale of therapeutic effects.