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Stages of brain cancer
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Stages of brain cancer
Stages of brain cancer determine the nature of the prognosis, the effectiveness of the therapeutic effect, the possibility and usefulness of the patient's later life. The stage of development of malignant neoplasm can be diagnosed with the help of additional methods: magnetic resonance and computed tomography, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, etc.
Determine the stage of the oncological process is extremely important, since this directly affects the choice of therapeutic procedures and medical appointments.
At the initial stages the neoplasm does not leave the boundaries of the tumor formation zone. Clear localization is a good sign, which makes it possible to perform a surgical intervention with a high probability of complete cure.
The early stages of growth are characterized by a slow and slightly aggressive malignancy of the cells of the formation. But the higher the stage, the more its size increases, the cancer progresses, the cells multiply, the process of dissemination of metastases across the body begins. Growth of the tumor over time is activated, capturing new areas of healthy tissue.
Let's move on to a more detailed examination of the four stages of brain cancer.
1 stage of brain cancer
Stage 1 of brain cancer is the initial stage in the formation of malignant formation, in which the tumor is localized in the surface cell layer, without affecting the deeper parts of the tissues. This stage of cancer development is called compensated, as it is better than others to be treated, in addition, the survival rate of patients at this stage is close to 100%.
Cancer cells in the first stage are practically non-aggressive, prone to a diffuse exchange process. Their forces during this period are directed solely at ensuring their own vital activity, rather than on cell division and the progression of growth of the neoplasm.
The first stage of growth is prone to protracted flow and may be latent for several years and even decades.
Detection of a malignant tumor in the initial stage is rather difficult, therefore it is rarely detected at the stage of a 100% potential cure, usually it happens only by chance. The scientific experts of the world are working on this problem, and I want to believe that soon it will be possible to detect cancer in the stage of nucleation.
2 stage of brain cancer
Progression of growth and degeneration of brain cells, activation of vital activity, increase in the scale of layered lesions of brain tissues with the transition (invasion) to other closely located tissues - all this is 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 malignant formation.
Progression of the tumor in the second stage leads to the soldering of adjacent tissues involved in the pathological process. Mutated cells, which, due to their constantly growing number, require more and more nutrients, capture "captive" passing nearby blood and lymphatic vessels, which in turn begin to germinate into the body of the tumor, thereby providing its nutrition and saturation with oxygen.
The second stage involves the vascular system and healthy tissues in the process, so the survival rate of patients after treatment at this stage is about 75%.
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3 stage of brain cancer
Stage 3 cancer is detected more often than the initial stages, since at this stage, as a rule, there is a characteristic symptomatology with which patients turn to the doctor. This sudden emaciation, increased fatigue, a significant weakening of the body's immune forces, anemia, can increase the temperature of the body unreasonably.
Neoplasm, when grown, puts pressure on certain areas of the brain that are responsible for certain functions in the body: it depends on the specific location of the tumor in relation to the brain. Clinically, this is manifested by a constant and significant headache, a violation of motor coordination, dizziness, visual disorders. Possible phenomena of bradycardia, nausea, vomiting, not bringing relief.
The third stage of brain cancer involves the spread of the process to nearby tissues and lymph nodes, with elements of metastasis through the blood and lymph flow.
The survival rate of patients in the treatment started in the third stage of the cancer process is about 30%.
4 stage of brain cancer
The last and most severe stage of development of brain cancer. Characterized by a massive appearance in the body of daughter tumors that can develop absolutely in any organ and corners of the body. The defeat of the meninges is so large that the question of surgical intervention is sometimes not worth it, the emphasis is on maintaining vital body functions, symptomatic treatment, anesthesia and attempts to extend the patient's life at least a little.
Symptoms expressed in speech disorders and disorders of consciousness may be supplemented by epileptic seizures, hallucinations. Gradually, signs of damage to other organs: urinary system, lungs, liver, abdominal organs.
However, even with this diagnosis, one does not need to despair: brain cancer of the fourth degree is not easily treatable, but modern methods allow controlling the process, stopping the growth and spread of the tumor, significantly prolonging the patient's life.
Stage 4 of brain cancer is such a serious stage in which malignant cells can spread to any, even a distant organ, manifesting themselves in the development of new tumors.
It is especially important to determine the degree of tumor development in order to prescribe and conduct adequate and effective treatment. This will provide an overall picture of the disease, predict the effectiveness of therapeutic methods, and, finally, establish the patient's chances of survival. Stages of brain cancer - this is not a statistical formulation, but the necessary medical classification for determining the scale of therapeutic effects.