Nervous System Cancers

Nervous system cancers are types of cancer that affect central nervous system components such as the brain and spinal cord. The importance of these cancers stems from the critical functions of the organs they affect to other parts of the body and the potentially serious health effects of these cancers. The most common nervous system cancers include gliomas, meningiomas, and acoustic neuromas. These types of cancer can disrupt brain and spinal cord functions, leading to motor and sensory losses, memory and cognitive problems, and even life-threatening situations. Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve patients' quality of life and survival rates.

However, diagnosis and treatment of nervous system cancers are often complex and difficult because these cancers are located in the delicate and barely accessible structure of the brain and spinal cord. Therefore, research and raising awareness about nervous system cancers are vital in the fight against these serious diseases. Innovative treatment approaches and early diagnosis methods are one of the greatest needs in this field.

Nervous system cancers can be listed as follows:

Gliomas: They are cancers arising from glial cells in the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas include types such as astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme, and oligodendroglioma.

Meningiomas: It originates from the meninges, which are membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Although mostly benign, some meningiomas can grow aggressively or turn into cancer.

Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma): It originates from the nerves in the inner ear and can cause hearing loss.

Pituitary Tumors: It originates from the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain. These tumors can lead to hormone imbalances.

Medulloblastoma: It is an aggressive type of brain cancer that starts in the cerebellum and is more common in children.

Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma:It is a rare type of lymphoma that starts in the brain or spinal cord.

Spinal Tumor: These are tumors that develop in the spinal cord or nerve roots between the vertebrae. These tumors can be both benign and malignant.

Ependymomas: They are tumors that arise from the cells that are located in the brain and spinal cord and produce cerebrospinal fluid.

Nervous system cancers can cause a variety of symptoms and can be complex to diagnose and treat. Early diagnosis is an important factor in the management of these types of cancer. Each type of cancer may require different treatment approaches.

Cancer Types and Treatments