Brain cancer is a medical condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can occur in any part of the brain, and the severity of the diagnosis can vary greatly depending on the size and location of the tumor. Overall, it’s extremely important to detect brain cancer in its early or beginning stages. Understanding the different grades of brain cancer is crucial in order to get an effective diagnosis and receive proper treatment for the disease.
What Is Brain Cancer?
Brain cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the brain or spinal cord when abnormal tumor cells grow and multiply uncontrollably. These abnormal cells can then form a mass or tumor, which can interfere with normal brain functions and cause serious health problems.
Brain cancer can be classified into two main types: primary brain tumors and metastatic brain tumors. Primary brain cancer starts in the brain and does not spread to other parts of the body, while metastatic brain cancer starts in another part of the body and spreads to the brain. If you want to learn more about brain cancer, head on over to our article “Everything There Is To Know About Brain Cancer”.
What Are The Four Brain Tumor Grades?
Brain cancer is often classified based on its grade. A tumor’s grade refers to how aggressive the tumor is—in other words, how fast it forms, grows, and spreads. The grade ranges from grade 1 to grade 4, with grade 1 tumors being the least aggressive and grade 4 tumors being the most aggressive. There are four main grades of brain cancer. For instance, glioblastoma is always known to be a grade 4 tumor due to its fast-growing and aggressive nature.
However, other types of brain cancer, such as astrocytoma can be graded anywhere from 1-4 as they vary from patient to patient. It is also possible for tumor grades to change over time. Here is a breakdown of the four grades of brain cancer:
Grade 1 or 2: These are slow-growing tumors and treatment depends on tumor type and location in the brain. Your doctor may want to monitor a small tumor to see how fast it grows, because of this, you may need to get regular testing done. Low-grade brain tumors that cause problems may be treated with radiation, surgery, medicines, or a combination of these treatments.
Grade 3 or 4: These are fast-growing tumors and treatment also depends on tumor type and location in the brain. Like grade 1 and 2 tumors, treatment options may include radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, or a combination of these.
The Best Brain Cancer Center
Brain cancer is a serious medical condition that can have a significant impact on a person's life. If you or a loved one is experiencing any symptoms of brain cancer, it is important to seek medical attention immediately, as early detection and treatment can significantly improve a patient's quality of life.
Duke offers some of the best brain cancer doctors near you that are committed to research and providing exceptional patient care. Our clinic strives to provide hope and empowerment to anyone facing a brain tumor diagnosis by passionately leading the pursuit to conquer brain cancer. Check out this blog to find out more about why the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center is the best clinic for brain tumor treatment and schedule your appointment today.