Meningioma

Meningioma is a tumor, mostly benign coming from the brain or the membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord which is called meninges.

The benign are noncancerous however malignant meningioma is cancerous, but experts say there are meningiomas that are between, neither benign nor malignant.

Meningioma can develop in both men and women at any age but most commonly to older women. If the meningioma does not have any relevant signs and symptoms, it should be monitored but it does not always require a treatment not unless it is painful already.

You may not see the signs and symptoms of meningioma at first but it may include:

• memory loss,
• hearing loss and loss of smell,
• seizures,
• it also weakens your body especially your arms and legs,
• change in vision, when there is blurriness or double seeing,
• moderate to a severe headache.

A severe meningioma can be fatal, so visit your physician as soon as possible.

Still up to this day, it is not clear what are the causes of meningioma.

Experts say that something will alter the cells in our body to make them multiply out of control which can lead to meningioma, either benign or malignant.

It can also be inherited or it can be because of your environment or the growing of your hormones, but still this is not yet proven.

Meningioma may be diagnosed by using CT scans, X-rays and MRI which helps the doctor see what is inside of your brain.

If you are feeling the symptoms of meningioma you must contact and visit your physician as soon as possible.

Your physician will refer you to a neurosurgeon and neurologist who are experts on brain tumors and treats brain disorders.

The doctor may ask you questions:

• What are the signs and symptoms that you are experiencing?
• For how long are you experiencing these said symptoms?
• What difficulty are you experiencing right now?
• What are the major stresses in your life? 

You should write these down beforehand so you will not forget things that you want to ask or relevant information that your doctor will ask you.

Make a list of all the vitamins, supplements, and medications that you are taking every day.

Memory loss is one of the symptoms, so make sure to write down whatever your doctor is telling you or bring your closest friend or a family member when seeing a doctor so that he can help you remember things and support you if it is a bad news.

You can also write down the questions that you want to ask your doctor:

• Is it cancerous?
• Is it fatal?
• Do you have any idea how large is the meningioma in my head?
• Is it growing?
• If so, will it continue to grow and how quickly?
• What medications and treatments do you recommend?
• What are the effects and potential complications of the treatment?
• If so, what are the long-term complications or side effects?
• Should I ask for a second opinion?
• If so, can you recommend another doctor that is an expert in meningioma too?
• Do I have to make a decision right away or after a few days? 

There are treatments for meningioma depending on many factors such as:

• How big is meningioma?
• How aggressive?
• Where in your brain is it located? 

It also depends on regarding your health and how you will cope up with the treatment and the side effects of the treatment.

There will be lots of laboratory tests and exams and scans you need to take before you went on surgery so that they will know the amount of meningioma that needs to be removed or if it is safe to remove.

Some meningioma cannot be removed entirely, so contentious monitoring and treatment. If after surgery there is no visible tumor that remains, there will be no further treatment but follow up scans are needed.

In some people, if there are a tumor that is left. It can be treated with radiation called stereotactic radiosurgery, it can also be used if the tumor is malignant.

There may be effects of this surgery such as bleeding and infection, vision loss, and it depends on where the tumor is located in your brain.

Radiation therapy helps destroy the remaining meningioma and may reduce the reappearing on meningioma cells in your brain.

There are no certain preventions for meningioma.

You can prevent meningioma by resting well, do not stress over things, take things easy and live a healthy lifestyle.

Alternative or home remedies cannot cure meningioma, it will just help you in your pain so over the counter pain relievers may be needed.

There are also medicinal therapies such as hypnosis, massage, acupuncture, meditation relaxation exercises or yoga and music therapy.

Lifestyle modifications are necessary in order to cope with meningioma.

It may be difficult for you to accept that you have a meningioma, so you should be prepared for everything.

• Seek support. If not within your family, go and talk to your friends.
• There are support groups for meningioma patients. Contact them if you have in your area.
• Read more about meningioma so that you will be knowledgeable and that you may know the relevant things you need to know.
• You can also see a counselor.
• You can also contact the American Brain Tumor Association.
• Have a healthy lifestyle, eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
• You can also ask your doctor if you are allowed to do some light exercises to ease your mind and not stress you out.
• Sleep a lot so that. These things will not help you cure meningioma but it will make you feel relax.

The risk factors of meningioma include:

• radiation treatment,
• female hormones.

An inherited nervous system disorder also increase the risk of other brain tumors,and long-term complications like memory loss, dizziness, seizures, difficulty concentrating on things and personality changes.

The physician may treat some of these, some not, and to help you cope with the complications, he may refer you to a specialist.