Fact #2
There are over 120 different types of brain tumors, which makes accurate and efficient treatment complicated. To help alleviate this problem, brain tumors are divided into two major categories: primary or secondary.
Primary vs. Secondary
Primary brain tumors start in the brain and rarely metastasize (spread) outside of the brain. Secondary brain tumors (also called metastatic brain tumors) start somewhere else in the body and metastasize to the brain. For example, Lance Armstrong had a metastatic brain tumor, which resulted from his testicular cancer spreading to his lungs and then to his brain.
Benign vs. Malignant
Primary brain tumors are then further classified as being either benign or malignant. This is done through an in-depth examination of the differentiation and growth-rate of the cells by a clinical pathologist. Benign tumors are slower growing and, typically, more uniform in their cell make-up. On the other hand, malignant brain tumors grow much faster and the cells are much more differentiated, or mixed. This causes malignant brain tumors to be much more difficult to treat and, unfortunately, much more deadly.
Regardless of malignancy, a brain tumor diagnosis is a very serious situation. Although some benign tumors can often be removed successfully, many cannot be removed due to their location. For those that can be removed, there is always the possibility of other complications. For those tumors that are inoperable, the long-term side effects can be devastating if the tumor resides in a critical area of the brain. In many cases, however, patients with benign brain tumors can often live long and full lives. With that said, one should always use caution in describing any brain tumor as “benign” because upon occasion, these tumors can become more aggressive (malignant) in the future.
Defining Brain Cancer
As a further point of clarification, it is important to note that not all brain tumors are cancerous. In general, since primary brain tumors don’t metastasize to other parts of the body like lung and breast cancer might, they cannot be classified as cancer. Technically speaking, in order to be classified as cancer, a tumor must be both malignant and metastatic. This however, can sometimes be misleading to patients and families. Though primary brain tumors won’t spread outside the brain, they are very devastating and, often, very deadly.
