It is important for you to know the symptoms and treatment of brain cancer, especially those who have entered stage 4. Stage 4 brain cancer that is not immediately available incan be life threatening for the sufferer.
The stage or severity of cancer is an indication of the growth of cancer cells and the extent to which they have spread. In stage 4 brain cancer, cancer cells grow aggressively and massively, almost all of the cells are abnormally shaped, and the spread is generally quite extensive and even spreads to parts outside the brain, such as the spine.
Symptoms Accompanying Stage 4 Brain Cancer
Symptoms that can be found in stage 4 brain cancer are severe headaches that occur permanently or repeatedly. For example, sufferers can experience headaches that are so painful for weeks that they persist even after taking pain relievers, such as paracetamol, aspirin, or ibuprofen.
In addition to severe headaches, stage 4 brain cancer can also be accompanied by symptoms such as:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscles weaken, so body movement becomes limited
- Lost balance
- Seizures
- Blurred vision
- Difficult to speak
- Memory loss
- hallucination
- Loss of consciousness
Treatment of Brain Cancer Stage 4
Stage 4 brain cancer is generally difficult to cure. However, prompt and appropriate treatment can reduce complaints and slow the growth of cancer cells.
Some types of medical treatment that can be done to treat stage 4 brain cancer are:
1. Operation
In some cases, surgery can be performed to treat stage 4 brain cancer. The surgical procedure is performed by opening the skull (craniotomy) and removing the malignant tumor lodged in the brain.
2. Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is usually done after stage 4 brain cancer patients undergo surgery. Radiotherapy aims to kill any remaining cancer cells, as well as slow the growth of cancer cells that cannot be removed by surgery.
3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is done by giving anticancer drugs to patients, either in the form of tablets or injections. The goal is to kill and destroy cancer cells lodged in the brain. In order for chemotherapy to be effective, drug administration must be done periodically.
4. Targeted therapy
Similar to chemotherapy, targeted therapy also uses drugs to inhibit the growth and development of cancer cells. But the difference is that this therapy directly targets abnormal cells that are lodged in the brain, without damaging the surrounding healthy cell tissue. In addition, targeted therapy generally aims to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells, rather than killing them.
That's information about the symptoms of stage 4 brain cancer and some of the treatments that can be done to overcome it. You need to remember, brain cancer is detected early will increase the chances of cure.
Therefore, if you feel you are experiencing symptoms of brain cancer, especially if you experience headaches that are continuous and getting worse, don't hesitate to immediately consult a doctor.
