Brain Cancer Awareness Month in Assisted Living Facilities
Brain Cancer Awareness Month is a critical time to educate residents, families, and staff about the impact of brain cancer and its treatment on individuals’ lives in assisted living facilities. Fostering awareness within these communities, assisted living facilities can promote empathy, understanding, and solidarity with individuals battling brain cancer, creating a supportive environment that values compassion and wellness.
Brain Cancer Awareness Month in Assisted Living Facilities
Brain Cancer Awareness Month is every May in the U.S. to support families and patients with brain cancer. This type of cancer is an under-publicized category and needs a wider spread of awareness.
May is also brain tumor awareness month, which aims to raise awareness about brain tumors and provide knowledge to the community, especially in assisted living facilities. Since it is quite challenging for people with central nervous system tumors to find accurate information, expert care, and specialized support, you can help spread awareness and share educational materials.
Brain Cancer Symptoms, types, and Treatments in Assisted Living Facilities
There are many types of brain tumors. Normally known as an intracranial tumor, a brain tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue wherein cells grow and multiply uncontrollably. Despite the many different types of brain tumors, only two main groups are identified.
- Primary brain tumors originate from the tissues of the brain or its immediate surroundings.
- Metastatic brain tumors are those that arise elsewhere in the body and migrate to the brain through the bloodstream.
Brain tumor symptoms
Common symptoms of brain tumors vary depending on the location, but here are those that go along many types of brain tumors.
- Headaches in the morning
- Convulsions or seizures
- Difficulty articulating, speaking, or thinking
- Changes in personality
- Vision changes
- Hearing changes
- Weakness or paralysis in one part or one side of the body
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Facial numbness or tingling
- Swallowing difficulties, nausea, or vomiting
- Disorientation and confusion
Benign brain tumors
- Chordomas are slow-growing tumors, benign, and mostly dominant in people ages 50-60.
- Craniopharyngiomas are also benign but are hard to remove because they are located near the critical structures inside the brain.
- Gangliocytomas are rare tumors involving well-differentiated neoplastic nerve cells, which occur mainly in younger adults.
- Glomus jugular tumors are frequently benign and are typically located just under the base of the skull on top of the jugular vein.
- Meningiomas are the most common type of benign intracranial tumors and comprise 10-15% of all brain neoplasms, but only a very tiny percentage are malignant.
Malignant brain tumors
Gliomas are the most dominant type of adult brain tumor, which accounts for 78% of malignant brain tumors. These come from the supporting brain cells called the glia.
- Astrocytomas are the most common
- Ependymomas account for 2-3% of all brain tumors
- Glioblastoma multiforme is the most invasive type
- Medulloblastomas are most frequent in children
- Oligodendrogliomas come from the cells that create myelin
Diagnosis of brain tumors
The diagnosis of brain tumors includes sophisticated imaging techniques, namely computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Recurring brain tumors are also detected with the use of positron emission tomography.
Treatment for brain tumors in Assisted Living Facilities
Among the most popular ways of treating brain tumors are chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, which can be done alone or in different combinations.
Looking for excellent senior care in Nebraska? Click here to learn all about Providence Memory!
Providence Place of Fremont is proud to offer its Assisted Living Services to Fremont NE and its Surrounding areas and Cities: Inglewood, Cedar Bluffs, Ames, Leshara, Arlington, Fontanelle, Nickerson, Telbasta, and North Bend
