Understanding Brain Health

If you experience any of the following symptoms, consult your healthcare provider without delay:

- Unexplained, persistent vomiting
- Double vision or unexplained blurred vision, especially in one eye
- Lethargy or increased sleepiness
- New seizures
- Changes in the pattern or type of headaches

While headaches are commonly associated with brain cancer, they may not appear until later in the illness. If you notice a significant change in your headache pattern, consult your physician, and they may recommend a hospital visit.

If you're aware of having brain cancer, go to the nearest hospital's emergency room if you experience new or worsening symptoms suddenly. Be vigilant for other symptoms like:

- Seizures
- Changes in mental state, such as persistent fatigue, memory issues, or difficulty concentrating
- Visual or sensory changes
- Difficulty with speech or communication
- Altered behavior or personality
- Clumsiness or difficulty walking
- Nausea or vomiting (especially in middle-aged or older individuals)
- Sudden onset of fever, especially after chemotherapy

Self-Care at Home

Your healthcare provider and medical team will discuss home care details with you and your family:

Home care typically involves providing support based on your symptoms. For instance, if walking is challenging, make sure to have a walker available at home when needed. If you experience changes in mental status, a care plan should address your specific needs.

If your prognosis is poor, consider discussing hospice care, advance directives, and living will provisions with your doctor.

Home hospice care offers pain and symptom relief, as well as emotional and spiritual support at home. It's a comprehensive approach involving physicians, nurses, pharmacists, aides, social workers, spiritual caregivers, and counselors.

Advance directives and living wills are legal documents specifying which treatments to provide or withhold. For example, a person with advanced brain cancer may choose not to use a ventilator if they stop breathing. You have the right to make these decisions as long as you're mentally competent.

Follow-up

After diagnosing your brain tumor, ensure you keep all your appointments with consultants and your primary healthcare provider. People with brain cancer are at higher risk of additional medical issues and potential recurrence or symptom worsening.

Following treatment, you'll have follow-up visits with your cancer team, including checkups and tests. This helps promptly identify any cancer recurrence or long-term treatment effects.

Prevention

Preventing brain cancers is challenging, but early diagnosis and treatment of tumors prone to metastasize to the brain may lower the risk of metastatic brain tumors.

Consider avoiding factors that could be related to primary brain tumors. These might include exposure to head radiation or HIV infection.