Information about Brain Cancer

Dr. Prasanta Banerji and Dr. Pratip Banerji of the Prasanta Banerji Homeopathic Research Foundation, Kolkata , India (PBHRF), have pioneered in evolving an unique system of treatment in Homeopathy, where specific medicines are administered for specific diseases. This is something different from Classical Homeopathy. Diseases are diagnosed using latest technologies, and medicines are prescribed accordingly.

Aptly named the Banerji Protocol of Treatment, this treatment procedure is the outcome of four decades of research activities. The doctors have a prestigious lineage in dispensing Homeopathy treatment for four generations. The social cause to help the needy always played an important role, which lead to the establishment of a charitable clinic in Kolkata, where around four hundred patients are treated daily.

The path breaking research initiatives of the doctors have lead towards safe and proven treatment of different varieties of malignant tumors, especially brain tumors, using a combination of Ruta graveolens and Calcaria Phosphorica 3X. Case studies and a Best Case Series have proven time and again, that the combination helps in killing cancer cells, while activating the growth of normal cells. Their research and the concurring results have established Homeopathy as a complete alternative solution for the treatment of malignant tumors and cancers.

The doctors have signed an agreement with the US-based National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicines (OCCAM), both being part of The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland. This agreement is the first ever tie up of its kind regarding the implementation of a Practice Outcomes Monitoring and Evaluations Systems Study (POMES) for lung cancer at the PBHRF’s clinic in Kolkata.

A different milestone was achieved when in June 2007, the duo presented a paper on Possible Use of Ultra-Diluted Medicines For Health Problems During Lunar Missions at the Rutgers Symposium on Lunar Settlements.

Dr. Prasanta Banerji and Dr. Pratip Banerji have given presentations at various international conferences in the US, Canada, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, and Argentina, among others. Papers have been published in various international medical journals, including the International Journal of Oncology.

Their research and its results have sparked the development of self-help groups of tumor and cancer patients in USA and Spain , who continue taking medication at the doctors’ instructions. The patients keep in touch with the doctors through e-mails, and have even formed user groups among themselves to monitor the recovery patterns. They are delivered medicines from the doctors’ office against nominal charges.

Meningiomas are brain tumors that develop in the small membranes or meninges that essentially cover and protect the brain as well as the spinal cord. Meningioma brain tumors normally grow at a slow pace and won’t affect the tissue surrounding the brain tumor.

In most cases the meningioma brain tumor is benign (non-cancerous) and will not spread to other parts of the body or nervous system. However, there are very rare cases of malignant meningiomas that are more aggressive.

When a neurologist has actually diagnosed an individual as having this type of brain tumor the person should find out as many facts as possible. Depending on the symptoms, size and location, the neurologist will determine the type of treatment that best suits the individual circumstance. Although Meningioma brain tumors can affect people of all ages, studies have shown that they are most common in women and are most likely to be found in people that are between the ages of forty and sixty years of age. Some of the possible meningioma symptoms are:-

• Vision Blurring
• Memory blocks
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Persistent or severe headaches that occur frequently
• Extreme feeling of pressure felt on the inside of the skull
• Blind spots at the back of the eye

Keep in mind these are only a few of the possible symptoms; a physician can do several test to evaluate the situation and see if a meningioma is in fact the cause of these problems. Tests such as mental function and vision testing may be carried out but the most conclusive test in the determination of a diagnosis of a brain tumor is an MRI scan of the brain. (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) The MRI scan uses magnetic and radio waves, meaning that there is no exposure to X-Rays or any other damaging forms of radiation. During the MRI test a contrast dye may be administered through your system to make the images clearer.For medium to large meningioma brain tumors your neurologist and physician will most likely recommend surgery to remove the brain tumor if it is in an accessible location. This is the most successful and primarily effective way to remove the meningioma. In some patients, if full removal is not possible, recurring meningiomas might require more treatment that would include radiation therapy.

The rate of successfully treating and removing this type of brain tumor is very high. For more information as well as details and more symptom information, there are several web sites via the Internet that are associated with meningiomas. Some of the web sites refer to the treatments and diagnosis of the brain tumor and may be a little daunting if you come across one that is written specifically for the medical profession. There are support groups and survivor stories that will be very useful to the non-medical profession and these offer encouragement, resources and further fact sheets for the recently diagnosed.

Having a meningioma brain tumor is certainly life threatening if not treated. Listen to what your body is telling you. If you are experiencing any strange or unusual symptoms that you are uncomfortable about, a visit to your physician is always the best remedy.

Though relatively uncommon, a brain tumor has always made a grim prognosis for unfortunate animal that is diagnosed with one. Traditionally they were often assumed but seldom confirmed, but since MRI and CT scanning has become more mainstream they can be diagnosed correctly. Here we discuss the different types of brain tumor that affect dogs and cats, the clinical investigations that can be performed, the treatments available and the likely outcomes.

Brain tumors seem to be more common in dogs than cats, and certain breeds are over represented such as Boxers, Golden Retrievers, Dobermans, Scottish Terriers and Old English Sheepdogs.

Primary vs Secondary

Brain tumors can be primary or secondary (metastasis from other sites). Primary brain tumors are usually solitary, the most common ones in the dog being gliomas and meningiomas. In cats, the most common type are meningiomas and these can occur at multiple locations.

Secondary tumors in dogs include extension of a nasal tumor, metastases from breast, lung or prostate cancer, hemangiosarcoma or extension of a pituitary gland tumor. Nerve sheath tumors and skull tumors have also been reported. Secondary tumors in cats include pituitary gland tumors, metastatic carcinomas, local extension of nasal tumors, skull tumors and middle ear cavity tumors.

What causes a brain tumor?

The cause of brain tumors is not known. Diet, environment, chemical, genetic, viral, immunologic and trauma have all been considered. In cats with meningiomas, because they often occur in very young animals, a genetic element is suspected.

Benign vs Malignant

The terms benign and malignant must be used with care when referring to brain tumors. Normally these terms apply to various characteristics on a cellular level, but on a biological level, even benign brain tumors can kill the animal due to the secondary effects like increased intracranial pressure or cerebral edema. In short, any brain tumor can kill.

What are the symptoms?

There can be huge variety here. Many animals will present with vague signs, such as one or several of the following:

1. Loss of trained habits

2. Decreased levels of activity

3. Decreased frequency of purring in cats

4. Disorientation

5. Confusion More specific symptoms are dependent upon where exactly the tumor is located within the brain, the size of the tumor and how quickly it is growing. As a tumor enlarges, symptoms tend to become more severe. These can include:

6. Seizures (often indicate a tumor in the cerebral cortex)

7. Facial paralysis (may indicate a brainstem tumor)

8. Tremors (may indicate a tumor in the cerebellum)

9. Wobbliness (may indicate a tumor in the cerebellum)

10. Full or partial blindness (may indicate tumor in hypothalamus or optic nerve)

11. Loss of smell (may indicate tumor of olfactory system)

The physical presence of the tumor can cause knock on effects due to inflammation and edema of the surrounding area. This can cause symptoms such as:

12. Changes in behaviour or temperament (irritability, lethargy)

13. Compulsive walking

14. Circling

15. Pressing head against a wall or hard surface

Animals can sometimes carry brain tumors for several years before presenting to a veterinary clinic, if the tumor is slow growing. In these cases the symptoms develop gradually, and the owner tends to get used to them so that by the time the animal is examined, the tumor has reached a considerable size.

How is a brain tumor diagnosed?

History and Clinical Examination

The first step for a veterinarian is to take a thorough history of all of the clinical signs, and when they developed. This is followed by a full general clinical examination and a full neurological examination.

Bloods

After that, blood should be taken for routine haematology and biochemistry profiles. This is to look for any disease outside the brain. Results will be normal for brain tumors, with the possible exception of some pituitary gland tumors.

Radiography

Plain skull radiographs (xrays) under general anesthetic have little value in detecting a brain tumor, but they can be useful if there is a tumor in the nasal cavities or the middle ear which could extend into the skull. On rare occasions, they can identify bony changes in the skull which can accompany a brain tumor, or mineralization within the tumor itself. Radiographs and ultrasound of the chest and abdomen are useful to look for a tumor elsewhere in the body, in cases where the brain tumor is a secondary metastasis.

MRI and CT Scans

Confirmation of a brain tumor can is usually only achieved using the advanced imaging techniques, CT scans or MRI. Both of these have pros and cons when compared to one another. CT is better for bony changes, while MRI is better for soft tissue definition, for the detection of many of the knock on effects of brain tumors such as edema, cysts and bleeding. MRI is the preferred option for diagnosing primary brain tumors.

Biopsy

This is the only way to definitively diagnose a brain tumor. The advanced imaging techniques above offer much information, but they can occasionally confuse a tumor with a non cancerous mass or a cyst, and they also do not tell us the exact type of tumor present, and therefore the appropriate treatment and prognosis. The best type of biopsy is the CT guided stereotactic brain biopsy system, which is rapid, accurate and quite safe. Since exploratory surgery is high risk, it is not usually attempted unless there is a reasonable chance of removing the whole tumor with minimal collateral damage. Many brain tumors in cats and dogs are not categorized on a cellular level until post mortem.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis

CSF analysis is useful for ruling out inflammatory causes of the symptoms, but tumor cells are rarely identified here. Increased levels of white blood cells and increased protein levels may be present in the CSF with many brain tumors, though this is not diagnostic. This test can be high risk when intracranial pressure is increased, as brain herniation can occur.

Treatment

Treatment is aimed at being either curative or palliative. Curative treatment eradicates the tumor or reduces its size, whilst palliative therapy reduces the surrounding cerebral edema and slows down the growth of the tumor. Palliative therapy also involves administering antiepileptic drugs, if seizures are occurring as a result of the tumor.

Surgery

Whether this is an option depends on the general health of the animal, and the precise location, size, extent, invasiveness and nature of the tumor. Tumors such as meningiomas in cats can be removed successfully by surgery. However, surgery to remove tumors in certain locations such as the brainstem can be extremely dangerous, possibly resulting in death. Even partial removal can benefit the animal though, particularly if the tumor is slow growing.

Radiotherapy

This is probably the most widely used form of treatment for brain tumors. Radiation therapy can be used alone or in combination with other treatments. It is also useful in the treatment of secondary brain tumors. The aim is to destroy the tumor without harming the normal tissue too much.

Chemotherapy

The main problem with chemotherapy for brain tumors is that many drugs do not cross the blood brain barrier. In addition, the tumor may only be sensitive to high doses, doses which are toxic to normal brain tissue and therefore unsuitable for use. However, several drugs have been used for this purpose that can cross the blood brain barrier with reported success, including cytosine arabinoside, lomustine and carmustine.

Probable Outcome

Studies of animals that receive palliative treatment (corticosteroids) for brain tumors show a survival range post diagnosis of 64 to 307 days. This demonstrates the inability to accurately predict life expectancy in these cases. What is certain is that the survival times significantly increase with surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy seems to offer the best results, alone or in combination with other treatments. Generally, the more severe the symptoms, the shorter the life expectancy.