Tumors can be categorized into 2 types, namely benign and malignant. These malignant tumors are called cancers, including brain cancer. Brain cancer occurs due to genetic changes in brain cells, so the cells grow uncontrollable and damage the surrounding tissues. Besides growing rapidly, these brain cells also do not function normally.
Two types of brain cancer
According to its origin, brain cancer can be classified into two, namely:
Primary brain cancer
It is brain cancer that comes from the brain itself. There are many types of primary brain cancers, and each type is named after the brain part or the type of brain cells that are experiencing violence. The most common types of primary brain cancer are gliomas (cancers derived from glia cells in the brain) and medulloblastoma (brain cancer that is derived from the brain).
Secondary brain cancer
Another name is metastatic brain cancer, which is brain cancer that appears as a result of the spread of cancer cells from organs or other parts of the body. Some types of cancer are quite often spread to the brain and are the cause of secondary brain cancer is breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, kidney cancer, and colon cancer.
Causes of brain cancer in general
As explained above, the cause of brain cancer is not yet known with certainty. However, there are a number of factors that are suspected to increase one's risk of developing the disease:
1. Genetic factors
Some cases of brain tumors occur in people who have a history of cancer in their families. A person who has a history of genetic diseases in the family, such as Gorlin's syndrome, Turner's syndrome, Li-Fraumani's syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, or neurofibromatosis, is also said to be more at risk of developing brain cancer.
2. Radiation exposure
Radiation exposure that can increase the risk of brain cancer can come from nuclear radiation, atomic bomb explosion, or radiotherapy to treat cancer. People who are exposed to radiation in high doses or for long periods of time, both in the head and other parts of the body, are more at risk of developing cancer, including brain cancer.
Tumor and cancer cells due to high radiation exposure are generally newly developed about 10-15 years after exposure. While radiation exposure from radiological tests, such as CT scans and X-rays, or HP radiation, is so far still considered to be high enough to cause brain cancer.
3. Environmental pollution
Exposure to certain chemicals over a long period of time may increase the risk of cancer, including brain cancer. These chemicals include pesticides, herbicides (weeds), vinyl chloride in plastics products, tin, and chemical substances found in rubber, fuel, and textiles.
Those who are at risk of exposure to these chemicals are farmers, oil refinery workers, and plastic, rubber and textile industry employees.
4. Smoking habits
The content of chemicals contained in cigarettes can damage the cells of the body, which can then cause lung cancer and increase the risk of developing other cancers, including brain cancer.
5. Viral infections
Viral infections can cause damage to the cell DNA thereby potentially causing the cell to turn into cancer. It can also occur in brain cells. Some of the types of viruses associated with brain cancer are HIV, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
6. Age and gender
From a number of medical data, brain cancer is more widely found in children and elderly. For its own kind, women are called more risky to develop meningioma-type brain cancer, whereas medullablastoma brain cancer is more commonly found in children.
The risk of brain cancer because of hereditary factors can not be prevented. While exposure to radiation, chemicals, and smoking habits are factors that can be avoided to lower the risk of brain cancer.
Keep in mind, the above risk factor is not absolute the cause of brain cancer. If a person has one or more risk factors, not necessarily he will inevitably be exposed to brain cancer. These factors only increase the risk of brain cancer.
Conversely, brain cancer can occur even without any risk factors. Therefore, it is still necessary for further research to study the causes of brain cancer and its risk factors.
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