Benign probably is derived from the Latin word benigenus which means "a good kind" (bene= well, genus= born of, kind). In theory all benign tumors behave well and do not pose serious danger to the patient. Benign tumors are usually easily separated from normal tissues and therefore they can be removed surgically. However, tumors do not read books, so they are not aware of this sharp definition.

Benign brain tumors are slow-growing tumors that can be removed or destroyed if in an accessible location. Malignant tumors (brain cancer) are rapidly growing tumors that invade or infiltrate and destroy normal brain tissue. No one is certain why, but some benign brain tumors may change over time to become malignant. Tumors are graded to indicate how quickly they are growing. Today, most medical institutions use the World Health Organization (WHO) classification system to identify brain tumors.

There's a sense of relief when a tumor is benign, and about half of all primary brain tumors are of this type. Meningiomas, benign tumors found in the brain's membrane lining and the spinal cord, account for between 15 % and 20 % of all primary brain tumors. However, cancerous or not, a tumor can create pressure on vital areas in the brain. Most benign brain tumors are treatable with surgery or radiation. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for brain tumors.

The meaning of the word tumor is a "lump" or a "swelling", and in medical language it is used to indicate an abnormal, uncontrolled growth in any part of the body. You may think of it as a group of cells which rapidly divide and do not recognize any rule or limit. The brain tumors are similar to the tumors of other organs. However, since the brain is the center of many critical functions, tumors arising in this organ have serious outcomes.

Many brain tumors may create complaints which force the patient to seek medical help. However, today more and more tumors are being recognized before they create complaints with the help of advanced radiological studies. These studies sometimes are performed for other reasons, and coincidentally lead to discovery of tumors. Even though the physician may find the effects of a brain tumor in the body, he/she can not feel or see them during a routine physical examination.

The most accurate, and sometimes the only way to accurately diagnose a brain tumor requires a biopsy. The surgeon performs the biopsy and the pathologist makes the final diagnosis, and can tell whether the tumor appears benign or malignant.

This word is derived from the Latin malignus which meant evil disposed, and is used as the opposite of benign. A malignant brain tumor is life-threatening. Malignant brain tumors possess certain chemicals which enable them to infiltrate into other tissues and spread into other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are almost impossible to remove totally by surgery, unless they are caught early in their course.

The most common symptoms include headaches, which can be most severe in the morning; nausea or vomiting, which can be most severe in the morning; seizures or convulsions; difficulty thinking, speaking, or finding words; personality changes; weakness or paralysis in one part or one side of the body; loss of balance; vision changes; confusion and disorientation; and memory loss. Different parts of the brain control different functions, so symptoms will vary depending on the tumor’s location.

Some brain tumors are cancerous and some are not. Malignant tumors are considered cancer. Two of the most common forms of brain cancer are metastatic brain tumors (brain metastases) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Brain cancer cells mutate and lose their normal form or structure. This is called anaplasia. The degree of anaplasia helps to forecast a tumor's growth potential. The most rapidly growing tumors have the highest degree of anaplasia. Benign tumors are not considered cancer.

A brain tumor diagnosis usually involves several steps, which can include a neurological examination, brain scan(s) and/or a biopsy. A neurological examination is a series of tests to measure the function of the patient's nervous system and physical and mental alertness. If responses to the exam are not normal, the doctor may order a scan or refer the patient to a neurologist or neurosurgeon, who will then order a scan. A brain scan is a picture of the internal structures in the brain.

The standard treatments for brain tumors are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. In general, radiation and chemotherapy treatments are used as secondary or adjuvant treatments for tumors that cannot be managed using only surgery. However, radiation and chemotherapy may be used without surgery if the tumor is inoperable.

Primary brain tumors originate in the brain itself. Primary brain tumors do not spread from the brain to other parts of the body, except in rare cases. Pathologists classify primary brain tumors into two groups: glial tumors (gliomas), and non-glial tumors. Gliomas are composed of glial cells, which include astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells, Schwann cells, microglia, and satellite cells.

To a large extent, what happens to you depends on the type of tumor you have, its location, the area of the brain involved and the forms of therapy you’ll have. But each patient is different, and these are not the only factors to be considered. For patients and their families, the brain tumor experience is a journey into an unknown land filled with uncertainty.

During surgery, a section of the tumor is quick-frozen and then examined by the neurosurgeon. This "frozen-section" method gives the doctor some idea of whether the tumor is cancerous or not, but it is not the definitive word. A detailed pathological report may take up to two days or longer if the sample is sent to another laboratory for further examination.

The pituitary gland is NOT in the brain and pituitary tissue is different from brain tissue. Since the pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain and is connected to the brain by a thin stalk, there is often confusion, particularly by insurance companies, about the classification of a pituitary tumor. A pituitary tumor is NOT a brain tumor.

The medications most commonly prescribed for brain tumors are steroids for brain swelling (edema) and anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) to control seizures. Steroids (glucocortico-steroids) are drugs that reduce edema (inflammation) in the brain. Steroids can help relieve pre-surgery symptoms, which may increase the time to make treatment decisions. Steroids may be prescribed at diagnosis, or before or after surgery. Common steroids include dexamethasone (Decadron), prednisone, and methylprednisolone.

There are several chemotherapy drugs prescribed for brain tumors, and they may be delivered in various ways. Chemotherapy drugs taken orally (by mouth) include temozolomide (Temodar), procarbazine (Matulane), and lomustine (CCNU). Chemotherapy given intravenously (by IV, via needle inserted into a vein) includes vincristine (Oncovin or Vincasar PFS), cisplatin (Platinol), carmustine (BCNU, BiCNU), and carboplatin (Paraplatin). BCNU is also given by polymer wafer implant during surgery.