Metastatic brain tumors develop from cancer cells that spread from other organs into the brain. They are a common form of brain cancer and can be the deadliest. With cancer research constantly breaking new ground, however, patient outlooks are improving dramatically.
Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) is New Jersey’s most comprehensive spine and brain center. Here, CNSO’s board-certified neurosurgeons discuss metastatic brain cancer, its symptoms, and how it is treated.
Quick Facts About Metastatic Brain Cancer
- Metastatic tumors are among the most common types of brain tumors.
- Metastatic brain tumors are caused when cancer elsewhere in the body, such as the lungs, breast, colon, or skin, spreads into the brain through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
- Treatment options for metastatic brain cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
- Treating metastatic cancer is challenging. However, new treatment breakthroughs are significantly improving prognosis and providing a longer and higher quality of life.
- Supportive care is available for patients living with metastatic brain tumors.
Understanding Metastasis
Metastasis is the process by which cancer spreads to new parts of the body. Cancer starts with an alteration in a cell’s DNA that causes it to start dividing and growing uncontrollably. This uncontrolled growth creates a mass that steadily intrudes on neighboring tissue. The tissue that gives rise to the cancer is considered the primary site, or “primary cancer”.
Primary tumors can occur in any part of the body. Cancerous tumor cells do not stick together well, and as the tumor grows, some of its cells may break away from the main mass. If these cells enter a blood or lymphatic vessel, they may be carried to a new part of the body. From the blood or lymph stream, cancer cells can lodge into new tissue where they begin creating a secondary tumor. This process of metastasis is why prompt treatment is essential to prevent serious complications from cancer.
What Is Metastatic Brain Cancer?
Metastatic brain tumors are cancers that started elsewhere in the body before spreading (metastasizing) into the brain. Any type of cancer can lead to metastatic brain cancer if its spread is not controlled. The most common types of brain metastases include:
- Lung cancer
- Breast cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Skin cancer (melanoma)
How quickly brain metastases form differs from patient to patient. Some metastatic brain cancers develop quickly enough to be identified before the primary cancer is found. Others develop years after the primary cancer is diagnosed. Brain metastases are among the most common types of brain tumors, with approximately 200,000 new cases of metastatic brain cancer diagnosed each year.
Common Symptoms of Metastatic Brain Cancer
Metastatic brain cancer causes symptoms like those caused by primary brain tumors. Symptoms develop as the tumor gets larger, pressing against or causing swelling or edema within neighboring structures in the brain. The exact nature of symptoms depends on where in the brain the tumor forms. They may include:
- Headaches that recur in a pattern or get worse over time, and are often worse in the morning
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
- Numbness and loss of sensation
- Difficulties with speech or understanding language
- Weakness or loss of coordination
- Memory problems
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating
- Changes in vision or hearing
- Personality changes
- Lethargy
- Loss of consciousness
These symptoms are not always caused by a brain tumor. All neurological changes are serious, however, and often indicate a severe underlying condition. Patients who are experiencing any of the symptoms described above should seek medical attention immediately. Even if cancer is not the cause, prompt treatment is the key to preventing severe and long-lasting complications.
Diagnosis and Staging of Metastatic Brain Cancer
Extensive testing is the first step in any treatment plan for a patient who may have cancer. During this phase, the physician’s goal is to confirm the cause of symptoms and, if it is cancer, to determine its stage. Cancer stages describe how large the tumor has grown and how far it has spread in the body. Tests used may include:
- Neurological exam: This is a type of physical exam that evaluates changes to a patient’s hearing, balance, vision, strength, coordination, memory, cognitive skills, and reflexes.
- Medical imaging: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET) scans can be used to locate a tumor.
- Biopsy: By taking a small sample of tumor tissue to be tested in a laboratory, physicians can determine the type of cancer, its origin, and what treatments might be effective.
Treatment Options for Metastatic Brain Cancer
Metastatic brain cancers present a unique challenge for treatment. Once cancer has spread throughout the body, it is difficult to locate and eliminate all of it. If only a handful of cells survive treatment, they can form a new tumor. After diagnosing and staging a patient’s cancer, the physician will help the patient understand what options are available for treatment. These may include:
Surgery
Surgery is almost always the best and most definitive form of treatment for metastatic brain tumors. The goal of brain tumor surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible. While metastatic brain tumor surgery cannot fully treat the disease, it may be used to slow the cancer’s spread and prevent neurological complications that may lead to a shorter lifespan or lower quality of life.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is sometimes an option for patients who cannot undergo surgery due to their overall health or other factors. This approach targets brain tumors with a concentrated beam of radiation that kills cancer cells. While it does not remove a tumor, it can prevent cancer from spreading.
Chemotherapy
In conjunction with surgery, if feasible, or radiation treatment if surgery is not an option, chemotherapy is the main treatment for metastatic cancers. It relies on strong drugs that are highly toxic to fast-growing cells, including cancer cells. While it is an effective way to combat cancer throughout the body, chemotherapy often comes with negative side effects.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is the latest breakthrough in cancer care. These cutting-edge treatments use molecular medicine to attack cells with specific proteins or mutations. This makes them highly effective at controlling cancer when other treatments fail.
Clinical Trials
Depending on a patient’s unique cancer, they may also be a candidate for a clinical trial. Clinical trials are the last steps in testing a new therapy. They allow patients to receive treatments that are still in development while also contributing to research to improve care for future patients.
Supportive Care
Patients living with metastatic brain cancer have access to a variety of supportive care services to help them maintain a higher quality of life. Occupational, speech, and physical therapy can help patients regain everyday function, while support groups connect families with others going through similar struggles.
Find Cutting-Edge Brain Cancer Care Near You in New Jersey
Though metastatic brain cancer may be frightening, the right care can help patients live longer with a higher quality of life. Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics offers comprehensive brain tumor treatment at locations near you. Contact CNSO today to learn more or to schedule an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Metastatic Brain Cancer
How is metastatic brain cancer different from primary brain tumors?
Unlike primary brain tumors, which originate in the brain, metastatic brain cancer originates elsewhere in the body and spreads to the brain.
Can metastatic brain cancer be cured?
Depending on the primary cancer, metastatic cancer is typically not curable. Instead, treatments focus on slowing the condition’s progress and helping patients maintain a high quality of life with cancer.
How long can you live with brain metastases?
Patient survival with brain metastases depends on a variety of factors, including:
- Patient age and overall health
- Type of primary cancer
- Number of brain metastases
- Size of brain metastases
- Previous treatments received
With treatment technologies constantly improving, patient survival is better than ever before. Many patients can live for years with a high quality of life despite their cancer.
