As the name so obviously suggests brain tumors are tumors formed within some area of the brain. A tumor is caused by cells growing in an unusual or abnormal manner, reproducing themselves far too quickly and uncontrollably.

The process of brain cells mutating and losing their usual structure or changing the way in which they reproduce is known as anaplasia and the term is used for both benign and malignant growths. If a doctor can ascertain the rate of anaplasia it can be far easier for them to predict how fast a tumor may grow and decide upon the most effective course of treatment.

With tumors in other parts of the body medical professionals usually classify them as one of two kinds of tumor; benign or malignant. Benign meaning harmless or malignant meaning cancerous. When it comes to brain tumors however the terminology changes somewhat.

When classifying a brain tumor the term benign still generally means harmless. Such brain tumors have distinct, visible boundaries and often surgery is extremely effective.  The term malignant brain tumor can also refer to a tumor that is made up of cells that are not cancerous but is in located in area vital to human function. A malignant brain tumor is not always carcinogenic in nature.

A malignant brain tumor often spreads beyomd the brain itself, destroying healthy tissue in other areas of the brain and in the spinal column. A malignant brain tumors development can be likened to that of a tree, it spreads its “roots” as it grows and strangles healthy tissue while growing in size.

Not all malignant brain tumors begin in the brain. A metastatic brain tumor can be the result of the spread of cancer that began elsewhere in the body.

Exactly what causes a brain tumor to develop in certain people and not others is still very much a mystery to medical science even in the 21^st century. Genetics, environment, exposure to certain chemicals and infection have all been put forth as possible causes but it may simply just come down to “bad luck”.

Accurate figures for how may brain tumors are diagnosed every year are hard to come by. The most recent approximate figures suggest that approximately 44,500 people of all ages are diagnosed with some form of brain tumor every year. About 20,000 of those tumors are categorized as primary malignancies.