Brain Tumor-A Case Sudy
Brain Tumor-A Case Sudy
Brain Tumor-A Case Sudy
In
A Case Study on
BRAIN TUMOR
Is
PRESENTED TO:
PRESENTED BY:
Jhayvie Marie C. Cacho
III-A
Brain Tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor (defined as
an abnormal growth of cells) within the brain or the central spinal canal.
Causes:
IDIOPATHIC
Risk Factors:
• Being male
• Race (Whites)
• Age - Most brain tumors are detected in people who are 70 years old
or older.
Brain tumors are more common in children younger than 8
years old than in older children.
• Family history - People with family members who have gliomas may
be more likely to develop this disease.
• Being exposed to radiation or certain chemicals at work:
Radiation
• Formaldehyde
• Vinyl chloride - Workers who make plastics may be exposed to vinyl
chloride.
• Acrylonitrile - People who make textiles and plastics may be exposed
to acrylonitrile.
The symptoms of brain tumors depend on tumor size, type, and location.
Symptoms may be caused when a tumor presses on a nerve or damages a
certain area of the brain. They also may be caused when the brain swells or
fluid builds up within the skull.
• Headaches (usually worse in the morning)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Changes in speech, vision, or hearing
• Problems balancing or walking
• Changes in mood, personality, or ability to concentrate
• Problems with memory
• Muscle jerking or twitching (seizures or convulsions)
• Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
Diagnosis
• Angiogram - Dye injected into the bloodstream flows into the blood
vessels in the brain to make them show up on an x-ray. If a tumor is
present, the doctor may be able to see it on the x-ray.
Treatment:
• Surgery is the usual treatment for most brain tumors. Surgery to open
the skull is called a craniotomy. It is performed under general
anesthesia. Before surgery begins, the scalp is shaved. The surgeon
then makes an incision in the scalp and uses a special type of saw to
remove a piece of bone from the skull. After removing part or the
entire tumor, the surgeon covers the opening in the skull with that
piece of bone or with a piece of metal or fabric. The surgeon then
closes the incision in the scalp.
• Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays
to kill tumor cells. The radiation may come from x-rays, gamma rays,
or protons. A large machine aims radiation at the tumor and the tissue
close to it. Sometimes the radiation may be directed to the entire brain
or to the spinal cord.
• Chemotherapy the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs may be
given by mouth or by injection. Either way, the drugs enter the
bloodstream and travel throughout the body. The drugs are usually
given in cycles so that a recovery period follows each treatment
period.
Chemotherapy may be given in an outpatient part of the hospital, at
the doctor's office, or at home.
For some patients with recurrent cancer of the brain, the surgeon
removes the tumor and implants several wafers that contain
chemotherapy. Each wafer is about the size of a dime. Over several
weeks, the wafers dissolve, releasing the drug into the brain. The drug
kills cancer cells.
Nursing Management
• Ask the patient to talk about the surgery that lies ahead
• Give relaxation techniques to help prepare the patient to enter into the procedure ahead
• Offer ways to minimize the inevitable hair loss such as with wigs, scarves, turbans and hats.
II. Objectives
General Objectives:
• To enhance my socialization skills by establishing rapport with the
patient, her/his relatives and other members of the health care teams.
Specific Objectives: