Symptoms and Treatment of Stage 4 Brain Cancer

It is important for you to know the symptoms and treatment of brain cancer, especially those who have entered stage 4. Stage 4 brain cancer that is not treated immediately can threaten the lives of sufferers. The stage or severity of the cancer is a picture of the growth of cancer cells and the extent of their spread. In stage 4 brain cancer, cancer cells grow aggressively and massively, almost all of the cells are already abnormally shaped, and their spread is generally quite extensive and even spreads to parts outside the brain, such as the spine.

Symptoms that accompany Stage 4 Brain Cancer

Symptoms that can be found in stage 4 brain cancer are severe headaches that occur permanently or repeatedly. For example, sufferers can experience headaches that are so painful for weeks and are difficult to disappear despite taking pain medication, such as paracetamol, aspirin, or ibuprofen. In addition to severe headaches, stage 4 brain cancer can also be accompanied by symptoms such as:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle weakening, so that body movement becomes limited
• Lost balance
• Convulsions
• Blurred vision
• Difficult to talk
• Memory loss
• Hallucinations
• Lost consciousness

Management of Stage 4 Brain Cancer

Stage 4 brain cancer will generally be difficult to cure. However, prompt and appropriate treatment can reduce complaints and slow the growth of cancer cells. Some types of medical treatment that can be done to treat stage 4 brain cancer are:

1. Operation

In some cases, surgery can be performed to treat stage 4 brain cancer. Surgical procedures are performed by opening the skull (craniotomy) and removing a malignant tumor lodged in the brain.

2. Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is usually done after a stage 4 brain cancer patient has surgery. Radiotherapy aims to kill cancer cells that may still remain, and slow the growth of cancer cells that cannot be removed in surgery.

3. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is done by administering anticancer drugs to patients, both in the form of tablets or injections. The aim is to kill and destroy cancer cells that are lodged in the brain. For the results of chemotherapy to be effective, administration of the drug must be done regularly.

4. Target therapy

Almost the same as chemotherapy, target therapy also uses drugs to inhibit the growth and development of cancer cells. But the difference is that this therapy directly targets abnormal cells that are lodged in the brain, without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue. In addition, target therapy generally aims to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells, not kill them. That is information about the symptoms of stage 4 brain cancer and some treatments that can be done to overcome them. You need to remember, brain cancer that is known from an early age will increase the chances of recovery. Therefore, if you feel you are experiencing symptoms of brain cancer, especially if you experience persistent and increasingly severe headaches, don't hesitate to see a doctor immediately.