The Signs of Meningioma

Abnormal growths inside the skull are a serious issue. Not only is the potential for permanent disability or death devastating, the signs and symptoms can be very vague and very slow to materialize as such growths get bigger. Meningioma, or tumors that affect the meninges – the membrane that coats the brain and spinal cord – are especially dangerous because of their seemingly "benign" threat. Most people who pay attention to symptoms that could be signs of intracranial tumors immediately suspect brain cancer or other serious malignancies.

They might forego worrying about something that has a 90% chance of being benign. They forget that while tumors like meningioma are indeed less life-threatening in theory, any growth occurring in the limited space of the skull is sure to cause serious damage that could result in paralysis or death. It's important to make sure you get checked for all possible intracranial growths if you feel like youhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif have symptoms of one.

Symptoms are Slow but Steady

It can take months or even a year or longer for meningioma symptoms to be apparent enough for you to seek medical attention. In the meantime, as it grows, symptoms can be things that are simply signs of moving past middle-age into seniority. Indeed the average person diagnosed with meningioma is between the ages of 40 and 70, so these symptoms can be very difficult to discern. Forgetfulness, unprecedented negligence, and slowing down of motor functions, can all be meningioma symptoms as easily as they could be the indicators of growing old.

When the growth or growths become large enough they will inhibit eye sight and cause seizures and headaches. This is often accompanied or followed by increased weakness in the limbs. But by the time these symptoms arrive the tumor might have grown exponentially, proving a problem for surgeons and oncologists.

Treatment Options are Few, But Successful

Surgery is often the solution for meningioma because these tumors are in fact linked to radiation exposure. However if the case is bad enough the risks might make radiation therapy the lesser of two evils, though based on the particular growth the chances of a recidivism can be high if this sort of therapy is used. Many surgery options today for removing meningioma are non-invasive and are performed with minimal tools, cuts, and stitches.

Don't allow the vague symptoms of early meningioma make you paranoid, but if your gut tells you to seek a doctor's opinion don't hesitate to do so. Like with any tumor growth especially within the skull, time is of the upmost importance. Every moment counts as a second of life gained or a second of life lost. Avoid paranoia, but never cease being proactive.