A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain or central spine, that is responsible for proper brain functionality. Doctors refer to a problem based on where the tumor cells originated, and whether they are cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (Benign)
Benign-The least aggressive of the tumor is benign tumor. They originate from cells within or surrounding the brain, do not contain cancer cells, grow slowly, and typically have clear borders.
Malignant- Malignant type contains cancer cells and often do not have clear borders. They are considered to be life threatening because they grow rapidly and invade surrounding brain tissue.
Primary- Tumors that start in cells of the brain are called primary brain tumors. The tumor can spread to the other parts of the brain or to the spine.
Metastatic- Secondary type begins in the part of the body and then spread to the brain. These tumors are more common than primary brain tumors.
Symptoms
When the brain tumor is suspected, a number of tests may be done to help the doctor reach a brain tumor diagnosis. These tests may also be able to help the doctor determine what kind of tumor it is.
Some of the tests performed to first diagnose the tumor and later used to monitor progress- to see, if the tumor has disappeared, is striking, remains the same or has changed in the same way.
The doctors, nurses, and other professionals give these tests can provide an answer, information, reassurance to help one feel more at ease.
The most common symptoms of a brain tumor include
• Headaches
• Numbness in arms and legs
• Memory problems
• Balance and walking problems
• Nausea and vomiting
• Change in speech, vision, or hearing
Brain tumors grades
Brain tumor is classified as grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, and grade 4 type of tumor
Grade 1- Benign tumors with a slow growth rate, look like normal brain cells.
Grade 2- Malignant tumors that look less normal than the grade 1 tumors.
Grade 3- Malignant tumors that look very different from normal cells. They grow actively and look distinctly abnormal.
Grade 4- Malignant tumors with distinctly abnormal-looking cells that grow and spread rapidly.
Diagnosis
To diagnose a type, the doctor starts by asking questions about your symptoms and taking a personal and family health history. Then he/she perform a physical exam including a neurological exam. If there’s reason to suspect a brain tumor, the doctor may request one or more of the following tests.
• Imagine studies such as CT scan or MRI to see detailed images of the brain.
• Angiogram, which involves the use of dye and X-ray of blood vessels in the brain to look for the signs of the type or abnormal blood vessels.
• The doctor may also ask for a Biopsy to determine whether or not the tumor is cancer. A tissue sample is removed from the brain either during surgery to remove the tumor with the needle inserted through a small hole drilled.
• Options include treatment by surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
How are it can be treated
Surgery to remove the brain tumor is typically the first option, once a brain tumor has been diagnosed. However, some tumor can’t be surgically removed because of their location in the brain. In those cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are both options for killing and shrinking the tumor.
Because treatment for cancer also can damage healthy tissue, it’s important to discuss possible side and long term effects of whatever treatment is being used with your doctor. Rehabilitation could involve working with different therapies
• Physical therapist to regain strength and balance
• Speech therapist to address problem with speaking, expressing thought
• Occupational therapist to help manage daily activities such as using bathing and dressing the wound properly.
41 Comments
Following my question from the end of the video – What are your challenges for this week?
I enjoy your videos and admire your enthusiasm for recovery but do worry that I’m missing the bigger picture. I just look at you and see how slim you are, how pretty you are and cannot ever imagine being able to look like you, however much I allowed myself to not eat/eat. Do you still weigh yourself? Is gaining weight a goal?
"Bear stop looking at my chocolate you will die" …me trying to recover.
I know your challenging your eating disorder, but you don’t have to eat things you don’t want to eat, or drink things you don’t want to drink especially if they’re unhealthy
While i don't have anorexia or any form of eating disorder, i love watching your videos and they're the highlight of my week!! Purely because they help me with my OCD and being able to challenge it which can also include food so thank you for making these videos xx
You are beautifullllllll
Bear is too cute! 😍
I've been here for a while, but I think this might be my favorite video that you've ever posted. Something about the vulnerability when you talked about drinking the sprite really hit me… recovery is so hard, and thank you for being so transparent about your process <3 I want to recover eventually and watching your videos, especially this one, give me a lot of hope 🙂
Have you considered writing a book or publishing your diary of your experience?
Hi Becca! I do not struggle with anorexia, but I struggle immensely with eating food in public/in front of other people. I have stress/anxiety rules! Watching you face your fears gives me courage to face mine every day and create challenges to those rules. So here are my five most recent challenges:
1) Others may freely comment on what I am eating, how much or how little, and when, and this will not affect my meal.
2) I will say yes to eating out.
3) I will not feel pressured to finish everything or even most of what I have.
4) If at any point I feel nauseous during my meal, this is not an indication that I will be sick. Take a breath and continue when comfortable.
5) I will not be afraid of feeling full.
Also yay for patreon! This is a great way for viewers to support you!
You’re one of those people I wish I knew in Real life so we could be the Best of Best friends haha 😅❤️
I love it!!! Haha my biggest challenge in recovery is the fried food, I actually work on it!
i love you :’)
I would love to see you do the 10k calorie challenge! Show us we aren’t bound by numbers!!
This made me smile. Such a good idea to document your progress, your doing so well taking charge of your life 💕 so nice to see your boyfriend be so supportive too 😭💕
I’ve actually challenged myself a lot the past week. I haven’t counted anything, I’ve let myself be driven home from school instead of walking, I’ve eaten bread, I’ve eaten multiple portions of dinner, I’ve had breakfast AND lunch, and even though I’ve done some exercises, I’ve challenged myself a lot and let myself feel guilty without doing anything about it and I think it’s helping:) and your videos have helped me a lot to get started on challenging myself. Let’s hope I can drink milk and tea, eat cheese and maybe even a whole banana next week!
Rebecca! I hope you read this comment. Can you maybe do a video that explains eating disorders in more detail? All of your videos are about recovery which is great! But I find myself a little confused sometimes because our culture constantly tells us to eat less and lose more weight. I live in America so it might be a little different but we have an overweight and obesity problem so sometimes I have a hard time relating to what you're saying because I don't quite understand the idea of anorexia because it's so different for everybody. Can you maybe make a video that talks a little more about that? Is it fear of calories? If so where does that come from? Is you initial instinct to undereat instead of overeat like most people? I've also wondered what people with anorexia do when they don't eat because we spend quite a bit of our days preparing, thinking, and eating food. Are "rules" to make you feel safe or something? I'm very lost. Sorry for the long comment but I hope you read it and reply back or make another video. 🙂
i am so proud of you❤❤
I am struggling to recover from anorexia so prayers and thoughts would be highly appreciated
You are stunning! Please keep the inspiration going. I’m on my recovery journey from ED as well and honestly still struggling through calories and body image. Watching your video gives me so much motivation and positivity to fight against the ED!
Wish i was as strong as you are 😢😢😢
You are my biggest inspiration ❤️
That all you can eat restaurant reminds me of nabrassa restaurant I went to in London. I died from meat overload 😭😂
You’re so freaking beautiful I honestly can’t stop looking at your face
I've been struggling trying to let myself eat normally the day after eating what I believe was "too much" and this was so helpful and definitely brightened my mood x
You are the queen of recovery!!! Thank you so much.
You give me so much strength and motivation every time! Thank you for sharing and thank you for being you! Lots of love ❤️
one of my closest friends is just trying to overcome the last steps of recovery and your videos have given me the hope I need that maybe it might just be possible! thank you and I hope you continue on this amazing journey – recovery is so important to the loved ones of recoverers as well 🙂 x
This was so relatable! I hate it when I can't see my food plated as i " lose track" of how much I've eaten and can't tell when I'm full. I feel I still need a visual guide of how much is a healthy amount . If you want to work on this maybe try a Tapas bar next? again – you can't see it plated……………..Think I might challenge that myself this coming week………. Another wonderful video, thankyou!
I've been on a recovery for a year, now. It sure is ups and downs, but in the bigger picture I've gone so far and I'm so proud of myself! Changes in life are very challenging for me, too, but your channel is a huge inspiration and you're a fantastic person – and a Recovery Queen, haha. Wish you all the best! ps. would you mind sharing the story behind the tattoo on your arm? 🙂
good questioooooonnnn
Did you get your period back?=)
Do you think you would be as gung-ho about challenges if you weren't sharing them with the public? Is the external validation a motivation? I'm curious, because I've found that to be true – if I'm checking in with someone about a food challenge, it's easier for me to follow through than just trying to do it for myself.
Seeing your boyf so proud when you tried his drink for the first time melted my heart. More proof that anorexia isn't admired, the real us is. My challenge is to order dessert. … warm chocolate fudge cake, my pre anorexia favourite!
Why sooo much meat ??
Love the dedication to recovery you have. My five challenges will be:
1) sandwich with white bread
2) full glass of sweetened almond milk
3) not portioning my food out letting someone else do it
4) and finally a Big Bang of GNOCCHI! My all time favorite that I haven’t had in 3 years!!!
I find this so inspiring! Well done!
I'm really happy to see how happy you are. I don't know if you're actually this happy, but you look stunning and amazing and I'm proud of you!
Do you speak Cantonese?
Today first day of recorvery ❤❤ proud of me , I hit the 3000 calories
I think you should do a video where you eat everything that your boyfriend eats haha xx