Busting 4 common brain tumor myths

The topic of brain tumors can come with a lot of misconceptions. From brain tumor symptoms to treatment options, these types of tumors are often complex and misunderstood.

Brain tumors are also relatively uncommon, especially when it comes to cancerous brain tumors. Overall, you have a less than 1% chance of developing brain or spine cancer during your life. But if you have risk factors for a brain tumor or develop this condition, finding a trusted medical team and getting informed are essential to making the right choices for your health.

Get to know the most common brain tumor myths so you can have the information you need to move forward.

Myth #1: Chronic headaches mean I have a brain tumor

Some people with chronic headaches may worry, “Are my headaches caused by a brain tumor?” The short answer is no, most likely not. Chronic headaches can be a sign of brain tumors, but they are not specific to this condition.

While headaches happen in people with brain tumors up to 70% of the time, only a minority of people who go to the doctor with headaches have an underlying brain tumor. Migraines and tension headaches are much more common.

No matter the cause, if you’re having ongoing headaches, talk to your primary care doctor or a neurologist. They can start a workup and treat your primary headaches accordingly.

Myth #2: My family member had a brain tumor, so I'm at risk

Not all brain tumors are linked to a hereditary cause. The presence of a brain tumor in a family member may increase your risk only if the tumor is associated with a known hereditary syndrome. These syndromes include neurofibromatosis 1 and 2, Li-Fraumeni syndrome and constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD).

If you have a close family member with a brain tumor, talk to your doctor about genetic counseling and, possibly, genetic testing to help accurately assess your individual risk.

Along with hereditary syndromes, another factor that may increase your risk of a brain tumor is exposure to ionizing radiation.

There are also factors that may decrease your risk. For example, having allergies may lower your risk of brain tumors in adults because of increased immune activity.

Myth #3: Brain tumors are always cancerous

In truth, most brain tumors are not cancerous. According to the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States, approximately 72% of primary brain tumors are non-cancerous or benign, while about 28% are cancer.

Primary brain tumors start in the brain and can be cancerous or non-cancerous, while secondary brain tumors are tumors that spread from other areas in the body where cancer is located. Some of the most common non-cancerous primary brain tumors are meningiomas, vestibular schwannomas and pituitary adenomas.

Myth #4: Brain tumors aren't treatable

Since the majority of brain tumors are non-cancerous, most brain tumors are treatable. Advances in surgery, radiotherapy and medical therapies have significantly improved outcomes for these benign tumors.

For cancerous brain tumors such as gliomas, there are treatments available, too. Improvements in surgical techniques, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and the emergence of molecular and targeted therapies have advanced the treatment of gliomas. Molecular profiling has also revolutionized the way these tumors are classified.

Typically, high-grade gliomas require more aggressive therapies like radiation and chemotherapy following surgery. Lower grades are often managed with surgery, which may be followed by targeted therapies such as IDH inhibitors. This therapy is given in the form of a once-daily pill and targets specific changes in the tumor cells called IDH mutations.

Ongoing research also means medical teams continue to work to discover the next best treatment for brain tumors. For example, emerging treatments such as tumor treatment fields, immunotherapy and targeted therapies have been used clinically and in clinical trials.

Get the facts on brain tumor symptoms or treatments

Despite the myths surrounding brain tumor symptoms and treatments, we live in an era where we now know more about brain tumors. With this growing knowledge, you have access to advanced treatments, clinical trials and specialized teams dedicated to brain tumor care.

That’s why if you’re navigating a possible brain tumor diagnosis, it’s important to have a neuro-oncologist on your team. These doctors are specialists who focus on brain tumor management, and they have training and expertise to guide you. With the right information and support from a specialist, you can make informed choices about your next steps.

Get started by learning more about neuro-oncology services and finding a specialist near you.