Brain cancers are devastating and fatal disease, with benign and cancerous brain tumors set to cause an estimated 13,140 deaths in the United States in 2010, according to the National Cancer Society. Brain tumors develop from the abnormal growth of nerve cells, called neurons, or of nerve-supporting cells, called glia. In addition to the short-term effects of brain cancers, such as headaches, patients who develop brain cancer may also suffer from the long-term effects of cancer for the rest of their lives.
Changes in Personality
One possible long-term effect of brain cancer is a change in personality and disposition. Brain cancer typically affects a number of regions within the brain. Areas directly surrounding the tumor become damaged as the cancer cells attack healthy brain cells, while the entire brain suffers damage to an increase of pressure inside the skull. The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center indicates that brain cancer patients may develop personality changes. Some of these changes may be subtle, with the patient seeming "off" to their loved ones. In other cases, brain cancer patients may become quick to anger and display extreme personality changes. Since the brain damage as a result of cancer growth is very difficult to repair, these personality disruptions may persist long after the cancer has been treated, leading to lifelong personality changes.
Dementia
Another possible life-long effect of brain cancer is dementia, a loss of cognitive ability, forgetfulness and absent-mindedness. Dementia may develop due to brain damage as a result of cancer growth. A study published in the "Science of Aging Knowledge Environment" in 2005 records the case of a patient with severe dementia as a result of a brain tumor. The study notes that dementia due to brain tumors may include difficulties in word-finding, inability to concentrate, disorientation and an inability to perform routine tasks. Although these symptoms worsen as the brain cancer progresses, brain damage may cause the symptoms to persist after the cancer goes into remission.
Loss of Vision
Another possible lifetime effect of brain cancer is diminished or loss of vision. Tumor growth can damage areas of the brain responsible for receiving and analyzing visual stimuli, and patients with brain cancer may experience a progressive loss of vision, causing double vision, blurred vision or even blindness. In some cases, the stress placed on visual centers of the brain is relieved after cancer treatment, restoring the patient's vision. In other cases, cancer growth may irreparably damage visual centers of the brain, leading to long-term or lifelong visual abnormalities. The American Brain Tumor Association stresses the importance of seeking medical attention early in response to potential symptoms of brain cancer to prevent severe and potentially permanent damage.
