Cancer and the brain
Cancer is a life-changing diagnosis, but not necessarily a death sentence. Whether you are working for an organisation or working for yourself, receiving this kind of diagnosis can be very stressful.
Statistics shows that in 2022, there was an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths (World Cancer Research Fund, https://www.wcrf.org). Apart from its physical effects on someone diagnosed with cancer, it also affects them and their loved ones emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. As daunting as it may sound, there is hope, because many people do recover from cancer. There are several factors that influence this, including the type of cancer, its stage at diagnosis, treatment options, and individual health condition.
What is cancer?
“Cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body and/or spread to other organs. The latter process is called metastasizing and is a major cause of death from cancer. A neoplasm and malignant tumour are other common names for cancer. Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men, while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical and thyroid cancer are the most common among women” (https://www.who.int).
Cancer affects the brain in several ways, whether it’s a primary brain tumour (originating in the brain) or secondary (metastatic) cancer that spreads from another part of the body. The effects depend on the tumor’s size, location, and how fast it grows. Cancer can impact the brain in various ways:
Brain tissue damage
As tumours grow, they compress or destroy healthy brain cells, leading to neurological symptoms. Different brain regions control different functions, so symptoms vary based on where the tumor is located. Primary brain tumors (e.g., glioblastomas, astrocytomas) grow and infiltrate surrounding brain tissue, destroying healthy neurons and disrupting brain function. Metastatic brain tumors (spread from cancers elsewhere, like lung or breast cancer) also invade and displace normal brain tissue. Tumors can trigger inflammation and fluid accumulation around them, leading to swelling (vasogenic edema). This can compress blood vessels, reducing oxygen supply and causing tissue damage.
Tumors can block or press on blood vessels (stroke or ischemia), reducing blood supply and leading to brain tissue death. In rare cases, the immune system attacks normal brain tissue while targeting cancer cells, leading to neurological damage. As tumors grow, they take up space in the skull, increasing pressure on the brain. This can cause headaches, nausea, vision problems, and even herniation (a life-threatening condition where brain structures are displaced).
Mental changes
From a cognitive perspective, cancer can lead to memory loss and difficulty concentrating, personality changes, mood swings, or depression, confusion and difficulty making decisions. The mind dictates to the brain what to do. It is like a command centre and the brain has to follow suit. The command that your brain receives impacts your brain tissue. The commands that influences your brain relies on the nature of your thoughts: whether positive or negative.
How to manage cancer
- Focus on what you can control: You might not be able to control your diagnosis, but you can influence your treatment decisions, how you respond to stress and how to make lifestyle changes.
- Educate yourself: Learn about your specific type of cancer and how you can reduce fear and uncertainty. Knowledge helps you to make informed decisions about lifestyles changes, treatment and care. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too much information and medical jargon.
- Build a support group: Seek out and accept supply from family, friends, or support groups. Connect with others who understand your experience and that can provide comfort and reduce feelings of isolation.
- Forgiveness: Get into the habit of forgiving people. Harbouring forgiveness promotes feelings of peace, lessens the anger and enables a positive mindset. Standford Medicine has published a blog on forgiveness which you may access here https://med.stanford.edu/survivingcancer/coping-with-cancer/cancer-and-forgiveness.html
- Purpose: Understand and define God’s purpose for your life. “For me cancer represented poison. I equated it to negativity that had to be removed in order for me to live purposefully and to live according to kindness, humility, and patience. I had the faith that good will come from this”. Anonymous cancer survivor.
- Patience: Allow yourself to have good days and bad days. “Accept your situation gracefully, go through your day in calm and confident way. Be patient with yourself so that your healing can begin”. Anonymous cancer survivor.
