Anaplastic Astrocytoma : World Health Organization (WHO) Grade 3 Type of Astrocytoma
Cancer or tumor is the dreadful disease that is caused due to excess growth of cells in the human body. There are different types of cancers found in the body of a human being. Most of them can be cured at the initial stage; however, all of them result in death in the final stage. In general, cancer shows some specific symptoms in our body. Anaplastic astrocytoma is classified as a grade 3 (malignant) brain tumor by WHO.
What is Anaplastic Astrocytoma?
Anaplastic astrocytoma also known as malignant is the primary brain tumor. The tentacles of the tumor spread over the surrounding tissues in the cerebral hemispheres. The grown tumor gets spread in the shape of a butterfly or a star. Thus, one can see a butterfly-like pattern in the white matter of the brain. This tumor invades through the dura mater which is one of the outermost covering of the brain. It also spreads via the cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. It is rarely seen that the tumor spreads outside the brain and the cerebrospinal fluid.
anaplastic astrocytoma prognosis
In around 65% cases, anaplastic astrocytoma is found in the cerebral hemispheres. Some of them are found in diencephalon or interbrain in their components like thalamus and hypothalamus. This area of the brain identifies various sensations in the human body like pain, temperature, appetite, touch and weight. Due to this, the imbalance occurs in the areas where sensation is felt in our body. These tumors are also known as gliomas because they start in the brain or the spinal cord and arise from the glial cells.
Symptoms
Anaplastic astrocytoma increases pressure in the head resulting in common symptoms like headache, weakness, vomiting and depression. Focal neurological deficits are also one of the symptoms of this tumor. In this, the symptoms are seen in tongue, right arm or left side of face resulting in hearing problems, speech problems and problems with the vision. Fatigue and seizures are also some of the other symptoms of the tumor. The symptoms can be normal resembling the common health issues of the body. In case of repeated or severe symptoms, it is always good to consult the doctor.
Causes
Anaplastic astrocytoma is mainly because of unknown or indefinable causes. Anaplastic astrocytoma is majorly due to exposure to vinyl chloride in very high doses over a long time. It’s also caused due to constant exposure to harmful radioactive radiations in high doses without proper protection and precaution. There are various carcinogenic chemicals which can cause anaplastic astrocytoma, some of which are still unknown to us or are under research. These chemicals can enter into our food chain at any stage. It can be due to chemicals in fertilizers or insecticides or pesticides etc. that are added to crops and preserved foods. People with severe and malignant anaplastic astrocytoma are found to have a definite cause for their cancer and through research it’s believed that it’s due to hereditary causes and genetic problems this accounts only to 5% and less. Major hereditary predispositions are due to tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis of first type, hereditary colorectal cancer and lifraumeni syndromes.
Characteristics
Anaplastic astrocytoma is classified as a grade III tumor. The characteristics of this tumor are as follows:
1. It has fast and aggressive growth
2. It is asymmetrical in appearance
3. It is known to invade the neighboring tissues
4. It is commonly found in men and women of 30 to 50 years old
5. It is more commonly found in men than women
Treatments
Anaplastic astrocytoma is treated by neuro-oncologists and neurologists. Anticonvulsant therapy is advisable for people with severe seizures. Corticosteroids like dexamethasone are found to reduce and slowdown tumor growth as soon as it’s consumed. Initial and standard procedure of treatment is to remove the tumor as much as possible and as early as possible. There are no damages done to neurologic deficits. Severe and serious cases of anaplastic astrocytoma have large tumors with tentacles; this makes them tougher to operate and control. Moreover, the age of the patient, level of health, medical history, size of the tumor and the tolerance of the patient for the medications are also important while considering the proper treatment for this tumor. The type of treatment to be done is recommended by the doctor after a complete research of the cancer in the patient’s body.
The standard treatments of anaplastic astrocytoma include surgery and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy during radiation therapy or after the therapy is also included in the standard treatments. In case, surgery cannot be done, the doctors recommend the radiation therapy along with the chemotherapy. The main aim of these treatments is to remove the tumor without causing any side effects to the neurologic deficits. After the removal of the tumor by surgery, radiation therapy is useful in controlling the growth of the tumor cells. The more the tumor is controlled results in more chances of survival of the patient.
In case of recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma, treatment by temozolomide drug can be effective. The drug is introduced into the bloodstream in the patient’s body. It travels along with the blood to kill the cancer cells. In Chemotherapy, the patient’s are given pills to swallow, or injections into the fat tissues of the body. Intravenous therapy includes the infusion of the medicated liquid directly into the veins. Medicated liquids are also introduced into the spinal column of the patient’s body using a needle.
Managing the Side Effects
After the treatment of anaplastic astrocytoma various side effects can arise in the patient’s body. The surgery treatment can result in neurologic deficits. Some patients can suffer from inflammation after the radiation therapy. Chemotherapy may result in side effects like headache, fatigue, constipation and diarrhea. These common health issues can be further cured by the medications or treatments like acupressure, aroma therapies, herbal treatments and massage therapies. These treatments show results slowly, however, are known to give the best results. In some cases, these treatments can continue for 3 to 6 months. Also, there are no side effects for these natural therapies.
Survival Chances
After all the treatments are done; the question arises about the survival chances of the patients. It is rarely found that the tumor in the case of anaplastic astrocytoma has been completely removed. Generally, the chance of survival even after the treatments are done is 5-years. The life of the patient depends upon the percentage of tumor removed from the patient’s brain.
After knowing the facts of treatments of anaplastic astrocytoma, one would surely be hopeful in going for the treatments for the survival. Life always gives us chance and it is always good to take 100% benefit of those chances and treatments, isn’t it?
It is our life and we all wish to live it forever. Be hopeful and pray all the time so that your treatments of anaplastic astrocytoma can be successful.
What is Anaplastic Astrocytoma?
Anaplastic astrocytoma also known as malignant is the primary brain tumor. The tentacles of the tumor spread over the surrounding tissues in the cerebral hemispheres. The grown tumor gets spread in the shape of a butterfly or a star. Thus, one can see a butterfly-like pattern in the white matter of the brain. This tumor invades through the dura mater which is one of the outermost covering of the brain. It also spreads via the cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. It is rarely seen that the tumor spreads outside the brain and the cerebrospinal fluid.
anaplastic astrocytoma prognosis
In around 65% cases, anaplastic astrocytoma is found in the cerebral hemispheres. Some of them are found in diencephalon or interbrain in their components like thalamus and hypothalamus. This area of the brain identifies various sensations in the human body like pain, temperature, appetite, touch and weight. Due to this, the imbalance occurs in the areas where sensation is felt in our body. These tumors are also known as gliomas because they start in the brain or the spinal cord and arise from the glial cells.
Symptoms
Anaplastic astrocytoma increases pressure in the head resulting in common symptoms like headache, weakness, vomiting and depression. Focal neurological deficits are also one of the symptoms of this tumor. In this, the symptoms are seen in tongue, right arm or left side of face resulting in hearing problems, speech problems and problems with the vision. Fatigue and seizures are also some of the other symptoms of the tumor. The symptoms can be normal resembling the common health issues of the body. In case of repeated or severe symptoms, it is always good to consult the doctor.
Causes
Anaplastic astrocytoma is mainly because of unknown or indefinable causes. Anaplastic astrocytoma is majorly due to exposure to vinyl chloride in very high doses over a long time. It’s also caused due to constant exposure to harmful radioactive radiations in high doses without proper protection and precaution. There are various carcinogenic chemicals which can cause anaplastic astrocytoma, some of which are still unknown to us or are under research. These chemicals can enter into our food chain at any stage. It can be due to chemicals in fertilizers or insecticides or pesticides etc. that are added to crops and preserved foods. People with severe and malignant anaplastic astrocytoma are found to have a definite cause for their cancer and through research it’s believed that it’s due to hereditary causes and genetic problems this accounts only to 5% and less. Major hereditary predispositions are due to tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis of first type, hereditary colorectal cancer and lifraumeni syndromes.
Characteristics
Anaplastic astrocytoma is classified as a grade III tumor. The characteristics of this tumor are as follows:
1. It has fast and aggressive growth
2. It is asymmetrical in appearance
3. It is known to invade the neighboring tissues
4. It is commonly found in men and women of 30 to 50 years old
5. It is more commonly found in men than women
Treatments
Anaplastic astrocytoma is treated by neuro-oncologists and neurologists. Anticonvulsant therapy is advisable for people with severe seizures. Corticosteroids like dexamethasone are found to reduce and slowdown tumor growth as soon as it’s consumed. Initial and standard procedure of treatment is to remove the tumor as much as possible and as early as possible. There are no damages done to neurologic deficits. Severe and serious cases of anaplastic astrocytoma have large tumors with tentacles; this makes them tougher to operate and control. Moreover, the age of the patient, level of health, medical history, size of the tumor and the tolerance of the patient for the medications are also important while considering the proper treatment for this tumor. The type of treatment to be done is recommended by the doctor after a complete research of the cancer in the patient’s body.
The standard treatments of anaplastic astrocytoma include surgery and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy during radiation therapy or after the therapy is also included in the standard treatments. In case, surgery cannot be done, the doctors recommend the radiation therapy along with the chemotherapy. The main aim of these treatments is to remove the tumor without causing any side effects to the neurologic deficits. After the removal of the tumor by surgery, radiation therapy is useful in controlling the growth of the tumor cells. The more the tumor is controlled results in more chances of survival of the patient.
In case of recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma, treatment by temozolomide drug can be effective. The drug is introduced into the bloodstream in the patient’s body. It travels along with the blood to kill the cancer cells. In Chemotherapy, the patient’s are given pills to swallow, or injections into the fat tissues of the body. Intravenous therapy includes the infusion of the medicated liquid directly into the veins. Medicated liquids are also introduced into the spinal column of the patient’s body using a needle.
Managing the Side Effects
After the treatment of anaplastic astrocytoma various side effects can arise in the patient’s body. The surgery treatment can result in neurologic deficits. Some patients can suffer from inflammation after the radiation therapy. Chemotherapy may result in side effects like headache, fatigue, constipation and diarrhea. These common health issues can be further cured by the medications or treatments like acupressure, aroma therapies, herbal treatments and massage therapies. These treatments show results slowly, however, are known to give the best results. In some cases, these treatments can continue for 3 to 6 months. Also, there are no side effects for these natural therapies.
Survival Chances
After all the treatments are done; the question arises about the survival chances of the patients. It is rarely found that the tumor in the case of anaplastic astrocytoma has been completely removed. Generally, the chance of survival even after the treatments are done is 5-years. The life of the patient depends upon the percentage of tumor removed from the patient’s brain.
After knowing the facts of treatments of anaplastic astrocytoma, one would surely be hopeful in going for the treatments for the survival. Life always gives us chance and it is always good to take 100% benefit of those chances and treatments, isn’t it?
It is our life and we all wish to live it forever. Be hopeful and pray all the time so that your treatments of anaplastic astrocytoma can be successful.