Brain tumours

Brain tumour def

• Mass of atypical brain cells in the brain or meninges

Subtypes

• Meningioma

• Gliomas

  • Low grade

  • High grade (e.g. glioblastoma)

Nature of symptom onset + intervention

• Can be sudden + with clear neurological origin (like seizures) → usually medical help is sought fast + diagnosis is given early

• Onset can be gradual w/ more non-specific symptoms (e.g. headaches, mood changes) → delayed diagnosis + treatment

Typical treatment for brain tumours

Combination of

• Active monitoring

• Surgery

• Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy

Success of treatment?

• Can be curative for well-defined + accessible tumours

FOCUS MORE ON CLINICAL PRESENTATION + NEUROPSYCH DEFICITS THAT FOLLOW

Clinical presentation categories (3)

• Cog. deficits

• Psychiatric impacts

• Behavioural changes

Neurocognitive deficits (3)

• Exec functioning

• Memory

• Processing speed

Source of neurocog. deficits? (2)

• Tumour focal impact

• Neurotoxicity from chemo/radio

Behavioural changes (3)

• Apathy/initiation failure

• Verbal aggression

• Inappropriate behaviour

Psychiatric consequences + note

• Depression

• Death anxiety

^^patients + carers

How is assessment conducted?

• Assess cog. functioning

Evidence-based rehab (2)

• Cog. rehab

• Multidisciplinary, community based approach

Specific rehab program (1→2)

• Making sense of brain tumour (MSoBT) program

  • 10-sessions of home-based psychotherapy + rehab

  • Focused on meaning-making, coping w existential stress + managing cog. + behavioural changes

Note on brain tumours differing from other conditions in this chapter

• Combined effects of cancer + brain injury