Brain Tumor

By Nurse Diane

Years ago, when you heard about someone having a brain tumor, the information was usually passed in hushed tones.  Prognosis for this type of condition was not very good, however, research, surgery and medications have helped to control even erase tumors of the brain.

There are two types of brain tumors.  Brain tumors are either primary or metastatic tumors. Primary brain tumors are those, which originate in the brain. Metastatic brain tumors are those, which originate from cancerous cells that have migrated from other areas of the body.

Metastatic brain tumors are also known as secondary brain tumors. Not all brain tumors are cancerous – benign brain tumors are non-cancerous tissue and are harmful only when they grow to a size that affects adjacent areas of the brain. Benign brain tumors tend to grow more slowly than malignant (cancerous) brain tumors.

Signs of a brain tumor include:

• Seizures;
• Headaches;
• Fatigue, tiredness and drowsiness;
• Impaired speech;
• Difficulties when swallowing;
• In infants, an increase in head size;
• Impaired vision;
• Vomiting;
• Poor body coordination;
• Behavioral and mood changes;
• Weakness in a limb or on one side of the body;
• Difficulties with balance; and or
• Tingling sensations and/or weakness in the arms or legs.

This week is Brain Tumor Action week. Each year over 190,000 people are diagnosed, mostly children.  Brain Tumor Action Week seeks to raise awareness about brain tumors, including raising awareness about incidence, diagnosis, treatment and care of people suffering from brain tumors. Specialty care and follow up care, rehabilitative services and clinical trials are activities, which can enhance the quality of life of people living with brain tumors.  For More information visit: http://www.whathealth.com/awareness/event/braintumour.html

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Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

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Diane Forrest, RN

In nursing school, one of the first things we learned was how to perform CPR, and we became certified. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is the most basic form of life saving techniques.  While it only takes a few minutes to learn how to perform it accurately, the benefits are immeasurable.

I have a friend who owns a bowling center.  He has had some heart problems, and some of the people who bowl in weekly leagues are older and have also suffered from heart conditions.  I recently asked him if he knew how to perform CPR.  He stated that he has never had a class.  I asked if his sons, who work with him, or other co-workers were certified in the life saving technique, but he said they weren't certified either.  I called the local chapter for the Red Cross where he lives, and they will come to his business and teach a class instructing all who attend.

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CPR alone is unlikely to restart the heart; its main purpose is to restore partial flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart. The objective is to delay tissue death and to extend the brief window of opportunity for a successful resuscitation without permanent brain damage.  This action may not only prevent brain damage due to lack of oxygen, but it also allows the heart to better receive shock treatment once medical professionals arrive.

If you happen to come across a person who is unconscious, the first thing you do is shake them, ask “are you ok?" If there is no response, you either yell out for help, or call 911.

Then you check for a pulse. To do this, you place two fingers on the midline of their neck.  Then move your fingers to the side to locate a pulse.

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If you do not feel a pulse, begin chest compressions.

To begin chest compressions you take your finger, and locate the ribcage.  You follow the ribcage up to the center of the chest.

When you reach the center. You will be at the xiphoid process.  A small flat bone that is very fragile.

Place 2 fingers over the xiphoid process, and leave them there until you place the palm of your second hand beside your fingers.  This will allow you to locate the proper location to place your hand, and prevent breaking the xiphoid process.

Once you place the palm of your hand on the chest, raise your fingers up, and then place the other hand (the one with the fingers covering the xiphoid process) on top of the hand on the chest, interlocking your fingers.

Position yourself so that your shoulders are directly over the center of the victim's chest.

Begin compressions, pushing down 11/2 to 2 inches.

Begin counting to 30 like this:  One, and Two and three and etc.  This should be done so that the rate will equal to 100 beats per minute.

Following the cycle of 30 compressions, take two breaths and blow into the victims’ mouth.

Tilt the head back and lift the chin. Pinch nose and cover the mouth with yours and blow until you see the chest rise. Give 2 breaths. Each breath should take 1 second.

Repeat chest compressions.

After 5 cycles, check again for a pulse, then resume with breaths, then compressions.

To watch CPR in action, click on this site:  http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/quickcpr.html

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While video is very useful, nothing takes the place of actually performing CPR in front of a Certified Instructor.  Make time to visit your local Red Cross or check with your community hospital for classes.  Learning CPR can help you save a life.

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Brain Tumor Action Week

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By Diane Forrest, RN

Years ago if you heard of someone having a brain tumor it was like receiving a death sentence.  Medical research has grown so much since then.  Cures and treatments have progress so that it is no longer considered a fatal diagnosis for some.  There is still so much to do though. Each year over 190,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a brain tumor. Brain tumors are a leading cause of tumor cancer deaths in children. Brain tumors are also the third main cause of cancer death in adults within the 20-39 age brackets.

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Brain tumors are either primary or metastatic tumors. Primary brain tumors are those which originate in the brain. Metastatic brain tumors are those which originate from cancerous cells that have migrated from other areas of the body.  Metastatic brain tumors are also known as secondary brain tumors. Not all brain tumors are cancerous – benign brain tumors are non-cancerous tissue and are harmful only when they grow to a size which affects adjacent areas of the brain. Benign brain tumors tend to grow more slowly than malignant (cancerous) brain tumors.

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Early warning signs include:

• seizures;
• headaches;
• fatigue, tiredness and drowsiness;
• impaired speech;
• difficulties when swallowing;
• in infants, an increase in head size;
• impaired vision;
• vomiting;
• poor body coordination;
• behavioral and mood changes;
• weakness in a limb or on one side of the body;
• difficulties with balance; and or
• tingling sensations and/or weakness in the arms or legs.

With over 120 different forms of brain tumor, effectively treating them can become very complicated.  Proton treatment for a brain tumor is a precise method of using proton therapy to deliver powerful doses of radiation to the tumor. The precision this delivery of treatment brings means there is minimal effect of the surrounding healthy brain tissue.

Dosage of radiation can be tailored to each tumor. Other treatments include surgical removal, chemotherapy, radio therapy or a combination of these methods.

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This week is Brain Tumor Action Week.  To see what things you can do, click here:  http://www.braintumor.org/get-involved/advocacy-public-policy/action-week.html

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Brain Awareness Week

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By Diane Forrest, RN

If I Only Had A Brain:

(Scarecrow)

I could wile away the hours

Conferrin' with the flowers

Consultin' with the rain

And my head I'd be scratchin'

While my thoughts were busy hatchin'

If I only had a brain

I'd unravel any riddle

For any individ'le

In trouble or in pain

(Dorothy)

With the thoughts you'd be thinkin'

You could be another Lincoln

If you only had a brain

(Scarecrow)

Oh, I would tell you why

The ocean's near the shore

I could think of things I never thunk before

And then I'd sit and think some more

I would not be just a nuffin'

My head all full of stuffin'

My heart all full of pain

I would dance and be merry

Life would be a ding-a-derry

If I only had a brain

When I first saw this topic on the calendar I said to the boss...what is this about?? Surely people are aware they have a brain, even though I know a few people who prefer not to use theirs at times!

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He then sent me the following: According to www.wfn.org, Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is an inspirational global campaign that unites those who share an interest in elevating public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain and nervous system research.

BAW focuses international attention on the field of neuroscience and offers opportunities for teachers and students to engage in fun educational activities. From dynamic classroom presentations and laboratory tours to enlightening museum exhibits and public lectures, BAW activities

• Inspire the next generation of scientists;
• Contribute to general understanding of basic brain functions;
• Improve public health by expanding awareness of neurological disorders; and
• Make the connection between increased support for bio-medical research and benefits to public health.

http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename=baw_home

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The next thing I thought about is the Wizard of Oz, the scarecrow, and the song “If I only had a Brain”.  Then I thought about Hannibal Lector cooking up that man's brain and making him eat it and things got weird from there.  Soo...I got back on track and decided to give you a little bit of information about the brain.  The brain consists of 5 parts.  They are:

• Cerebrum;
• Cerebellum;
• The Brain Stem;
• The Pituitary gland; and
• Hypothalamus.

The cerebrum makes up the largest part of the brain.  It is divided into two halves.  It controls your muscles, you’re thinking, your memory.  There is a left side, and a right side.  The left side controls your analytical thoughts like math, logic and speech while the right side controls your abstract things like music, colors, and shapes.

The cerebellum is located at the back of the brain at the bottom.  It controls balance, movement, and coordination.

The brain stem sits beneath the cerebrum and in front of the cerebellum. It connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord, which runs down your neck and back. The brain stem is in charge of all the functions your body needs to stay alive, like breathing air, digesting food, and circulating blood.

The pituitary gland is very small — only about the size of a pea! Its job is to produce and release hormones into your body.

The hypothalamus is like your brain's inner thermostat; it regulates your body's temperature.

All these parts work together to make you who you are.  This is Brain Awareness Week.  For help in expanding your brain, and for more information, visit this site. http://www.dana.org/brainweek/

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Scarecrow - all he wants is a brain ...

By Diane Forrest,

Today is build a scarecrow day.  I usually think of scarecrows being a Fall fixture, however the purpose of the scarecrow is to scare crows.  Crows are a major pest around vegetable gardens, so farmers place scarecrows in their fields to discourage them from feeding on their crops.  I have many scarecrows that I decorate my home with in the Fall, but since I don't have a vegetable garden, my neighbors might think me odd for putting up one now.  Mine are "store bought" but making your own is not a hard task at all. 

What you need:

• Old Clothes
• Stuffing
• long poles
• rope
• paint

To assemble your scarecrow, firmly tie the ends of the pants and sleeves on the shirt and stuff them with your choice of stuffing. Stuff the socks and gloves and tie on the ends. Fasten the socks (or boots) and gloves to the pants and shirt on the inside with safety pins (or bent paper clips.) Tuck the shirt into the pants.

A pillowcase works best for the head.  Use a pencil and draw on the face. Follow up with the paint and markers to give him facial features. Then stuff the pillowcase and fasten it to the body with safety pins.

Top off your scarecrow with a hat. A straw hat gives it a classic look. Fasten the hat firmly so it doesn't blow off on windy days.

You can sit your scarecrow on the bales, or prop him up against them. Consider attaching him to some stakes with a hammer and nails to have him in an upright position.

National Aphasia Awareness Month 2011

By Diane Forrest, RN

Aphasia is an impairment of language ability ranging from having difficulty remembering words to being completely unable to speak, read, or write. It can occur suddenly as with a head injury or stroke, or develop over time with dementia, infection or brain tumor.

Signs and symptoms

People with aphasia may experience any of the following behaviors:

• inability to comprehend language ;
  
• inability to pronounce, not due to muscle paralysis or weakness;
  
• inability to speak spontaneously;
  
• inability to form words;
  
• inability to name objects;
  
• poor enunciation;
  
• inability to repeat a phrase;
  
• persistent repetition of phrases;
  
• uncompleted sentences;
  
• inability to read;
  
• inability to write;
  
• limited verbal output; and
  
• difficulty in naming.
  

In November of 2009, my husband became septic from a kidney infection. His temperature rose to 106 degrees, and remained that high for about a week. He was awake and alert, but began speaking in a "foreign language". Once his fever started going down, he was visited by a speech therapist. Of course never seeing him before, she assumed he had this problem for a while. Once I informed her that it only started when the fever went up, and his speech should return to normal once the infection was gone, she decided to wait it out. Sure enough, his speach returned to normal in a few days and all was right with the world.

Treatment

Treatment is according to the cause of aphasia, but the main course of treatment involves working with a speech therapist.

 
For more information see: http://www.aphasia.org/