Treatments to Control Brain Tumor Seizures

Seizures are often the first symptom experienced when a brain tumor is present, which leads to tumor diagnosis. This is contrary to the popular myth that headaches are often the first symptom of a brain tumor. Headaches are common with brain tumors, but studies show that it is actually a seizure or other neurological symptom that usually appears first.

It is important to note that not all people with brain tumors experience seizures. Some types of tumors and their location make people more vulnerable to experiencing them.

Those who do often have seizures that continue throughout treatment and are of great concern to both them and their treatment teams. Quality of life and compromise of independence are two major factors when someone experiences seizures. In some cases, seizures can pose great health dangers.

When sudden abnormal electrical impulse activity in the brain occurs, the result is a seizure. A seizure causes physical changes such as twitching or convulsions of the body, staring, momentary loss of bowel control and incontinence, and even loss of consciousness. It is a very serious condition and should never be ignored or left unreported to a physician. If you suspect that you may have had a seizure and are uncertain, report it to your doctor immediately.

When most people think of a seizure, they usually think of severe tremors and jerking of the body. However, they can be much less severe, causing only the face or leg to shake, for example. Some seizures only cause people to stare blankly for a few minutes. What type of seizure a person experiences varies based on the tumor location in the brain.

The frequency of seizures also relates to whether a brain tumor is primary or metastatic. Seizures are also more common in people with low-grade gliomas (the most common type of brain tumor in adults) than high-grade types. This shows that the severity of brain tumor symptoms is not related to how large a tumor is—location, tumor type, and grade are key factors in what symptoms a person experiences, especially concerning seizures.

The reasons for why seizures occur in a person suffering from a brain tumor involve many factors that are not well understood. Neurotransmitter changes, location, type of tumor, genetic factors, and integrity of the blood brain barrier may all be some of the factors involved.

Seizures can be common in people with brain tumors. Whether a person has had one or 100 episodes, controlling and preventing seizure activity is an essential part of brain tumor treatment for people with certain types of brain tumors.

Seizures are not discriminative and can occur at any time, leading to possible injury of the person seizing and to those around him. There is a concern about people seizing during routine activities like driving or bathing. Plus, there is a heightened risk of head injury from falling during an episode.

In people with brain tumors, seizures may be controlled with anticonvulsants or antiepileptic medication. Due to the high rate of seizure activity among people with some types of brain tumors, it is usually a standard part of treatment to include these types of drugs in order to prevent seizures. Not everyone requires medication to prevent or control seizures—only patients who meet certain criteria. And still, for many, the seizures can be resistant to the medication.