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Some people use statistical reports to try to figure out their chance of getting cancer or of being cured. Remember that statistics show what happens with large groups of people. Because no two people are alike, statistics can't be used to know or predict what will happen to you.
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The brain is a complex organ made up of many different cells and parts. Many types of cancer can form in the brain. The type of brain tumor a person has depends on where it began and the cells it is made of. Doctors call cancer that begins in the brain a primary brain tumor.
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The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. The central nervous system controls our physical functions and behavior, such as talking, walking, and chewing. It also controls our breathing, heartbeat, and digestion.
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Certain factors can make one person more likely to get a brain tumor than another person. These are called risk factors. Although such risk factors do exist, a person who has one or more risk factors will not always get a brain tumor. In fact, you can have all the risk factors and still not get a brain tumor, or you can have no known risk factors and still get the disease.
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Because no one knows what causes brain tumors, it is hard to say what will prevent them. You can do certain things to reduce your risk of getting a brain tumor. One thing is to avoid exposure to radiation. If radiation is prescribed to treat another kind of cancer, the benefits it brings in treating that cancer usually outweigh these risks.
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Brain tumor symptoms depend on the size and location of the tumor. These symptoms are caused by the damage the tumor does to specific parts of the brain.
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