Brain Cancer

The brain and spinal cord have many types of tissues and cells, which can develop into different types of tumors ranging from benign (i.e., noncancerous) to malignant (i.e., cancerous). Benign tumors usually grow slowly and rarely spread into other areas of the brain, but can cause problems when the tumor pushes on surrounding tissue. Malignant tumors tend to grow more rapidly, spread into other brain areas, and may not be easily removed through surgery. However, whether a tumor is benign or malignant, it will require evaluation and possible treatment, as even benign tumors can affect brain functioning.