Eight years ago, Megan Troutwine, 25, happened to snap a life-saving selfie at the right time and place during a dream trip to New York City with her cousin Tony.
After noticing a droopy eyelid in a photo taken outside of famed Rockefeller Center, she immediately flagged it to her doctor when she returned home, which led to the discovery of two brain tumors, and more health challenges along the way.
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Finding a Second Tumor
During one of Troutwine’s follow-ups, her care team unfortunately noticed another brain tumor.
This one was a glioma, which is a slow-growing tumor, and in this case the mass would require lifetime monitoring, as the risks of removing far surpass the recommended surveillance method.
Troutwine also underwent genetic testing and found out she carried a gene mutation PTEN, which means she has a higher risk for developing other cancers.
Within the near-decade of her tumor findings, Troutwine wound up getting diagnosed with both breast cancer and uterine cancer, as she shared to Tampa’s FOX 13, but the details of those diagnoses remain unclear.
“Cancer was not my first choice, but I wouldn’t trade where I am or what I have gone through for anything,” shared Troutwine, who intends to pursue a second degree in public health after all she has gone through.
“I have a heart for people and trying to help people in any way that I can.”
Understanding Brain Tumors
Brain tumors that can be either cancerous (malignant) or benign (noncancerous) and can affect both children and adults, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, acts as the main processing center for the nervous system as a whole, the American Cancer Society explains. The central nervous system’s normal functioning, which involves sending messages from the brain to other parts of the body, becomes disrupted if tumors are present.
Primary tumors are “glial” or “non-glial”. Glial tumors found in the brain are composed of glial cells, which “help support, connect, and protect the neurons of the central and peripheral nervous systems,” cites Medical News Today.
Non-glial tumors develop on or in the structures of the brain including nerves, blood vessels and glands.
Benign or noncancerous brain tumors include:
- Chordomas
- Craniopharyngiomas
- Gangliocytomas
- Glomus jugulare
- Meningiomas
- Pineocytomas
- Pituitary adenomas
- Schwannomas
- Acoustic neuromas
Malignant or Cancerous tumors include:
- Gliomas, which make up 78% of cancerous primary brain tumors.
- Astrocytoma
- Ependymomas
- Glioblastoma
- Oligodendroglioma
- Medulloblastoma
What Is a Meningioma?
A meningioma is a growth that is often noncancerous that takes root in the meninges, a membrane protecting the brain and spinal cord.
Dr. Suriya Jeyapalan the director of medical neuro-oncology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston says, “essentially the brain and the spinal cord float in this sac called the meninges.”
“Your brain is kind of a soft tissue. It’s almost like a sponge,” Dr. Jeyapalan explains. ” And every time you move your head, you’d be bruising your brain because you’re hitting up against the hard bone, the skull. So one of the things that evolution has done is that your brain is sort of floating in a sort of natural shock absorber, as you were, so this fluid” contained in the meninges.
There is still no indication as to what may cause meningiomas, but the growths are more prevalent in women than men and in individuals who have a family history with the tumor. Radiation to the head may also increase the risk of developing a meningioma. In the United States, Black people have higher rates of meningioma than white people.
What Are Symptoms of a Meningioma?
It can be difficult to identify the symptoms of a meningioma. In some cases, people will start to favor or lean to one side more than the other.
And because of the rate at which meningiomas grow, these changes can be subtle over time. These tumors, which are not cancerous, are considered “benign” until they cause issues. But it is important to get in immediately after you notice something amiss, as Troutwine did, and luckily her doctor listened.
Some common symptoms of meningiomas are:
- Vision changes
- Loss of hearing or smell
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Headaches that are worse in the morning
Understanding Gliomas
Glioma is a common type of tumor in the brain.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “about 33 percent of all brain tumors are gliomas, which originate in the glial cells that surround and support neurons in the brain, including astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells.”
Gliomas grow within the brain and often mix with normal brain tissue, which is referred to as an intra-axial brain tumor.
Similar to meningiomas, glioma symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Personality changes
- Weakness in the arms, face or legs
- Numbness
- Problems with speech
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vision Loss
- Dizziness
Gene Mutations that Indicate an Increased Cancer Risk
BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are the most important mutations to look for in breast cancer. Together, they are responsible for about half of all hereditary breast cancers. In a person without mutations, these genes work to prevent cells from dividing haphazardly and uncontrollably. Mutations prevent these genes from doing their job and can allow unchecked growth of breast, ovarian, and other tissues.
Dr. Julie R. Gralow, the Chief Medical officer and the Executive Vice President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, tells SurvivorNet that “Germline genetic testing for inherited predisposition for breast (and ovarian) cancer can include just BRCA1/2 testing or a more comprehensive gene panel that might include 15-25 genes.”
Who Should Receive Genetic Testing?
Recent research has also identified other mutations, which may also increase the risk of breast cancer development. These include changes in the PTEN, which Troutwine came back with after her genetic testing, along with PALB2, ATM, CHEK2, KRAS, CDH1, TP53, and numerous other genes. Modern genetic testing panels can simultaneously look for mutations in more than 80 genes.
“If someone gets a genetic test result back, it’s really important for them to know what this is. What does this mean for them? Put it into context,” Dr. Elisa Port, a surgical oncologist at Mount Sinai, previously explained to SurvivorNet.
Genetic counselors help patients during this critical phase of understanding.
“What does it mean for their family members? For their relatives? Genetic counseling to follow up genetic testing is a really, really important part of the whole process and is not always available in the direct-to-consumer type avenue.”
Your doctor can refer you for genetic counseling based on your personal and family health history.
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