What is Brain Cancer

Brain tumors are the result of an abnormal growth of cells in the brain. While these growths are generally called tumors, not all brain tumors are cancerous.

A cancerous tumor is a malignant tumor that can grow and spread aggressively. This growth overpowers healthy cells by taking their space, blood, and nutrients. Malignant tumors can also spread to distant parts of the body.

Tumors that do not invade nearby tissue or spread are benign and are generally less serious than malignant tumors. However, benign tumors can still cause problems in the brain by pressing on nearby tissue.

In the U.S. brain or nervous system, tumors affect about 6 of every 1,000 people.

There are over 120 different types of brain cancer. If you think you could be at risk, visit with your doctor and discuss if a CT Brain scan is the right option for you.

Risk Factors for Brain Cancer

• Risk increases with age and occurs more in 50+
• Compromised immune system
• Family history
• Chemical exposure
• Radiation treatment

Symptoms of Brain Cancer

The symptoms of brain cancer are numerous and not specific to brain tumors; they can be caused by other illnesses.

• Headache
• Weakness
• Clumsiness
• Difficulty walking
• Seizures
• Altered mental status – concentration, memory, attention, alertness
• Nausea, vomiting
• Abnormalities in vision
• Difficulty in speech
• Gradual change in intellectual capacity or emotional response

The GE Optima CT brain scan at Advanced Body Scan is the single most effective technology available to simply and non-invasively detect signs of brain cancer.

Discuss with your doctor and call Advanced Body Scan to begin your journey to a healthier, happier you (405) 242-1400.

What is Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and contrary to some belief, it is not a normal part of aging. It is a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. It accounts for 60-80 percent of dementia cases.

Alzheimer's worsens over time as a progressive disease. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment.

This disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. On average, those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable. However, survival can range four to 20 years, depending on health and age.

Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s

• Age 65+
• Family history
• Hispanic or African-American
• Head injury

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life
• Challenges in planning or solving problems
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, work, or leisure
• Confusion with time or place
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
• New problems with words in speaking or writing
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
• Decreased or poor judgment
• Withdrawal from work or social activities
• Changes in mood and personality

If you notice any of these symptoms, don’t ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor. Although there is no cure, with early detection you can get the maximum benefit from available treatment to maintain a level of independence longer.

Discuss with your doctor and call Advanced Body Scan to begin your journey to a healthier, happier you (405) 242-1400.

What is Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, degenerative disorder that affects the brain. One in 100 people over the age of 60 are diagnosed with this disease, however, it can also occur in people 40 or younger.

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that results from the loss of cells in various parts of the brain, including the substantia nigra that produces dopamine. This is a chemical messenger responsible for transmitting signals within the brain that allow for coordination of movement.

The loss of dopamine causes neurons to fire without normal control, resulting in uncontrolled coordination of movement.

Risk Factors for Parkinson’s

Due to the cause of Parkinson’s disease being unknown, it is difficult to know the risk factors.
However, many common factors are:

• Age
• Male
• Smoking
• Caffeine consumption
• Head injury
• Pesticide exposure

Symptoms of Parkinson’s

• Slowing down in daily activities
• Smaller handwriting
• Slurred or softer speech
• Trouble rising from a chair
• Shaking lips, hands, arms, or legs
• Increased stiffness
• Trouble buttoning buttons or getting dressed
• Shuffle feet or take smaller steps
• Feet seem to get stuck to the floor when walking or turning
• One arm does not swing when you walk
• Trouble with balance
• Stooping or abnormal posture

If you notice and of these symptoms, don’t ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor. Although there is no cure, with early detection you can get the maximum benefit from available treatment to maintain a level of independence longer.

Call Advanced Body Scan today and begin your journey to a healthier, happier you (405) 242-1400.

Have you ever considered getting a brain scan in Oklahoma City, but aren’t sure when to or what symptoms are necessary for a brain scan? At Advanced Body Scan, we are dedicated to bringing affordable, preventive care to patients who may have concerns about their overall health and want to live a longer, healthier life. We offer a full array of scanning services for patients looking for answers to their health questions and for those patients who may be looking for a second opinion.

A brain scan is a valuable tool that can be used to discover various diseases that are found in the brain. Brain scans are useful for detecting brain tumors, strokes, dementia, and other diseases associated with brain disease.

Many of our patients want to know if a brain scan in Oklahoma City can detect brain diseases like dementia or stroke. To answer this, it’s important to first understand how the CAT or CT brain scan works.

What Is A Brain Scan?

At Advanced Body Scan, we utilize a state of the art CT brain scan in Oklahoma City to view any abnormalities in the brain, skull, and surrounding tissues and blood vessels. This is done by using X-Rays from the CT scan to produce images of the skull and brain. This equipment takes images of the skull and brain from all different angles and then is later “sliced” by computers to show cross-sections of the brain. By performing this procedure, our physicians are able to uncover information you may have about certain symptoms you’ve been experiencing.

What Information Can You Get From A Brain Scan?

Oklahoma City brain scan devices like the CT scanner at our facility can help diagnose a number of neurological disorders like dementia and Parkinson’s disease as well as stroke and brain cancer. This also includes, but is not limited to:

• Blood clots or bleeding in the brain shortly after the patient has shown symptoms of a stroke.
• Bleeding from brain injuries, skull fractures, or bleeding caused by as aneurysm.
• Early detection of brain cancer and/or Parkinson’s disease.
• Enlarged brain cavities and malformations or diseases of the skull.
• Degeneration of the brain’s outer cortex (common in many forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s) can be detected on a CT scan.

When Should I Get A Brain Scan In Oklahoma City?

Knowing when to get a brain scan can be difficult to navigate, as neurological and brain diseases and their symptoms can show up in a variety of ways. If you believe you may be suffering from any of the previously mentioned brain diseases, it is important to first discuss your concerns with your regular physician as a doctor’s referral is required to receive a brain scan from Advanced Body Scan. You may want to discuss your options to see if a brain scan in Oklahoma City is the next step for you, if you suffer from any of the following symptoms:

• Headaches
• Nausea & Vomiting
• Seizures
• Weakness or Numbness
• Hearing loss
• Persistent pressure behind the eyes or vision loss
• Difficulty speaking
• Lack of concentration, memory loss, and confusion or disorientation.

Scans Performed By Advanced Body Scan

Oklahoma City brain scans aren’t only type of scans performed at Advanced Body Scan. If you would like to find out more about your overall health, a Body Scan is a great option. Or combine a heart and lung scan for only $199. Other cutting edge scanning services we provide for each of our patients, which don’t require a physician's referral, include:

• Body Scan - An affordable way to get an overall assessment of your current health. Many patients utilize this service as a baseline evaluation for any possible future screenings.
• Heart Scan - For only $59, our heart scan is one of the fastest and most accurate methods to learn about your heart’s health.
• Lung Scan - Detect lung disease like lung cancer, emphysema, aneurysm of the aorta, and other lung ailments before they become life threatening.
• Virtual Colonoscopy - Using the state of the art, GE Optima CT Scanner, this non-invasive colonoscopy gives you quicker results than traditional methods. Virtual Colonoscopy can help to detect early signs of colon cancer, colon polyps, kidney stones and more.

Call Advanced Body Scan, to discuss your body and brain scan in Oklahoma City options and get on the road to living a healthier, stress free life today.