Strokes are often missed in brain cancer patients

It is not uncommon that someone who is battling brain cancer suffers a stroke. And it is also not uncommon that such a stroke is missed completely by doctors and caregivers alike. In fact, stroke is misdiagnosed over 50% percent of the time in cancer patients. One possible explanation for this is that stroke symptoms in this patient population are likely to be interpreted as a normal progression of the existing tumor.

These findings were recently unveiled by a study published in June 2008 in the Journal Neurology, along with findings that most strokes in this patient population are associated with either brain radiation, or brain surgery.

The authors call for a more careful assessment of new neurological symptoms in brain cancer patients, especially in light of their susceptibility for stroke. Adequate and timely management of stroke is likely to decrease the overall disease burden these patients must endure.

Suggested reading:
Stroke Symtoms
Ministroke Symptoms
Deadly Strokes