Cancer and the nervous system.

Brain tumours should be considered when patients present with headache with diurnal variation, seizures, or progressive neurological symptoms. Spinal cord compression by tumour is a medical emergency. Prognosis for patients with glioma is better in those with tumours of low grade, and in patients younger than 50 years and with higher functional levels. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can improve survival for patients. Anticancer therapies can have neurotoxic side effects.