The nerve sheath tumor cannot be reversed until the condition required for a normal cell is restored. If the tumor is diagnosed at an early stage, the effect caused due to the presence of nerve sheath tumor can be easily managed and reversed.
Can Nerve Sheath Tumor Be Reversed?
Although the tumor generated in the nerve sheath cannot be completely reversed, but the growth of tumor can be slowed or stopped, and the tumor may shrink. Tumors are made up of cells, which are abnormal in nature and are rapidly dividing. With proper chemotherapy and other treatment strategies, the nerve sheath tumor may be controlled. The control of the tumor depends upon the stage at which the tumor is identified. If the tumor is found in the early stage, the chances of treatment are high, and the disease has a favorable prognosis. Further, nerve sheath tumor compresses the nerve, tissues or blood vessels leading to paralysis, hearing loss and dizziness. Thus, the early diagnosis of the disease helps in effectively controlling the symptoms.
Through the latest technology in diagnosis, the tumor is diagnosed at an early stage and this assists in reversal of the effects caused by compression of nerves. For example, vestibular Schwannoma is the tumor found in the nerves supplying the inner ear. This type of tumor causes the symptoms such as hearing loss, dizziness, and tinnitus, pressure in the ears and problems in balancing. Thus, through early diagnosis of vestibular Schwannoma, these symptoms may be easily managed. The chances of reversal are high. Further, the nerve sheath tumor also shrinks in size while those with excess growth and nerve compression properties are removed through surgery. Generally speaking, as the mechanism for controlling the growth of the cells has been mutated, the chances of these cells in reversing to normal state is rare; however, when this mechanism is reinstated due to any reason, the malignant cell may be reversed in to a normal cell as seen in some multipotential cells.
Nerve Sheath Tumor Symptoms
The symptoms associated with the nerve sheath tumor depends upon the type of nerve which is been affected. The major symptoms occur when the tumor is large enough to compress the nerve, tissues or blood vessels. This compression leads to the generation of symptoms. Following are the various symptoms experienced by the patient suffering from nerve sheath tumor:
Pain: Pain is the primary symptoms both in the benign and malignant nerve sheath tumor and is cause either due to the compression of tissues or blood vessels or may be due to compression of nerves leading to neuropathic pain.
Swelling or Lump: Sometimes, the nerve sheath tumor may cause swelling or lump which may be visible and play an important role in the initial diagnosis of the disease.
Tingling Sensation And Numbness: if the nerves are partially compressed by the tumor, it may lead to neuropathy, and cause ringing sensation and numbness.
Paralysis: If the tumor completely compresses the nerves, the organs to which the nerve is innervated are paralyzed.
Muscle Weakness: The nerve provides signals to the muscles for contraction and relaxation and if the nerve conduction is hampered by the tumor, it may cause muscle weakness.
Hearing Loss: In case of vestibular nerves tumor, the nerve supplying to inner ear gets affected leading to hearing loss.
Dizziness And Imbalance: The nerve sheath tumor of nerve supplying the vestibular leads to dizziness and imbalance.
Conclusion
There are two types of genes present in a cell. One is the oncogene and the other are tumor suppressor genes. In the normal cells, the tumor suppressor genes are dominating as compared to oncogenes. Due to mutation, the oncogenes are more dominant and thus the cells become malignant. Thus, until the condition required for normal cells is not restored, the tumor is hard to get reversed. With the proper therapy, the growth of nerve sheath tumor can be delayed or stopped, and the tumor can shrunk.
Also Read:
