In minor ways he may even improve, for his records have relative permanency. Man cannot hope fully to duplicate this mental process artificially, but he certainly ought to be able to learn from it. Yet the speed of action, the intricacy of trails, the detail of mental pictures, is awe-inspiring beyond all else in nature. It has other characteristics, of course trails that are not frequently followed are prone to fade, items are not fully permanent, memory is transitory. With one item in its grasp, it snaps instantly to the next that is suggested by the association of thoughts, in accordance with some intricate web of trails carried by the cells of the brain. Having found one item, moreover, one has to emerge from the system and re-enter on a new path. It can be in only one place, unless duplicates are used one has to have rules as to which path will locate it, and the rules are cumbersome. When data of any sort are placed in storage, they are filed alphabetically or numerically, and information is found (when it is) by tracing it down from subclass to subclass. Our ineptitude in getting at the record is largely caused by the artificiality of systems of indexing.
Learn more at Brain Metastasis: Local Treatments.The real heart of the matter of selection, however, goes deeper than a lag in the adoption of mechanisms by libraries, or a lack of development of devices for their use. Local treatments include surgery and radiation therapy. Still, local treatments are recommended under certain circumstances. Local treatments - therapies directed specifically to the new locations of the breast cancer - aren’t usually the first choice for metastases. Systemic medications include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapies, and bone-strengthening medication. The most common treatments for metastatic breast cancer in any location (bone, brain, lung, or liver) are systemic medications, which treat cancer throughout the entire body. The sample is sent to a pathologist for examination. Imaging studies can help the surgeon direct the needle to the precise area. To obtain a biopsy specimen, a surgeon drills a small hole through the skull and uses a narrow, hollow needle to remove a sample of the brain lesion. In rare cases, biopsies are performed to confirm the diagnosis. Usually, an MRI can determine whether an unusual finding in the brain is metastatic breast cancer. This solution is delivered intravenously and then travels into the brain, helping to make the study images clearer. If your doctor suspects brain metastasis, he or she will order an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) study of the brain, often with contrast solution.