The brain, the masterpiece of creation, is almost unknown to us” -- Nicholas Steno, 1669. Ancient physicians had conflicting opinions about the meaning of the brain. Aristotle considered the brain a secondary organ that served as a cooling agent for the heart. The anatomist provides a general description of this convoluted toolbox. Basic structures such as the pons and medulla regulate our lives. Now, what happens when these primitive systems slow down? When are abnormal and excessive cells produced? What happens when regulation and control of brain cells is lost in a single cell? As the cell makes more and more copies of itself, it grows to form a tumor. This is known as brain cancer. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay As I write this, a dull headache spreads through the space above my right eye. The same headache visited me yesterday and the day before. In fact, for the previous eight months, my headaches had taken over my life. On good days the pain was just a mild throbbing sensation. Although, in most cases, an increasingly stronger sensation of pressure was felt. There were also those unforgettable days when I felt like screws had been set into the hemispheres of my head and a hammer pounding on my right eye. The way I classify this feeling is headache, a familiar electric current behind my retina. I have always had more headaches than the average person. Prescription drugs and medications were what I relied on. I started getting them every day and they were more painful than usual. It was as if sharp objects cut into the center of my brain leaving everlasting hidden scars. It's an intense pain where the brain tries to force its way out of the skull as constant pressure pulses with each heartbeat. Especially, when people don't understand the effects. “You just have a headache,” they say without hesitation. “No, it's much more.” A couple of months later, I underwent multiple brain scans such as MRI, CT and EEG. The most terrifying is the electroencephalogram. My luck was having an unpleasant nurse technician who treated me very badly. The procedure took about 40 minutes and consisted of inserting small metal discs with thin wires into the scalp. The outcome of these scans revealed the presence of hemorrhagic colloidal cysts. According to the World Health Organization, nine out of ten people diagnosed with a brain tumor will die. Unfortunately, I am part of that fraction. The most significant individual in my life is the one who survived. After two years of surgeries, endless sessions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy saved my mother from this terrible fungus. The only one who continues to inspire patience, perseverance and strength in me.