World Brain Tumor Day – 8th June 2018

New Delhi, June 7, 2018:

Brain tumour is a life threatening medical condition which is caused by the abnormal growth of brain cells. Not all tumours are cancerous. There are two main types of brain tumours—noncancerous(benign) and cancerous(malignant). Brain tumours are usually graded depending on how fast they grow and what are the chances of it growing back.

• Noncancerous(benign): Noncancerous tumour are those tumours that grows slowly and they are less likely to grow back. Thus, they are known as low-grade tumours (grade one or two).
• Cancerous(malignant): These tumours either start in the primary area i.e. brain or spread into the brain from secondary causes or tumours. They are more likely to grow back after treatment. Thus, they are known as high grade tumours (grade three or four). They are also known as ‘risk-of-life’ tumours as they are more life threatening than benign tumours.

The exact cause of brain tumour is still unknown but there are some risk factors which may lead to brain tumour. These are:

• Age factor: As it is mentioned above, brain tumours are more common in older people although some brain tumours are common in children. The risk factor of brain tumour increases with the age.
• Past history: If you ever had brain tumour, the chances of getting it back are more as some tumours are recurring in nature.
• Family history: If any of your family members is having brain tumour or ever had brain tumour then chances of you developing brain tumour are high.
• Radiation: Radiation includes CT scans, X-rays, radiotherapy, etc.  But only some types of brain tumours are caused by radiation.

What are the 5 brain tumour symptoms one shouldn’t ignore?

Symptoms of the brain tumour depend on various factors and they vary depending on the exact part of brain which is affected. Some symptoms develop slowly over time. Following are those 5 symptoms of brain tumour which you should never ignore. If you ever find any of the symptoms in you or your dear ones, do consult your doctor as soon as possible:

• Persistent headaches:

Whenever we talk about headaches, the first symptom comes in our mind is headache, a severe persistent headache. This is usually known as the primary signal of brain tumour. If you are having headache for more than 4-5 days, consult your doctor.

• Seizures:

According to MedlinePlus, “Seizures are symptoms of a brain problem. They happen because of sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain.” The onset of a seizure is an indicator of brain tumour.

• Progressive weakness or one-sided paralysis:

One-sided paralysis is known as hemiplegia. One-sided weakness is known as hemiparesis. In case of hemiplegia, only one side of the body gets paralysed.

• Vision or speech problems:

A tumour near the optic nerve causes blurred or double vision.  It may also cause abnormal eye movements depending on the exact location and size of the tumour. Some brain tumours may cause speech difficulties.

• Memory problems or behavioural changes:

Brain tumours usually effects cognitive abilities which results in memory problems, concentration problems, may lead to confusion, etc. It also changes the way a person behaves. You may find him/her frustrated on very illogical things.

-Dr Mukesh Pandey