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Journalism of Courage
Brain tumour often silently creeps in without you not knowing. And as data shows that it represents about two per cent of all cancer cases in India, with an estimated 30,000 new cases diagnosed annually, early diagnosis improves survival and quality of life.
According to Dr Satnam Singh Chhabra, Chairman and Senior Consultant, Neurosurgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, brain tumours can sometimes present with subtle or silent signs that may be easily confused with other conditions. “It’s important to note that these signs can also be caused by other conditions and may not necessarily indicate a brain tumour. However, if any of these symptoms are persistent or worsening, it’s important to get a consultation,” he says. Excerpts:
A brain tumour is an abnormal growth of cells in the brain or central nervous system, which can be benign or malignant. When either of these types grow rapidly, they build pressure inside the skull which causes damage to the brain.
While the exact cause of brain tumour is not known, certain risk factors have been identified. These include exposure to ionizing radiation, a family history of brain tumours, genetic conditions as well as exposure to certain environmental chemicals and pollutants.
Persistent headaches, if they are more severe or frequent, especially in the morning. Sometimes the headache may be accompanied by nausea or vomitting, blurred vision, double vision or loss of peripheral vision. Watch out for changes in speech, such as difficulty finding words or slurred speech and changes in hearing or ringing in the ears. The patient could complain of unusual drowsiness and feel sleepy all the time. There could be mental/behavioural changes, such as memory loss or personality changes. Patients may report weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, complain of inability to hear, taste or smell and have balance or coordination problems.
Diagnosis of a brain tumour begins with a physical exam and a look at your medical history. Besides, your neurosurgeon may also evaluate your muscle strength, coordination and memory. Also, the diagnosis could be made on the basis of a CT scan of the head, MRI of the head, angiography, PET Scan, skull X-rays and biopsy.
Once a brain tumour is diagnosed, treatment options may include surgery to remove it, radiation, chemotherapy, targetted and other supportive therapies. The choice of treatment depends on factors such as the type and location of the tumour, as well as the overall health of the patient.
The main treatment for most brain tumours is through minimally invasive surgery, which aims to remove as much abnormal tissue as possible without causing any damage to the surrounding tissues of the brain. Some brain tumours are located deep inside the brain and are close to nasal cavities like pituitary tumours and skull base tumours. These can be removed endoscopically through the nose without any cut on the skull.
For deep-seated tumours, treatment with radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be necessary to completely destroy any cancerous cells left behind.
Brain Tumor Symptoms |
| Headaches |
| Seizures or convulsions |
| Difficulty thinking, speaking or finding words |
| Personality or behavior changes |
| Weakness, numbness or paralysis in one part or one side of the body |
| Loss of balance, dizziness or unsteadiness |
| Loss of hearing |
| Vision changes |
| Confusion and disorientation |
| Memory loss |
