World Brain Tumor Day: History and Significance 

World Brain Tumour Day is celebrated on June 8 every year. The day was first observed by the German Brain Tumour Association in the year 2000, and is considered to be a noteworthy occasion because it helps draw attention to brain tumours, and spread awareness about them.  

Even though brain tumours are classified as a serious medical condition, most people don’t have a clear understanding of what these tumours are. A study shows that in our country, there are 5–10 cases of such tumours in every 1 lakh people. So, this World Brain Tumour Day in India, take the initiative to learn more about the illness and be well-informed. 

Reasons to celebrate World Brain Tumor Day 2021

The #1 reason to celebrate World Brain Tumour Day is to spread awareness about the illness and the threat it poses to human life. The goal is therefore to encourage people to watch out for signs and symptoms and get screened periodically. Apart from this, it also serves as a reminder to advocate for effective and pocket-friendly treatment for this condition. Additionally, it serves as an opportunity to show your support to those who are fighting this illness relentlessly. 

Now that you know all about World Brain Tumor Day, take a look at all you need to know about brain tumours. 

What is a brain tumour?

In the simplest terms, a brain tumour is defined as an abnormal growth of cells in the brain. These cells collect to form a growth or mass. As the brain is housed snugly within your skull, when such a mass forms and grows, it puts pressure on vital parts of your brain. This is what makes a brain tumour dangerous. 

A tumour can either be malignant or benign, that is cancerous or non-cancerous. Cancerous or malignant tumours are those that grow rapidly, can spread to other parts of your body and cause damage to your body’s tissues. Non-cancerous or benign tumours, on the other hand, grow slower and don’t spread. 

Brain tumours are classified as one of two types: 

Primary brain tumours

These are tumours that start in the brain. They originate in your brain cells, nerve cells, glands or the membranes that protect the brain. The most common types of primary tumours are gliomas and meningiomas. However, there are other types of primary tumours as well, such as pituitary tumours and craniopharyngiomas (occurring mostly in children). 

Secondary brain tumours

Secondary tumours are those that originate in another part of the body and then spread to the brain. Cancers of the lung, breast, skin, colon and kidney are likely to spread to the brain. Secondary brain tumours are always cancerous, and occur more commonly than primary tumours. 

Who is at risk at suffering from brain tumours?

• Those who have been exposed to certain types of radiation are at a higher risk of developing tumours. 
• Those with family members who have had brain tumours are at risk of suffering from brain tumours themselves.  
• Those who are obese are at a higher risk of suffering from brain tumours. 
• Those who have HIV/AIDs are at almost double the risk of developing brain tumours.   
• Those who haven’t had chickenpox in their childhood are at a higher risk of contracting brain tumours. 

What are common brain tumour symptoms?

The following are a few of the symptoms that may appear when a brain tumour begins to put pressure on to the brain. 

•  Frequent and severe headaches 
• Change in headache patterns 
• Confusion or memory loss 
• Vomiting and/or nausea 
• Blurred vision or double vision 
• Seizures  
• Dizziness  
• Loss of balance 
• Hearing problems 
• Tremors  
• Drowsiness and/or loss of concentration 
• Sudden behavioural and/or personality changes 
• Gradual loss of taste and smell
• Muscle weakness in limbs or face 

How are brain tumours diagnosed and treated?

Doctors first carry out a thorough physical examination. This includes determining neurological function by examining your eyes, evaluating muscle strength and coordination, your ability to perform basic tasks and calculations, as well as checking your memory.  

After this, the doctor is likely to order tests such as CT scans, X-Rays of the skull, MRI scan, and angiographies. These help detect the presence of a tumour, its size, location and other characteristics. Lastly, a biopsy is performed to test whether the tumour is benign or malignant. 

Thereafter, depending on the size of the tumour, its type and location, the doctor will create a treatment plan. The most straightforward and common approach is surgery. This allows doctors to extradite the tumour and prevent any damage to brain. Other forms of treatment include radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After a neurosurgery, doctors often prescribe supportive therapies such as physical therapy, speech therapy or occupational therapy. These are necessary for some patients, as brain tumours can impact your motor skills, speech, and ability to perform everyday tasks. 

As your brain controls all functions in your body, there’s no denying that a brain tumour is lethal. The only way to prevent a brain tumour from becoming life-threatening is to get screened for it regularly, so that you can facilitate early intervention. Should you be worried about finding an experienced, credible doctor who can give you all the information you need, look no further than Bajaj Finserv Health. Here you book an appointment and consult with specialists online or in person, as per your convenience. Not only does the app give you access to the best doctors in your vicinity, but it also gives you discounts and offers through select partner facilities.