World brain tumor day
World brain tumor day is an annual event which is celebrated on 8th June every year. World brain tumor day was celebrated in year 2000, for the first time. 8th June was declared as World brain tumor day by German Brain Tumor Association. World brain tumor day is celebrated to raise the awareness and educating people about brain tumor.
Among the brain tumor, malignant brain tumor is the most common brain tumor in Germany, which affects more than 8,000 people of the country. In the whole world, more than 500 cases are diagnosed with brain tumor and total number of patients with tumors that cause brain metastases is even higher than that. Brain tumor is the most common type of cancer among children.
The incidence and prevalence of brain tumor is also growing in India. According to a study, brain tumor is found to be common among girls in childhood and even in both sexes in adults although there is some variation amongst states.
Brain Tumor
The brain is soft and made of spongy mass of tissues, which is protected by bones of skull and three thin membranes called meninges.
Brain Tumor is a condition that occurs when the cells in the brain multiply in an abnormal way or a way that cannot be controlled and it can be can be malignant, which means it is cancerous or it can be non-cancerous (benign).
Brain tumor is graded from grade 1 to 4 and this depends with their location, how fast the cells are multiplying and the spread to adjacent areas/organs.
Facts about brain tumor
There are some facts which are related about brain tumor, which are as follows:
- Brain Tumor can occur at any age.
- The exact cause of brain Tumor is not clear.
- The symptoms of brain Tumor depend on their size, type, and location.
- The most common type of primary brain Tumor among adults is astrocytoma, meningioma, and oligodendroglioma.
- The most common type of primary brain Tumors in children are medulloblastoma, grade I or II astrocytoma, (or glioma) ependymoma, and brain stem glioma.
- Family history and high dose X-rays are risk factors for brain Tumor.
- Brain Tumors are diagnosed by the doctor based on the results of a medical history and physical examination and various specialized tests of the brain and nervous system.
- Options available for brain tumor treatments are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy or a combination of treatments.
Causes of Brain Tumor
The exact causes of the brain tumor are still unknown, but there are factors, which increase the chance of brain tumor in a person, they are as follows:
- Genetic predisposition
- Invasive where the cancer spreads to the brain from adjacent parts
- Receiving radiation to the head in children
Symptoms of Brain Tumor
Brain tumor can be identified by noticing its symptoms. Common symptoms of Brain tumor are as follows:
- Headaches and sometimes hand tremors
- Weakness in one part of the body
- Seizures (especially in older adults)
- Changes in the person’s mental function
- Change in alertness (including sleepiness, unconsciousness, and coma)
- Dizziness or abnormal sensation of movement (vertigo)
- Loss of balance and coordination
- Confusion or memory loss and eye problems
Treatments of Brain Tumor
Brain Tumor can be treated by various surgery and therapy. Treatments which are available for brain tumor are as follows:
Surgery of Brain Tumor
Prevention of Brain Tumor
There are no such precautions that are prescribed to prevent brain tumor. It is advisable by surgeons that every individual to go for a regular screening because early detection and treatment will help in prevention of complications.
Diagnosis of Brain Tumor
There are various techniques that can help in diagnosis of brain tumor, which are as follows:
- Neurologic exam: It includes testing of vision, hearing, alertness, muscle strength, coordination, and reflexes. Eyes are checked for swelling, which can be caused by a tumor pressing on the nerve that connects the eye and the brain.
- Angiogram: It is an imaging technique in which dye is injected into the bloodstream. If a tumor is present, the image may show the tumor or blood vessels that are feeding into the tumor.
- Spinal tap: For diagnosis, sample of cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that fills the spaces in and around the brain and spinal cord) is usually collected by a technique called lumbar puncture. For this process, a long, thin needle is used to remove fluid and it takes about 30 minutes.
- MRI and CT scan are very useful imaging techniques in the diagnosis of brain tumor.
Conclusion
Brain tumor is very dangerous and it could result in death. It is very rare type of tumor and most people are not aware about it though World brain tumor day is set aside to show support for the people who are suffering from brain cancer and the brain cancer survivors. Patients, who are suffering from brain tumor, are encouraged to come together by joining support groups and coming up with initiatives that can help in raising funds for the treatment of brain cancer patients.