World Brain Tumor Day 2016

June 8th is observed as World Brain Tumor Day. This day was introduced by a German nonprofit organization called German Brain Tumor Association, which spreads awareness and provides support to brain tumor patients. As an honor to the people suffering from brain tumor and their families, the NGO announced June 8th as World Brain Tumor Day in the year 2000. The main agenda behind this day is to raise awareness of the fight against brain cancer, educating them on tumor types and accompanying symptoms.

Brain tumor is an illness in which the cells in the brain multiply in an abnormal and uncontrolled way. The tumor can be malignant (cancerous) or benign i.e. non-cancerous. The cause behind a tumor is still unknown but according to research the risks of being affected are higher for those with a genetic history. A primary brain tumor originates in the brain. But if the cells of a tumor growing elsewhere in the body end up affecting the brain then such a case is called secondary brain tumor or metastatic brain tumor. Brain tumors can affect anyone, at any age and must be diagnosed as early as possible for better chances of recovery.

What are the Symptoms of a Brain Tumor?

• Unexplained weakness of the limbs

• Seizures

• Drowsiness

• Slurred speech

• Difficulty walking

• Blurred eyesight

• Nausea/vomiting

• Persistent headaches

• Behavioral alterations and memory problems

Doctors address tumors by grades, the higher the grade, the more abnormal the growth. They are grouped as grade I, grade II, grade III and grade IV, latter being the most aggressive type. The most common types of primary tumors in adults are astrocytoma, meningioma and oligiodendroglioma. While in children medulloblastoma, ependymoma and brain stem glioma are dominant.

Treatment of brain tumor depends on the type and location of the tumor as well as its size. The best option is surgery wherein the surgeon will remove as much of the affected cells as possible without damaging the brain. In most cases it is difficult to remove the entire affected tissue and thus surgery is followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

What can be done on World Brain Tumor Day?

The main aim of this day is to spread awareness of brain tumor and come up with effective treatment options that are also within the means. Creating awareness involves management and living with the tumor. Affected people and their families can join support groups to better cope with the condition. Support groups help facing the oncoming challenges and provide hope to the affected persons. Fund raising campaigns are also held, the proceeds from which go to hospitals so that surgeons can make further research in understanding this disease.

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Brain Tumor Cancer Types and Treatment Options

What is Brain Tumor?

A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain or central spine which can disrupt the functions of the brain. A brain tumor is a growth of abnormal cells in the brain. There are different types of a brain tumor some tumors are cancerous and some are noncancerous. When the tumors grow the inside the brain they can create the pressure inside the skull. This can cause brain damage which can be life-threatening. Brain tumors are categorized in primary or secondary type. Primary brain tumor originates in the brain and is generally benign. A secondary brain tumor is also referred as metastatic brain tumor which occurs when the cancer cells spread to the brain from another organ, such as the lungs or the breast. Brain tumor treatment options depend on the type of brain tumor the patient is suffering from. 

Symptoms of Brain Tumor

The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor vary from patient to patient. The symptoms the patient experience depends on the size of the brain tumor, location of the tumor and the growth of the tumor. Following are some of the symptoms of brain tumor:-

• Severe headaches
• Double vision.
•  Frequent headaches.
•  The difficulty with balance.
• Nausea.
•  Loss of peripheral vision.
• Vomiting
•  Blurred vision.
• Change in pattern of headaches.
• Behavior changes.
• Seizures.
•  Poor coordination.
• Loss of sensation or movement in an arm or a leg
• Short-term memory loss.
• Speech difficulties.
• Confusion.
•  Hearing problems.

Causes of Brain Tumor

The exact cause of most brain cancer is still unknown. Following factors can increase the risk of brain tumor:-

• Radiation to the head.
• Genetic factors.
• Environmental toxins.
• Cigarette smoking.
• HIV infection.

Treatment Options for Brain Tumor

The treatment options for brain tumor varies from patients to patients. The treatment option for a brain tumor depends on the type of the tumor, the size of the tumor and location of the tumor and overall health of the patient.

Surgery: - Surgery is recommended to patients if the brain tumor is located in a place that makes it accessible for an operation, the surgeon works to remove the brain tumor as much as possible. In some cases, the tumors are small and easy to remove from the surrounding brain tissue. In other cases if the tumors can't be separated from surrounding tissue or if the tumor is located near the sensitive areas of the brain then the surgery can be very risky for the  patient.  With the surgical option removing the portion of the brain tumor can help in reducing the signs and symptoms of the brain tumor.

Chemotherapy: - In Chemotherapy powerful drugs are used to kill the tumor cells. To treat brain tumor powerful Chemotherapy drugs are commonly used.

Radiation Therapy: - In Radiation therapy high-energy beams, are used to kill the tumor cells. Radiation therapy can be given externally and in rare cases the radiation is placed inside the body close to the brain tumor. External beam radiation can focus just on the area of the brain where the tumor is located, or it can be given to the entire brain.

Radiosurgery: - In radiosurgery multiple beams of radiation are used to give a highly focused form of radiation treatment to kill the tumor cells in a very small area. Each beam of the radiation is not powerful. There are different types of technology used in radiosurgery to deliver radiation to treat brain tumors, such as a Gamma Knife surgery or linear accelerator.

Targeted drug therapy: - Targeted drug treatments focus on the specific abnormalities present within cancer cells. Targeted drug therapy blocks the abnormalities.

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Brief Introduction about Alzheimer's Disease

Overview

Many adults specially the older ones usually forget someone’s name or forget things from time to time. This kind of forgetfulness is normal. But, unable to remember how to get home, getting confused in places a person knows very well, or asking questions over and over can be signs of a more serious problem. The person may have Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, deteriorating illness that destroys the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, causing loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral fluctuations.

What Causes Alzheimer’s Disease?

2 types of abnormal lesions block the brains of persons with Alzheimer's disease: Beta-amyloid plaques are sticky clumps of protein fragments and cellular substance that form outside and around neurons; and neurofibrillary tangles are insoluble twisted fibers largely made of the protein tau that builds up inside nerve cells.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

At first, people have difficulty remembering recent events, though they might easily recall things that happened years ago. As time goes by, other symptoms can appear, including:

·         Trouble focusing

·         Unable to perform regular activities

·         Feeling confused or frustrated, especially at night

·         Intense mood swings, outbursts of anger, anxiety, and depression

·         Feeling disoriented and getting lost easily

·         Physical complications, such as an odd walk or poor coordination

·         Trouble communicating

·         People with Alzheimer's might forget their dear ones.

·         They might even forget how to dress themselves, feed themselves, and use the toilet.

How is the Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosed?

There's no specific test today that confirms you have Alzheimer's disease. But doctors usually perform these tests -

·         Physical and Neurological Examination by testing your muscles, reflexes, coordination, getting up from a chair and sense of sight and hearing.

·         Blood tests to check thyroid disorders or vitamin deficiencies.

·         Mental status test to judge your memory and other thinking skills.

·         Brain Imaging test is done to check visible signs of the disease and other signs that may change the patient’s behavior. These include MRI, PET and CT scans.

·         Genetic testing is an emerging diagnosing tool used to check for signs of the disease.

Treating Alzheimer’s Disease

There is no proper cure available for Alzheimer’s and researchers are still exploring reasons for the causes of the diseases and how it leads to memory loss. Different treatment options are –

·      Medicines related to behavioral symptoms, related to anxiety & depression, the ones that reduce confusion, aggression, agitation or hallucinations.

·       Alternative medicines like Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin E and Gingko can help ease the effects of the disease.

·         Healthy combinations of food can keep these patients healthy.

·         Exercise can also promote restful sleep and prevent constipation.

·         Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

·         Art and music therapies

·         Creating a Safe and supportive environment.

·         Control Stress

Although there are no medicines to cure the disease or reverse its progression, certain modifications in the life style and a healthy diet can help in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and slowing down its progression.

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