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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