On the 8th of June 2000, an initiative was taken by the German Brain Tumour Association to spread the awareness against brain tumour and since then this day is celebrated as international brain tumour day. According to a report published by The Hindu, every year in India approx. 40,000-50,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour in which almost 20% are children.
What is Brain Tumour?
Tumour is the mass produced by unnecessary cell growth in any part of the brain. The brain is covered by a very hard bonny structure called a skull. It is very rigid, thus any inner growth due to the restricted space is very harmful. Depending on the malignancy brain tumour can be divided into 2 major categories, i.e cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).
Where does India stand?
According to the Brain Tumour Foundation of India, the brain tumour is the second most common cancer among children after leukaemia. But if the tumour gets diagnosed and treated on time, the survival rates are higher and the survivor can lead a normal healthy life. So timely diagnosis is the key to beat brain tumour. The incidence and prevalence of brain tumour are increasing in India. According to research the most common childhood cancer is brain tumour found in young females and both sexes as adults although there are some exceptions amongst states. The Indian government has introduced the National Cancer Control Programme with the objectives of prevention, screening, early detection, diagnosis and treatment including soothing care in the end stage.
Symptoms
The symptoms may vary depending on the part of the brain from which it begins. Some common symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Ulcer (angular stomatitis and glossitis)
- Vision oriented problems
- Lethargy or insomnia
- Mood swing
- Alteration in personality and behaviour
- Difficulty in regular daily activities
Causes
Majorly the cause of brain tumour is unknown. But it has been observed in scientific genetic coding researches, that it may be due to genetical alterations. This may occur by natural mutation or by environmental factors, like pollution.
Facts about Brain Tumour
- It can occur at any age.
- The exact cause is unknown.
- Symptoms of a brain tumour may vary depending on its size, type and location.
- The most common type of primary brain tumour in adults are astrocytoma, meningioma, and oligodendroglioma. The most common type of primary brain tumours occuring in children are medulloblastoma, grade I or II astrocytoma, (or glioma) ependymoma and brain stem glioma.
- Family tumour or cancer history and high dose X-rays are risk factors for a brain tumour.
Treatment
- Brain tumour treatment is dependent on the site, type, size and nature of the tumour. The following treatments are recommended by the doctor:
- Surgery
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy
- Steroids Anti-seizure medication
- Supporting palliative medication
Diet
Diet plays an important role in protecting our body against any degenerative alterations. Nowadays the environment is full of pollution, thus to fight against the lifestyle stress or pollution opt for more naturally occurring colourful diets like fruits or vegetables as they are high in naturally presenting antioxidants. Oxidation is a natural procedure of cellular metabolism, but oxidation creates destructive reactive oxygen species (ROS). The antioxidants present in the food helps our cells to protect against the oxidative damages by neutralising the ROS.
If one is suffering from a brain tumour and undergoing treatment proper nutrition is necessary as during this time the patient may suffer from other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, constipation or loose motion. If needed always seek for a dietician or nutrition expert for advice.