Brain Tumor: 5 Warning Signs That You Shouldn’t Ignore

The symptoms of brain tumors can vary depending on the size and location of the tumor.

Cancer cases are increasing at a rapid rate, leading to increased mortality and morbidity rates in the country. Cancers can be controlled if they are found early and treated promptly. An intracranial tumor, called a brain tumor, is an abnormal mass of tissue in which cells proliferate and grow out of control. There are more than 150 different brain tumors, but the two main types of brain tumor groups are primary and metastatic. Talking about primary brain tumors, they originate within the brain whereas metastatic tumors spread due to cancer from other parts of the body.

Types of brain tumors

Although there are more than 150 different brain tumors, the two main groups of brain tumors are primary and metastatic. Primary brain tumors are seen in the brain, while metastatic tumors can result from cancer in other organs of the body. Primary brain tumors are further classified based on the type of cells from which they originate, such as gliomas, meningiomas, and pituitary adenomas. Metastatic tumors are malignant, such as astrocytomas, ependymomas, and more. Are you warned? Each type of brain tumor can have various symptoms and different methods of treatment.

Symptoms

Some common symptoms are headaches, seizures, vision and hearing problems, inability to balance or coordinate, and cognitive problems. In some cases, brain tumors may have no symptoms, so regular checkups and diagnostic tests are key to detecting brain tumors early.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask you to opt out of some tests and procedures, including neurological exams, MRIs or CT scans, and biopsies. These tests help to know the location, size and type of tumor that is suffered. An accurate diagnosis can help seek timely treatment.

Treatment

The doctor decides the lines of treatment considering several factors, such as the type, size and location of the tumor, along with the age and general health of the patient. Treatment options are radiation, surgery, therapy, or chemotherapy. Even immunotherapy, targeted and biologic therapy can be recommended by the doctor after evaluating the patient.

(Inputs: Dr. Harish Naik, Brain and Spine Surgeon, Global Hospitals Parel mumbai)