Headaches, Giddiness, Vomiting, Loss of Memory,Fits, Weakness in One or More Limbs can be Early Symptoms are Brain Tumor: Dr Ajay Bisht

By Samachar Vishesh News

Chandigarh 07^th June:- To create awareness on ‘World Brain Tumor Day’ surgical neurology experts from Paras Hospitals Panchkula addressed the media today. Present on the occasion were Dr. Anil Dhingra Associate Director Neuro & Spine Surgery, Dr Ajay Bisht Consultant Neuro Surgery and Dr Sonia kapil, Associate consultant Neuro Anesthesia from Paras Super Specialty Hospital Panchkula.

Addressing the media, Dr. Anil Dhingra said that June 8th is celebrated as world Brain tumor day. This day was initiated by German Brain tumor Association in the year 2000 with the aim to spread awareness about this lethal disease. Several researches have been going on for the treatment of Brain tumors. Brain tumors are devastating lesions that affect the nerve centre of the body. All our functions, from eating to speaking to walking etc, and all our emotions, from love to hate, are controlled by the brain, the spinal cord and nerves that are intimately connected. The brain is housed in a rigid shell (skull) and body maintains a rather homogenous atmosphere, air conditioned & shock proof, inside the skull. Abnormal growth of tissues inside the skull leads to the formation of a “tumor” which causes local destruction and pressure on surrounding normal tissues. Unlike the widespread defeatist perception about brain tumor, many patients of the disease can be cured with current advances in technology and early detection, doctors said on the World Brain Tumor Day.

Explaining further he said that these tumors can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-malignant). Malignant brain tumors, mostly, arise from brain matter (intrinsic) and can only be controlled for variable periods of time–after using all the various modalities of treatment available (surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy). But they differ from cancers of rest of body in that they do not metastasize (i.e. spread to other parts of body). Benign tumors, on the other hand, originate mostly from structures around the brain (extrinsic). They can be successfully removed surgically and, once removed totally, they mostly do not recur. Some of them can be effectively treated by using stereo tactically directed radiotherapy especially when diagnosed early when the tumor size is small.

 Adding further Dr. Ajay Bisht said that Brain tumors account for about 2 % of all cancers. Around 500 new cases of brain tumors are diagnosed every day worldwide and most of them are not inheritable. Brain tumors can occur at all ages – from infant to ripe old age. As of now no definite cause has been found for their origin. Therefore, there are no such specific preventive measures that can be taken.

Some common symptoms that people experience are headaches (typically worst in early mornings), vomiting, seizures, weakness of one or the other part of the body, difficulty in seeing or hearing or understanding.

 The treatment of brain tumors consists of removal of the tumor (for reducing pressure on normal structures as early as possible, and to obtain definite biopsy of the lesion for characterization and prognostication), followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy for malignant lesions only. Safe execution of surgery demands that the surgeon has as much specific knowledge as possible before operation. MRI, with special sequences which permit visualization of functional areas (fMRI) & fibre tracts (TDI images) is extremely useful for obtaining this information. This permits the surgeon to chart a safe course to the tumor.

Dr. Anil Dhingra also shared that the incidence and prevalence of brain tumor is growing rapidly in India.Every year 40,000 to 50,000 people are diagnosed with brain tumour which reduces life expectancy by 20 years. These statistics are shocking. Brain tumors can be, and are often, operated upon while awake so that they can assist the surgeon by moving a part of the body or speaking during surgery. Advanced technologies have made it possible for the neuro experts to venture in areas which were, for long, considered to be inapproachable or have unacceptable levels of risk of injury. For safe conduct of these surgeries and the intensive post op care, which is half the care, it is desirable to have a dedicated Neuro ICU with trained manpower and appropriate equipment. This improves the results dramatically.