Brain tumor cases on the rise in city

Banjara Hills: Around 2,500 persons are diagnosed with a brain tumor every year in the city hospitals and around 40,000- 50000 patients are diagnosed with a brain tumor every year of this 20% are children in the country. Majority of the brain tumor cases is traced to genes. The tumor suppression cannot happen in the brain so abnormal growth of cell happens and leads to a tumor.

Dr MRC Naidu, Head, Neuroscience Department, Continental Hospitals, said successful treatment starts with an accurate diagnosis. One should take headache as a serious matter and consult a doctor. Early diagnosis helps in treatment. "Recently, a patient from Yemen, Ebrahim Ali Yahya Al Gubari from Raimah who had multiple brain tumors, was treated and is recovering," he informed.

Dr Rajaskekhar, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon, Continental Hospital, said Ebrahim was diagnosed with multi-centric Glioma where the tumor is present at multiple discrete locations. "He came to our hospital with complaints of limb weakness and speech disturbance. After the surgery, I was just surprised at the sudden recovery of the patient and now he is steady but unfortunately, the report has come with grade 4 cancer and right now he is going through radiotherapy."

Sharing his experience, Ebrahim Ali Yahya Al Gubari said that Continental Hospital has a team which specialises in providing the highest quality of neurosurgical care. "At all other places, I was informed that there might be a possibility of losing my left side limb but this doctor gave me confidence that I can walk again like a normal person. I believe in him and the hospital and am now returning to my country with loads of love and strength."

What is a brain tumor?

A brain tumor is a mass or growth of abnormal cells in the brain.

How is brain tumor developed?

A brain tumor forms when these abnormal cells grow, sometimes very rapidly, into an abnormal mass of tissue. The tumor can compress, shift or replace normal tissue, sometimes, but not always leading to signs and symptoms that lead you to seek medical attention. Sometimes tumors are discovered during the course of other medical examinations.

Symptoms

1. Vision problems
2. Hearing problems
3. Balance problems
4. Changes in mental ability (for example, concentration, memory, speech)
5. Seizures, muscle jerking
6. Change in sense of smell
7. Nausea/vomiting
8. Facial paralysis

Whenever a person with severe headache should consult a doctor and CT Scan should be done.

By Meghna Nath