Brain Tumour

Similar to most cancers, brain tumours do not show symptoms until they attain a certain size.

Symptoms include:

• persistent headaches that get worse over a period of weeks and are often more intense when lying down.

• vomiting.

• sudden seizures.

• changes in personality or mental ability.

You may also experience other symptoms depending on the type and location of the tumour:

• sudden vision loss, speech problems, or other changes in the senses.

• localised weakness or paralysis, especially in the limbs.

• impaired memory.

• loss of coordination or balance.

Brain cancer that originates in the brain itself is rare. It is more common that cancer elsewhere in the body eventually spreads to the brain. It can happen at any age.

Benign tumours are brain tumours whose cells do not spread. While malignant tumours, or cancers cells multiply uncontrollably and spread throughout the body.

Benign or malignant, no brain tumour is harmless. Either one can exert pressure on delicate brain tissue, produce severe pain, cause irreversible neurological damage, and threaten life. The symptoms and outlook for recovery will depend on the location of the tumour.

Causes

The causes of primary brain cancer are unknown. Research indicates that there may be -

• a genetic link.

• certain chemicals that cause it.

• A few rare diseases that may be culprits

Diagnosis of a brain tumour begins with a complete physical examination and neurological testing.