Contributed by: Healthians Team
Introduction
Every year, World Brain Tumour Day is observed around the globe on June 8. This day is devoted to spreading awareness among people about brain tumours, the causes, risk factors, symptoms, management, and treatment options.
About 28,000 cases of brain tumours are recorded in India every year, according to the International Association of Cancer Registries (IARC). 24,000 people die as a result of the illness.
A brain tumour is a collection of abnormal cells in your brain that forms a mass. Your brain is protected by a highly tough skull. Any expansion in such a small location can generate complications.
Brain tumours can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous). The pressure inside your skull might rise when benign or malignant tumours get larger. This can result in brain damage, which can even be fatal.
World Brain Tumour Day 2022 theme
This year the theme for World Brain Tumour Day is “Together We Are Stronger”. The brain is the powerhouse of the body and maintains the proper functioning of the entire system.
World Brain Tumor Day is an important step toward raising awareness about brain tumours and finding a cure. Organizations from all across the world are collaborating to prevent, screen, diagnose, and treat the disease.
Risk factors of brain tumours
The cause or risk factors of a brain tumour are usually unclear, however, the following variables may increase a person’s chance of having one:
- Age: Although brain tumours are more frequent in children and older individuals, they can still affect anybody at any age.
- Gender: Men are more likely than women to get a brain tumour in general. Whereas, women are more likely to develop some forms of brain tumours, such as meningioma.
- Toxic exposure at home & work: Solvents, insecticides, oil products, rubber, and vinyl chloride are all known to enhance the incidence of brain tumours. So try and avoid direct contact with such hazardous components.
- Family history: Li-Fraumeni syndrome, neurofibromatosis, nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, Turcot syndrome, and von Hippel-Lindau disease are only a few of the inherited genetic variables or illnesses that are related to brain tumours. Scientists have also discovered “clusters” of brain tumours in certain families that have no known relation to these inherited disorders. Studies are being conducted to determine the causes of these clusters.
Symptoms of a brain tumour
As per research and studies, there are more than 120 types of brain tumours based on the brain tissues they affect.
Not all brain tumours are cancerous, but because of their size or location, even benign (noncancerous) tumours can be hazardous.
Different functions performed by the brain are controlled and operated by various parts of the brain. Hence, the location of a tumour in the brain also differs as per the different symptoms.
A brain tumour in the cerebellum in the back of the head, for example, could cause problems with movement, walking, balance, and coordination.
Vision alterations may develop if the tumour affects the optic pathway, which is responsible for vision.
The size of the tumour and how quickly it grows influence which symptoms a person will encounter.
Following are some of the most common symptoms of a brain tumour:
- Headaches
- Weakness, numbness or paralysis in one part or one side of the body
- Difficulty in thinking, speaking or finding words
- Personality or behaviour changes
- Loss of balance, dizziness or unsteadiness
- Loss of hearing
- Seizures or convulsions
- Poor vision
Preventive measures for brain tumours
Controlling your lifestyle is the most effective way to avoid brain tumours. This includes eating well, exercising regularly, avoiding known carcinogens in the surroundings, and managing stress.
Here are some practical tips to prevent brain tumours:
A proper sleep cycle
Sleep is the brain’s best friend. A sufficient amount of sound sleep in a peaceful environment is beneficial for the brain’s health.
Balanced diet (anti-cancer diet)
Preventing brain tumours requires a diet rich in cancer-fighting elements such as antioxidants, which can be found in the following day-to-day foods:
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Artichokes
- Cabbage
- Asparagus
- Avocados
- Beetroot
- Radish
- Lettuce
Frankincense oil (essential oils)
Inhaling frankincense oil, in addition to yoga, meditation, and breathing techniques for stress relief, can help decrease inflammation in the brain.
Also, regular head massages with essential oils help in reducing stress and maintaining proper blood circulation.
Watch your calorie intake
Just like the ketogenic diet and dietary restriction, particularly fasting, has anti-carcinogenic characteristics.
Avoid foods that are high in calories and are making you lethargic and lazy.
Opt for healthy lifestyle choices
Limit your usage of cell phones because using a cell phone excessively raises your chance of developing a brain tumour.
Taking proper rest and avoiding too much screen time is the best way to prevent the risk of brain tumours.
Final thoughts
On the event of World Tumour Day, we presented some vital information and pointers to make you aware of brain tumours.
The goal is to establish a collaborative environment in which politicians, corporate leaders, and medical and research institutions work together to fund and develop research into feasible brain tumour treatments and diagnoses at the right time.
The essential thing before the treatment is to observe and respond to the symptoms. If you leave the mentioned symptoms avoided and untreated for a long time then, the situation can become severe. So reach out for an accurate diagnosis and get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible.
Moreover, you should also frequently opt for health screening. It provides you with vital insights into your health, allowing you to take necessary measures to improve it.
