Brain Tumor Awareness Month: What You Need to Know

Every year, brain tumour awareness serves as a very powerful reminder to educate the masses about the severity, symptoms, and treatment of brain tumours. Brain tumour awareness is not just for the awareness of brain tumours; it is also for a month-long observance for those who don’t know what a brain tumour is. In this blog, we’ll dive into all the things that you need to know about brain tumours. 

What Is Brain Tumour? 

A brain tumour is the abnormal growth of cells within or around the brain. This abnormal growth of cells leads to something as dangerous as a brain tumour. These brain tumours can be classified into two types: benign and malignant. Benign tumours are non-cancerous tumours, and malignant tumours are those that are cancerous. The impact of brain tumours on health also varies from the size to location. Although the condition itself is not very common, it is very life-devastating as it affects cognitive functions and motor skills. 

Significance Of Brain Tumour Awareness Month 

According to a recent report, more than 12,000 people are diagnosed with brain tumours each year in the UK. This number is increasing at an alarming rate, and therefore, it’s very important to know the symptoms and causes of brain tumours for early detection and treatment of the disease. Many people dismiss the early signs of brain tumours, which lead to drastic changes in the body. Therefore, it is important to talk about it as much as we can. 

Symptoms Of Brain Tumour 

Brain tumours can present a variety of symptoms, which may depend on the location of the brain, but here are some common and most visible symptoms of brain tumours: 

• Consistent and severe headaches: If you are constantly experiencing severe headaches, then it is a sign of a brain tumour. This also affects your sleep. Read More: What is sleep apnea?
• Seizures: This is a very extreme symptom, but it is also important to note that if there are sudden or uncontrollable movements, convulsions or loss of consciousness, then it is also a sign of a brain tumour. 
• Hearing or vision issues: people who have a problem hearing or vision, then that means that it is also a very severe symptom of a brain tumour; blurred vision, double vision or hearing loss are some of the symptoms. 
• Weakness or numbness in the limbs: loss or problem in movement is also a sign. If someone has a problem walking or loss of coordination in one side of the body, then that is also a very common sign. 
• Memory loss: difficulty remembering things, brain fog or being in a state of confusion is also a very clear symptom that you need to consider. 

What Causes Brain Tumours? 

There are many causes of brain tumours that you need to take into consideration, and these are some of the common causes: 

• Family history: some types of genetic mutations run in the family, and because of that, we see brain tumours. 
• Genetic mutations: changes in DNA may also lead to the multiplication of cells, leading to the formation of brain tumours. 
• Weakened immune system: People who have a weak immune system are also at higher risk of brain tumours.
• Chemical exposure: people who work in industrial areas have seen a change in their bodies, and this indirectly affects the working of the brain and causes brain tumours. 

How Can We Diagnose And Treat Brain Tumours

You can treat a brain tumour simply by a series of medical tests, and these include; 

• Neuroligical exams: In this test, your vision as well as other muscles are assessed as to whether they are working fine or not. 
• Imaging tests: MRI and other scans, like CT scans, can also help detect abnormal growth of the cells. 
• Biopsy: This is also a very important test that is done for the diagnosis, and it is normally done to see whether the tumour is benign or malignant. 
• Surgery: removing the tumour from the brain is also a very effective way and it is done without even damaging the brain tissue. 
• Chemotherapy: administering drugs and chemicals that will help kill or slow down the growth of cells. 

How To Spread Awareness? 

If you want to get involved in spreading awareness for brain tumours, then here are a few things that you can do in order to get involved. These days, social media is a very important tool and via social media, you can share information. Also, the grey colour represents a brain tumour, and you can wear it as bands on your hands. Also, walkathons, marathons and local drives also help increase awareness. 

Conclusion

Brain tumour awareness month is a very important and crucial month to support, create awareness and advocate for those who have been affected by this fatal disease, so by spreading awareness and talking about it, you can encourage people to for early diagnosis and detection. 

FAQs

1. What is Brain Tumour Awareness Month?
Brain Tumour Awareness Month is observed to educate people about brain tumours, their symptoms, early detection, treatment, and the importance of research.

2. What are the early warning signs of a brain tumour?
Early signs include persistent headaches, seizures, vision or hearing issues, memory loss, limb weakness, and difficulty speaking or understanding speech.

3. How are brain tumours diagnosed?
Brain tumours are diagnosed through neurological exams, imaging tests like MRI or CT scans, and biopsies to determine if the tumour is benign or malignant.

4. What are the treatment options for brain tumours?
Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and supportive care like rehabilitation and counselling.