Brain Tumor

Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment at Medica

A brain tumor is an abnormal cell growth or mass in the brain. According to reports, in India, every year 40,000-50,000 people are diagnosed with brain tumors. Of these 20 per cent are children. There are more than 120 different types of brain tumors showing different symptoms. But, broadly, it may be mainly of two types:

• Primary Brain Tumor – Here the tumor begins in the brain tissue.
• Secondary Brain Tumor – If the tumor starts somewhere else in the body e.g. the lung, then spreads to the brain, it is known as a secondary brain tumor or metastases.

Medica’s department of superspecialty Neurology has some of our country’s most experienced neurologists and neurosurgeons. Our dedicated team has successfully treated several patients through our expertise and advanced medical infrastructure.

Symptoms of Brain Tumor

The signs and symptoms of brain tumors depend on their size, type, and location. Symptoms that vary depending on the tumor’s location include:

• Lack of coordination when walking, double vision, trouble swallowing and speaking, and facial weakness in the form of a one-sided smile or a drooping eyelid are all symptoms of brain stem weakness.
• Flickering and/or uncontrollable eye movement, vomiting, stiffness of the neck, and clumsy walking and speech are all symptoms of tumor in the cerebellum.
• Temporal lobe tumor causes speech and memory issues, as well as odd sensations such as panic, blackouts, and strange odors.
• Gradual visual loss on one side is caused by a tumor of the occipital lobe.
• Problems with reading, writing, or simple computations, navigational difficulties, numbness or weakness on one side of the body, and difficulty interpreting words or speaking are all symptoms of the parietal lobe tumor.
• Unsteadiness and weakness on one side of the body, personality changes, and loss of smell are all symptoms of the frontal lobe tumor.

Causes of Brain Tumor

The risk factors which may lead to Brain Tumors are:

• Genetics: A small portion of brain tumors occur in people with a family history of brain tumors or a family history of genetic syndromes that increase the risk of brain tumors.
• Radiation: People who have been exposed to a type of radiation called ionizing radiation have an increased risk of brain tumor.

Diagnosis

If it’s suspected that you have a brain tumor, your doctor may recommend a number of tests and procedures, including:

Treatment

People with brain tumors have several treatment options. The options are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Many people get a combination of treatments. The choice of treatment depends mainly on the following:

• The type and grade of brain tumor
• Its location in the brain
• Its size
• Your age and general health

Surgery: Surgery is the removal of the tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue during an operation. It is usually the first treatment used for a brain tumor and is often the only treatment needed for a low-grade brain tumor. Removing the tumor can improve neurological symptoms, provide tissue for diagnosis, help make other brain tumor treatments more effective, and, in many instances, improve the prognosis of a person with a brain tumor

Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to destroy tumor cells. Doctors may use radiation therapy to slow or stop the growth of the tumor. It is typically given after surgery and possibly along with chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy tumor cells, usually by ending the cancer cells’ ability to grow and divide. The goal of chemotherapy can be to destroy tumor cells remaining after surgery, slow a tumor’s growth, or reduce symptoms. Chemotherapy is given by a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating tumors with medication. Chemotherapy may also be given by a neuro-oncologist.