Brain tumours can be both cancerous (malignant) and non-cancerous (benign). A brain tumour refers to an abnormal mass or development of cells in the brain. This growth creates pressure inside your brain, leading to brain damage without proper medical intervention. These growths have been classified into two kinds – primary brain tumours and secondary brain tumours. Primary brain tumours are the types of masses that start to develop in your brain. Secondary brain tumours are cancerous growths that begin in another part but spread to your brain. For quality critical care in Siliguri, reach out to a hospital at your nearest location.
Headaches Due To Brain Tumours
Understanding the General Symptoms of Brain Tumours
Symptoms of brain tumours develop according to the location, size, and progress of the tumour growth. Following are some of the symptoms that you should not ignore:
- Changes in the headache patterns
- Headaches are getting worse
- Headaches that over-the-counter meds won’t relieve
- Persistent headaches
- Seizures
- Difficulty concentrating
- Short-term memory issues
- Confusion over simple things
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Irritability
- Falling asleep in the middle of the day
- General weakness
- Muscle weakness/numbness
- Vision-related problems
- Hearing problems
- Problem with movements
- Facial weakness/numbness
- Balance issues
When to Consider a Neurologist?
It’s wise to see a neurologist once you start to experience ongoing numbness, pain, headaches, imbalance, problems with memory. However, these signs don’t pinpoint you must have tumours.
Headaches that persist or reappear quickly may have an underlying cause. Likewise, each sign talks about a different or a single problem. Only a specialist can evaluate what leads you to undergo such discomfort.
Early diagnosis can protect your wellness against complications. Schedule an appointment with your neurologist to know what results in such symptoms.
Types of Primary Brain Tumours
Different kinds of primary brain tumours can develop from – meninges, nerve cells, brain cells, glands. Below are given some of the types of primary/benign brain tumours:
Gliomas
Gliomas are the common types of primary brain tumours that originate in the glial cell in the brain or spine. Findings have stated about 33% of all brain tumours are gliomas.
These are malignant (cancerous) tumours that can be seen both in adults and children. Signs may include problems with vision, speaking, remembering, learning, headaches, seizures, dizziness, numbness on one side of the body, difficulty keeping balance.
Acoustic Neuromas
Acoustic neuroma or vestibular schwannoma is a non-cancerous tumour that grows gradually. This growth takes place on the nerve that operates hearing and balance.
Hearing loss, loss of balance, vertigo, tinnitus sensation in the affected ear, facial numbness are some of the indications of acoustic neuromas. In a few cases, these tumours grow rapidly. And that is enough for suppressing the vital functions of the brain.
Meningiomas
Meningiomas are typically non-cancerous tumour that develops in the primary central nervous system. Like acoustic neuroma, meningioma is a slow-growing tumour. You may need critical care/emergency support to heal the sudden onset of seizures or problems with vision.
Signs of this tumour may involve vision-related problems, memory loss, headaches, seizures, hearing loss, weakness in the arms, legs, loos of smell, et al. Be sure to speak to a medical expert or neurologist early on to prevent health concerns. Help your near one reach a hospital to receive critical care for a brain tumour.
Other Forms of Primary Brain Tumours
- Pituitary tumours
- Craniopharyngiomas
- Pineal gland tumours
- Ependymomas
- Germ cell tumours
- Medulloblastomas
Types of Secondary Brain Tumours
A secondary or malignant brain tumour arises elsewhere in the body that reaches the brain. Especially in adults, secondary brain tumours are way more common than primary tumours.
Outlined below are cancers that metastasize your brain:
- Lung cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Colon cancer
- Breast cancer
- Melanoma
Factors That Increase Your Risk of Brain Tumours
Several factors that can contribute to the development of both benign and malignant brain cancer may include:
- Family history
- Exposure to ionizing radiation
- Occupational exposure to certain chemicals
Neurologic Critical Care For Brain Tumours
Diagnosis and Medical Care for Brain Tumours
To diagnose the presence of tumours in your brain, a specialist may go for a few procedures/tests – a physical exam, examining medical history, existing symptoms/discomforts, skull X-rays, MRI, CT scan of the brain, angiography, biopsy. In order to receive quality medical assistance, you can consult the leading neurologist in Siliguri city.
Medical care for brain tumours depends on their type, location, and size. Specialists mostly recommend surgical removal of the tumours. In addition, types of cancer therapies – radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy – in combination with surgery or individually may help in optimal recovery.
