World Brain Tumour Day 2020: Important date, History, Causes, Brain tumours Symptom, and Treatments
World Brain tumour Day 2020: World Brain tumour Day is celebrated on June 8 every year by . The main objective of World Brain tumour Day is to create awareness and educate the public about brain tumours. Get information about Brain tumour Day, history, causes, symptoms and treatments.
Updated: Jun 09, 2020 18:02 IST
World Brain Tumour Day 2020
World Brain tumour Day was first observed by the German Brain Tumour Association on June 8. The brain tumour is an uncommon ailment that is life-threatening. Brain tumours are the second most type of cancers affecting children below the age of 12.
So, it is important to spread awareness among the people and be supportive of affected patients and their families.
What is the History of World Brain Tumour Day?
World Brain tumour Day was initiated by the German Brain tumour Association, a non-profit organization. The Association declared the observation of World Brain tumour Day on 8 June 2000.
The German Brain tumour Association was founded in 1998 and after that, more than 500 members from 14 nations have registered in this association. The association receives encouraging and inclined support from brain tumour patients, their families, and also from top medical organizations throughout the world. This non-profit organization helps in encouraging the affected people and helps them to overcome the turmoil.
Why celebrate World Brain Tumour Day?
The World Brain tumour Day is celebrated to create awareness among the public who don't have knowledge about the brain tumour and precaution them to take regular screening for brain tumour detection. The day is also celebrated to:
Support the affected individuals and give them hope for faster recovery
Appreciate the people who are all fighting against the tumour in everyday lives
Campaigns are conducted to raise the funds in order to help the affected individuals who are not capable to pay for their treatments
What is Brain Tumour?
The brain tumour is the mass or abnormal growth of cells in the brain. Basically, the tumours are two types namely malignant and benign(nonmalignant) tumours. The malignant tumours are abnormal cells and grow uncontrollably hence it is known as cancerous cells. Whereas benign tumours are non-cancerous cells, it does not spread but if something happened, the cell overgrew and turned into lumps.
The brain tumour is classified into two main types - primary brain tumours and secondary brain tumours.
Primary brain tumours: These types of tumour cells start from the tissues of the brain and grow on the grades.
Secondary brain tumours: This tumour originates from other parts of the body and moves to the brain usually through the bloodstream. These types are more common in people who are suffering from leukemia, lung cancer, breast cancer.
What are the causes of Brain Tumour?
The exact cause of the brain tumour is not yet found. Some of the conditions which may increase the risk of its occurrence are as follows.
Exposure to ionizing radiation during the treatment of the brain or head
Hereditary gene factors
Severe head injury
Overexposure to more chemicals
Unhealthy lifestyle
What are the symptoms of Brain Tumour?
There are no specific symptoms for brain tumours because the symptoms vary depending on the location of the tumour in the brain. Some of the general symptoms are
Severe headaches
Seizures
Changes in speech or hearing
Changes in vision
Memory problems
Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
Perpetual nausea and vomiting and fatigue
Drowsiness
How to diagnoize Brain Tumour?
The signs & symptoms of a brain tumour can vary totally depending on the size of the brain tumour, location, and rate of growth. Based on the symptoms, doctors may advise the following test to diagnose the brain tumour.
MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging is an imaging technique to measure tumour size. The special dye is injected into patients to get a clear image.
CT scan - It takes the images of the brain by using X-rays from different angles.
Positron emission tomography (PET) or PET-CT scan - PET scan is used to find more information about the tumours at the stage of patients receiving the treatments. It is usually combined with a CT scan hence it is known as a PET-CT scan.
Cerebral angiogram - It is also known as cerebral arteriogram which takes a series of X-rays of the head that clearly shows the arteries of the brain.
Neurocognitive assessment - It is a detailed assessment of all major functions of the brain, such as storage and retrieval of memory, expressive and receptive language abilities, calculation, dexterity, and the overall well-being of the patient.
How can the Brain Tumour be treated?
Treatments for a brain tumour depends on the type of tumour, size and location of the tumour, stage and possible side effects on the patient health, etc., Some of the options for the treatment are as follows:
Surgery- It is the first step treatment for brain tumours mostly to remove the low-grade brain tumours.
Radian therapy- It uses high energy X-rays to destroy the tumour cells.
Chemotherapy - In this treatment drugs are used to kill the tumour cells.
Targeted therapy: This therapy focuses on a specific element of a cell, such as molecules or pathways required for cell growth, in order to use them as a target.
World Brain tumour Day 2020 - FAQ
There are more than 120 types of brain and central nervous system(CNS) tumours that can form in different areas of the brain. Especially in the brain tissue, cranial nerves, meninges, peripheral nerves that is nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body, etc.
Brain tumours may be malignant (cancerous) or benign (not cancerous). Some tumours grow quickly while others are slow-growing. Only about one-third of brain tumours are cancerous.
The exact cause of the brain tumour is unknown. The factors that can increase the risk of a brain tumour include exposure to high ionizing radiation and a family history of brain tumour. Cancer in another part of the body is also a risk factor.
Some brain tumours do not cause pain or headaches, because the brain itself isn't capable of sensing pain. Only when a tumour grows large enough to press on nerves or vessels it will cause a headache.
World Brain tumour Day was initiated by the German Brain tumour Association, a non-profit organization. The Association declared World Brain tumour Day on 8 June 2000.
Top News
