World Brain Tumor Day is annually organised on the 8th of June with the aim of spreading awareness regarding brain tumours. The events are organised on this day in collaboration with various local governing and international bodies. World Brain Tumour Day focuses on educating people about the early detection and treatment of brain tumours.
What is Brain Tumour?
A brain tumour is an unnecessary growth of tissue in the brain that may interrupt the functioning of the brain. Tumours depend on where the tumour cells started and whether they may be malignant or not (benign). All brain tumours can grow to harm areas of regular brain tissue if left untreated.
Why do We Celebrate Brain Tumour Day?
A brain tumour is considered one of the deadliest diseases affecting both adults and children. The majority of all central nervous system (CNS) cancers identified in the brain are because of brain tumours. In 2020, it was estimated that 3,08,102 new cases were diagnosed with primary brain or spinal cord tumours worldwide. According to the report in 2010, the global age-standardised incidence rates of malignant brain tumours are nearly 3.70 per 100,000 men and 2.60 per 100,000 women per year.
Taking into account the above statistics, the importance of spreading awareness plays a vital role in detecting and opting for treatment options. World Brain Tumor Day creates awareness about brain tumours about their tests, diagnosis, and treatment options, thus helping the patients make the right decisions.
World Brain Tumor Day 2023 Theme
This year, the theme of World Brain Tumour Day is “Protect yourself – keep away from stress”. The theme focuses on the importance of developing techniques for managing stress to prevent brain tumours. Chronic stress triggers the neuroendocrine system and sympathetic nervous system.
According to the studies, the release of stress hormones has been associated with increased growth of tumours. In addition to this, the ability of the immune system to monitor itself decreases under persistent stress which can encourage tumour development. Therefore, stress can be a significant factor that can result in brain tumours.
Symptoms of Brain Tumour
Initial symptoms may be based on the region of the tumour. The following are some symptoms of brain tumours but are not limited to:
headaches
changes in behaviour
loss of hearing
facial numbness
loss of smell
lack of interest
vomiting
blurred vision
paralysis
loss of balance
swallowing difficulties
thinking and speaking difficulty
How to Prevent the Risk of Brain Tumours?
One can prevent the risk of brain tumours by following below:
Avoid getting in contact with carcinogenic chemicals such as cadmium, nickel, radon, vinyl chloride, benzene, etc.
Avoid smoking.
Taking safety measures to prevent injuries on the head.
Opting for stress-reducing activities such as exercising regularly, yoga, etc.
Reducing unnecessary exposure to ionising radiation.
Decreasing exposure to viruses, infections, and allergens.
Brain Tumor Treatment Options
Your treatment options might include:
Brain Surgery
Neurosurgeons try to remove the tumour when they can. To minimise harm to your brain’s functional parts, they work cautiously, sometimes performing surgery while you’re conscious (you won’t experience pain).
Radiation Therapy
X-rays in high doses can kill brain tumour cells or reduce the tumour.
Radiosurgery
It uses very focused radiation beams (proton beams or gamma rays) to kill the tumour. It is not actually surgery because it doesn’t involve a cut.
Brachytherapy
It is a kind of radiation therapy. It involves surgically placing radioactive capsules, seeds or other implants directly in or near the tumour.
Chemotherapy
It consists of anticancer drugs that destroy cancer cells in your brain. You might get chemotherapy via injection into a vein or doctors may suggest you some pills. Your medical professional may suggest you chemotherapy after surgery to destroy any cancer cells left behind.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a kind of treatment that uses the immune system of your body to fight cancer. The therapy consists of enhancing your immune system to help it perform its job.
Conclusion
The blog shares the importance of organising World Brain Tumour Day and spreading awareness regarding the early detection and treatment of brain tumours. For trending health and fitness-related blogs, subscribe to Personal Care N Heal.
