A brain tumor is a growth of abnormal cells in the brain. Brain tumors can be cancerous or noncancerous and can affect children and adults.

Whether they are cancerous or not, brain tumors are dangerous because they can impact on brain functions, damage and compress parts of the brain causing severe dysfunction. They can put pressure on healthy parts of the brain or they can cause problems if they block the flow of fluid around the brain, which can lead to an increase in pressure inside the skull which is fatal.

The most common brain tumor in adults, meningioma, often grows so slowly that it goes unnoticed. Tumors may not start causing symptoms until they become large enough to interfere with healthy tissues inside the brain leading to a life threatening situation and sudden death.

*Brain Tumor: Symptoms*

The most common symptoms of a brain tumor may include:headaches, seizures or convulsions,
difficulty thinking, speaking or finding words,
personality or behavior changes, weakness, numbness or paralysis in one part or one side of the body, loss of balance, dizziness or unsteadiness, loss of hearing, vision changes
confusion and disorientation, nausea or vomiting, memory loss.

*Brain Tumor: Risk Factors*

• Exposure to radiation ~ Previous treatment to the brain or head with ionizing radiation, including x-rays,
• Family history of brain tumors
• Exposure to infections, viruses, and allergens
• Controversy on the use of cell phone ~ Most studies evaluating the role of electromagnetic fields, from cell phone use, show no link to an increased risk of developing a brain tumor in adults. However, because of conflicting information regarding risk in children, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting cell phone use and promotes the use of a hands-free headset for both adults and children.
• Head injury and seizures
• N-nitroso compounds ~ these are water and food products treated with nitrite. Such food products include cheeses, fish, bacon, cured meats. N-nitroso compounds are also found in tobacco smoke, chewing tobacco and beer.
• Home and work exposures ~ long-term exposure to a chemical or solvents, pesticides, oil products, rubber, or vinyl chloride, benzene
• Cancers that spread from other parts of the body

Knowing your risk factors and talking about them with your doctor may help you make more informed decisions

Bottom line, because brain tumor can be life-threatening and fatal due to the changes it causes to the vital structures of the brain.
So, timely detection, as well as a proper brain tumour treatment, can work in favour of the patient and can quicken the progress towards a tumour-free life.

We can live without some parts of our body
But we can't live without our brains.
Brain matters 365 days
Being informed makes all the difference!
So, be aware about changes in your brain!