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New Delhi, June 8 – In a bid to raise awareness ahead of Brain Tumour Day, medical experts have highlighted that erratic mental health symptoms, including aggression, confusion, altered behavior, and persistent headaches, may be indicative of a potential brain tumour. Brain Tumour Day, observed annually on June 8, aims to educate the public about the debilitating disease that can significantly impair cognitive functions such as learning, planning, decision-making, and concentration.
Brain tumours, characterized by the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the brain, can be either malignant or non-malignant. These tumours often mimic psychiatric symptoms, making them challenging to diagnose early. “Brain tumours frequently mirror psychiatric symptoms, presenting as aggression, confusion, altered behaviour, irrelevant speech due to comprehension impairment, apathy, emotional instability, or disorientation,” explained Dr. K Chandrasekar, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon at Apollo Cancer Institutes.
Dr. Kersi Chavda, Consultant Psychiatrist at P.D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre, emphasized the overlap between brain tumour symptoms and mental illness. “Memory problems like difficulty with short-term memory and forming new memories; changes in behavior or personality; difficulty understanding or producing speech; vision problems; persistent headaches; and loss of coordination and balance are some of the symptoms of brain tumours that mimic psychiatric issues,” he noted.
The deceptive nature of these symptoms often leads to delays in seeking appropriate medical attention, potentially resulting in severe consequences. Dr. Ashish Srivastava, Head of Neurosurgery at Dharamshila Narayana Hospital, urged individuals to be vigilant about changes in their bodies. “Gradually increasing headaches, frequent headaches, not getting enough sleep, difficulty in thinking and understanding, blurred vision, difficulty seeing distant objects, feeling sluggish and tired, and problems in performing daily tasks are symptoms that point towards a brain tumour,” he warned.
Common symptoms of brain tumours also include vomiting, nausea, paralysis, vision loss, and walking difficulties. Diagnostic tools such as MRI, CT, and PET scans are essential for detecting brain tumours.
Dr. Anshu Rohtagi, Senior Consultant in the Department of Neurology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, mentioned that non-cancerous brain tumours could be treated with advanced radiotherapy techniques like CyberKnife or Gamma Knife, particularly if the tumour is less than 3.5 cm in size. She further highlighted the role of MRI-guided laser ablation and laser interstitial thermal therapy in precisely locating and destroying tumour cells with heat or lasers.
As Brain Tumour Day is commemorated, experts urge the public to remain alert to the signs and symptoms of brain tumours and seek timely medical advice to improve outcomes and potentially save lives.
