By: Dr. Azizur Rahman
Brain tumours can occur at any age. However, some tumours originate in the brain. These are called primary brain tumours.
Brain Tumor Day is celebrated worldwide on June 8. In 1998, a charity called the German Brain Tumor Association was formed. Since 2000, Brain Tumor Day has been celebrated globally under the initiative of this organization.
A brain tumour is a very complex and invasive organ tumour. Therefore, the treatment of the disease is very complicated and expensive. Sometimes, the desired results cannot be obtained even by treating the brain tumour. So this day is observed to raise awareness among people.
What is a tumour?
A tumour is an abnormal growth of cells anywhere in the body or organ. If this tumour is inside the brain, we call it a brain tumour.
Brain tumours can be of two types: benign tumours and malignant tumours.
Some brain tumours arise from tumours elsewhere in the body. This is called a secondary or metastatic brain tumour.
Brain tumour patient symptoms
Brain tumour symptoms are varied. The main or usual symptom is a headache. These headaches worsen with patient activity. That is, if the patient rests, the headache is less. Any other activity increases the intensity. Sometimes the headache is worse in the morning.
In addition, the patient’s nausea or vomiting and progressive loss of vision can be seen as symptoms in all tumours.
Apart from this, many times, the patient may also have other symptoms. For example, the patient may experience convulsions, weakness, or paralysis of one side of the body. In addition, again, his mental state may change, i.e., his behaviour will appear abnormal.
Who is at risk of brain tumours? No one can be specified in this way. Anyone can develop a brain tumour.
Brain tumour diagnosis
If the above symptoms appear, you should go to a neuro medicine or neurosurgery specialist as soon as possible. The following tests are helpful in diagnosis:
CT scan and MRI of the brain
Electroencephalography or EEG to look at nervous system activity
Nervous system transport potential or nerve conduction test or electromyography
CT Guided FNAC
However, MRI is the most modern and advanced test for brain tumour diagnosis.
Brain tumour treatment
Treatment of brain tumours is very complex. Treatment depends on the tumour’s type, severity, size and location. The main treatment is surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In addition, some medications are given based on symptoms. Eg: anti-convulsants, anti-emetics etc.
Brain tumour treatment is very expensive. So, in general, the question is, how is Bangladesh’s brain tumour treatment system?
It is being treated successfully in the hospitals in the country’s big cities. Operating any type of brain tumor in the country is currently possible. This disease can be treated at a much lower cost in our country than in other countries. A brain tumour can be treated at a lower cost than even our neighbouring country India.
But a concerted effort is needed to make treating this disease easier in our country. It is possible to prevent this disease by raising funds for treatment, an attitude of mutual cooperation, the mental strength of the affected, and awareness among the healthy.
If we complete these regulations, it will be easy to treat this disease even at the upazila level.