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Brain tumours can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Cancerous tumours in the brain can be due to spread from other regions of the body to the brain or occurring primarily directly in the brain. Unlike cancer in other parts of the body, primary brain cancer does not spread to other parts usually and tends to recur in the brain itself.

Though extensive research and trials on new drugs are ongoing for brain cancer (like Gliomas), there has been no definitive cure in sight for these patients. Treatment has been to ward off the disease for as long as possible (a few months in higher grades of cancer to a few years or more in lower grades) with preservation of quality of life.

We speak with Dr Anandh Balasubramaniam, HOD, Neurosurgery, Amrita Hospital Faridabad, to understand what is the cause of brain cancer, its symptoms and the preventive measures.

According to Dr Balasubramaniam, “There is no definitive cause for brain cancer." However, he says that mobile phone radiation is a long-suspected cause though direct correlation evidence is still lacking.

"In the spirit of preventive measures, concerned mobile phone users can limit exposure to cell phone radiation for long durations at a stretch by limiting call duration, use of hands-free set/headphones and by not using mobiles in weak signal areas where the phone radiates more energy to latch to towers,” says Dr Balasubramaniam.

He adds that though genetic predisposition is known in some genetic disorders like Neurofibromatosis, it is not the common cause of brain cancer. Exposure to excessive radiation has been implicated in some.

What are the symptoms of brain cancer and how to diagnose them early?

According to Dr Balasubramaniam, “Any tumour in the brain is a space-occupying mass which tends to produce increased pressure inside the head and pressure on the adjacent nerves in the brain. This tends to produce progressively worsening headaches with time, with blurred vision and vomiting, which may relieve the headache, happening more early in the mornings. Regular headaches occurring with the same severity, again and again, at any time of the day are unlikely caused by brain tumours.”

He says that some people tend to have fits/seizures due to brain cancer. There could be loss of function of involved nerves in the brain like weakness of the hand or leg or one side of the face, speech disturbance, balance issues on walking etc. “Visiting a doctor early in case of any suspicious symptoms like persistently worsening headaches, fits or new weakness of any part of the body is essential. An MRI scan of the brain is the best way to rule out any mass in the brain. The diagnosis of brain cancer is achieved only after a biopsy of the tumour removed by surgery, is done,” says Dr Balasubramaniam.

He adds that surgery for brain tumours is safe with modern technology and expertise, and is minimally invasive too, preserving functions of the brain carefully. The mainstay of treatment currently for brain tumours is surgery and maximal safe resection. “The more tumour removed, the longer the survival of the patients following radiotherapy and oral tablet chemotherapy,” says Balasubramaniam.

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