The Andhra Pradesh Neuroscientists Association (APNSA) organized a Brain Tumour awareness campaign by conducting a solidarity walk at Necklace Road in Hyderabad.
Many dignitaries, neurosurgeons and celebrities took part in the walk to highlight about its noble cause of creating awareness and express solidarity with brain tumour patients and families. Prominent people present at the walk were D L Ravindra Reddy, Honourable Health Minister, A K Khan, Commissioner of Police and V V S Laxman, Indian test cricketer.
Speaking on the occasion Dr M R C Naidu, former professor & HOD Neuros, Osmania Hospital, said brain tumour can be prevented and can be cured if it is diagnosed at the early stage. He emphasized that there is a need to create greater awareness among the general public regarding the brain tumour and its available treatment.
“This is our endeavour to make the people aware and get proper treatment. We will conduct the camps in the rural areas and create awareness to them also. Services are available in all government and private hospitals. Neuro surgeons have to come forward and we are inviting eminent persons to share their scientific knowledge,” said Dr Naidu.
Recently there have been lots of cases emerging relating to brain tumour in the state. General population in the country is unaware of the dangers of brain tumour and they are also not able to identify the symptoms of brain tumour in the initial stages because of which many are approaching the hospitals after entering into serious conditions. Therefore it is high time the general public should be aware of the brain tumour and its causes.
Brain tumour is mainly caused when brain cells multiply excessively in an uncontrolled manner and do not function like normal brain tissue instead cause pressure on the adjacent parts of the normally functioning brain thereby producing various symptoms.
Usually the brain tumour develops from the local, native, brain cells. However, such cancerous (malignant tumour) cells can also come from distant body organs like lungs, breast, etc. This disease is not infectious and it will not spread from one person to another person as it is in case of T.B., skin contact Scabies, Sexual contact HIV, Malaria etc. In no case it is transmitted by one human being to another. However, they can be transmitted from one generation to another genetically. So far nobody knows fully about the actual cause of primary (native) brain tumours.
Brain tumours are relatively common and can occur in any age group including children less than one year old to elderly people. There is no sex predilection. Symptoms related to a brain tumour are directly related to the location of tumour and its size. Tumours in critical locations are likely to present much earlier than tumours in non eloquent regions of the brain. The most common symptom of presentation is headache. Headache is predominantly in the forehead region more in mornings and associated with vomiting. Vomiting usually relieve the headache. Headache can occasionally be associated with blurring of vision at the peak of headache. Other possible symptoms of a brain tumour include a new seizure in an adult, gradual loss of movement or sensation in an arm or leg, unsteadiness or imbalance while walking, loss of vision in one or both eyes, double vision etc. Diagnosis and confirmation of tumour is usually done by doing a CT scan or MRI of the brain.