Brain tumour can be prevented, say doctors

HYDERABAD: People need to adopt preventive measures to control the spread of brain tumours, advised Dr Riaz Ahmad Raja, assistant professor department of neurosurgery at Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS).

He was addressing a seminar organised to commemorate the World Brain Tumour Day on Tuesday. The exact cause of most brain tumours is unknown and many factors have been proposed as possible risk factors for primary brain tumours but whether some factors actually increase an individual’s risk is not known for sure.

He added that radiation to the head, an inherited risk, HIV infection, cigarette smoking and environmental toxins, such as, chemicals used in oil refineries, embalming chemicals and rubber industry chemicals are potential causes for brain cancer.

The only way to find out if you have brain cancer is after a diagnostic test, said Raja, adding that some common symptoms include headache, weakness, clumsiness, difficulty in walking and seizures.

Treatment for brain cancer differs for each patient and regimes are based on the patient’s age, general health status, size, location and type of tumour, Raja informed the audience. In most cases, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are the main types of treatment. A neurosurgeon will attempt to remove the tumour when possible, Raja said.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2010.