Brain Tumor Awareness Campaign
The Department of Neurosurgery is organizing the “Digital Brain Tumor Awareness Campaign” starting Sunday, June 27, 2021. The campaign aims to increase public awareness of brain tumors and emphasize the importance of early diagnosis in addition to providing educational information about the types of these tumors, methods of diagnosis and treatment.
The incidence of brain tumors in Saudi Arabia is 2.2 for males and 1.7 for females per 100,000 population. Brain tumors represent about 3% of all human tumors. These tumors are ranked tenth among all cases of tumors.
A brain tumor is defined as a mass or growth that occurs as a result of abnormal division of or supporting nerve cells. There are many types of brain tumors. Some are benign, others are cancerous or malignant. Primary brain tumors may start with gene mutations that cause abnormal growth and division of cells. Brain tumors do not usually spread outside the central nervous system, as they do not spread to the lung or liver, for example. These tumors affect nearby nerve centers by pressing on them or destroying their tissues.
Usually the symptoms associated with brain tumors are caused by increased pressure inside the skull, leading to a headache (especially in the early morning), or lethargy and nausea. Or symptoms occur due to pressure on a particular sense or function, such as motor weakness or poor vision or hearing, for example. Also, these tumors are one of the causes of convulsions, or what we call epilepsy.
Diagnosing brain tumors requires a complete medical history and thorough neurological examination. The doctor may then need to order CT or magnetic scans to confirm the presence of the tumor, know its type and determine its degree.
Treatment options vary based on the type, size, location and extent of the tumor. In addition to other factors related to the patient himself, such as age and general health status. The goal of treatment may be to get rid of the tumor or mitigate its effects. Treatment for brain tumors may include surgical removal, chemotherapy or radiation.
There is no doubt that surgery is the best treatment for brain tumors, which can be performed without damaging the parts adjacent to the tumor, and the aim of surgery is to remove the tumor completely or as much as possible, while reducing pressure inside the skull. Some medications are used to help control some side effects, such as fluid buildup around the tumor, or to control spasms.