The body is made up of many types of cells. In normal course, cells grow, divide, and produce more cells to keep the body healthy. However, at times, this process may not function properly and cells may become abnormal, forming more cells, in an uncontrolled manner.
These extra cells form a mass of tissue, called a growth or a ‘tumour’. Tumours can be benign, which means non cancerous, or malignant, which means cancerous.
Further, based on the place of origin, brain tumours are classified into two categories :

Primary Tumours : This category of brain tumour originates in the brain itself. These tumours can be either benign or malignant.

Secondary Tumours : The brain tumour is caused by the spread of cancer cells from some other part of the body. E.G. lungs, breast or any other part. These are always malignant tumours.

The most common symptoms are :

• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fits
• Difficulty in thinking, speaking or finding words
• Personality changes
• Weakness or paralysis in one side of the body
• Loss of balance
• Change in vision
• Confusion and disorientation
• Memory Loss

Since different parts of the brain control different functions, therefore, symptoms of brain tumour will vary depending on the part of your brain affected. To arrive at a conclusive diagnosis, some tests would be required for verification of the disease since none of these symptoms are specific to brain tumour.

The first step to detect a brain tumour is a neurological examination. In this detailed examination, your physician evaluates different aspects of the nervous system and brain functions. This is followed by imaging tests, which provide him with a clear picture of the brain, status of the tumour and other relevant facts.
The imaging tests, which you will be asked to undergo, could be one or more of the following :

CT scan : This scan is used by your doctor to detect and visualize the tumour. CT scan is also used for planning surgery and radiation therapy.

MRI scan : It is a more detailed scan than a CT scan and will be recommended by your doctor while he is trying to diagnose or spot a brain tumour. MRI scan has the capability to detect even the smallest of tumours that a CT scan may not be able to spot. Since this scan uses magnetic waves, therefore, there is no exposure to harmful radiation.
The above mentioned imagine tests will help your doctor to spot the tumour. But to know more and to decide on the future course of treatment, your doctor may require you to get a biopsy done.

Biopsy : In this surgical procedure, your doctor will take a sample of tissue from the tumour site to examine it under a microscope. Biopsy will provide your doctor with information on types of abnormal cells present in the tumour, thus helping him in assigning a ‘type’ and ‘grade’ to the tumour and also to determine whether it is benign or malignant. In case of a brain tumour suspicion, biopsy is the most preferred test for arriving at the right diagnosis.

The treatment plan will depend on the type and location of the tumour, patient’s general health, medical history and also on the doctor’s preference. Before commencing any form of treatment, your physician may start you on medication to reduce swelling or inflammation in your brain or to control seizures. This medication will put you at ease by reducing inflammation and swelling of the brain.

The treatment options for brain tumour are one of these or a combination of these :

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy

Surgery
Through surgery, your doctor will try to remove as much part of the tumour as he can, without affecting the critical neurological functions of the brain. Even if only a small part of the tumour is removed, it will ensure instant relief in symptoms and will also increase the effectiveness of other therapies, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Radiation Therapy
If surgery is not advisable, then your physician will recommend radiation therapy. In radiation therapy, your doctor will use radiation to destroy the cancer cells. Radiation therapy will help in stopping or slowing the growth of tumours.

Radiation therapy can be further divided into two categories :
Conventional : Conventional radiation therapy will deliver radiation to a part or even the entire brain (in case of multiple tumours).
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) : It will deliver a single, high dose of radiation directly to the tumour, in a one-day session.

Chemotherapy
In this therapy, certain drugs will be administered orally or through injections, to destroy the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy will be administered alone or in a combination with other treatments. Normally, this therapy is administered in cycles, with periods of rest, following every treatment phase.