Ahead of the World Brain Tumour Day on June 8, here are 10 symptoms which could help identify the ailment.
Senior Consultant Neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar has identified these symptoms including headache, vomiting, reduced alertness, fits, and paralysis. However, in certain cases, these symptoms may be missing. There is a need to identify the lesser known symptoms in order to diagnose the tumour early.
A tumor of pituitary gland of brain producing excess growth hormone causes a condition known as acromegaly, which can result in increasing head and feet size, necessitating a need for larger hats and bigger shoes; Milk production from breasts (in a woman who is neither breastfeeding nor pregnant) – this condition is called galactorrhea and is caused by a tumour of pituitary gland, that produces excess prolactin hormone. These women can also have amenorrhea (absence of or irregular periods).
Vision loss or blurred vision can occur in brain tumours. The extent and severity of vision loss depends on the location and size of the brain tumour. Loss of vision can be on the sides of visual fields, or in one half of the visual field; Loss of smell- tumours arising in the frontal lobe of brain near olfactory nerve origin can cause loss of smell.
Tumours located in cerebello-pontine angle (in the vicinity of auditory nerve) can cause hearing impairment and tinnitus; depressive symptoms- Patients with tumours of the frontal lobe of brain can present solely with features of depression.
Personality changes such as disinhibition (socially inappropriate behavior), agitation and mood swings can also be the presenting features of brain tumour; Memory impairment along with dysfunction of other higher cognitive functions, which are rapidly deteriorating over weeks to months, could signal the presence of an underlying cancerous brain tumour.
Disease in a body part other than brain – certain cancers in various parts of the body can spread to the brain, called metastases. For example, a person with cough or blood in sputum along with headache could have lung cancer with spreads to the brain. Similarly, a woman with breast lump and disorientation could have breast cancer which spreads to the brain.
No symptoms, in several cases, one may not have any symptoms and still harbor a brain tumour. This is more likely if the tumour size is very small.
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