Brain Tumors

FAQs

• What is a brain tumour, and are they all cancerous?

  A brain tumour is a mass of abnormal cells growing in or around the brain. No, they are not all cancerous. About one-third are malignant (cancerous), while the others are benign (non-cancerous). However, even benign tumours can be serious because the skull is a rigid space, and any growth can press on vital brain structures.

• What are the most common early warning signs?

  Symptoms vary based on the tumour's size and location, but common signs include:

  • Persistent headaches that are often worse in the morning or wake you up at night.

  • New-onset seizures in someone without a history of epilepsy.

  • Unexplained nausea or vomiting, particularly in the early morning.

  • Vision or hearing changes, such as blurred vision or ringing in one ear.

  • Sudden personality changes, memory lapses, or confusion.

• What is the difference between primary and secondary brain tumours?

  • Primary tumours originate directly in the brain or its immediate surroundings (like the meninges).

  • Secondary (metastatic) tumours are more common; they start as cancer elsewhere in the body—such as the lung, breast, or colon—and then spread to the brain.

• How are brain tumours diagnosed?

  Diagnosis typically begins with a neurological exam to check your vision, hearing, balance, and reflexes. If a tumour is suspected, doctors use advanced imaging like MRI (the gold standard) or a CT scan to see the exact size and location. A biopsy is often necessary to confirm the exact type and grade of the tumour.

• What does the "grade" of a brain tumour mean?

  Brain tumours are graded from 1 to 4 based on how abnormal the cells look and how fast they grow:

  • Grade 1 & 2: Slow-growing and least aggressive.

  • Grade 3 & 4: Fast-growing, aggressive, and more difficult to treat.

• Are brain tumours hereditary?

  Most brain tumours are sporadic, meaning they happen randomly. Only about 5% to 10% are linked to rare inherited genetic syndromes like Neurofibromatosis or Li-Fraumeni syndrome.

• What are the options for brain tumour treatment in Delhi?

  Treatment is highly individualised and may include the following:

  • Surgery: Often, the first step is to remove as much of the tumour as safely possible.

  • Radiation Therapy: Using high-energy beams to destroy remaining cancer cells.

  • Chemotherapy: Drugs used to kill cancer cells throughout the body.

  • Targeted Therapy: Newer drugs that attack specific vulnerabilities within cancer cells.