Brain tumours can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Cancerous tumours in the brain can be due to spread from other regions of the body to the brain or occurring primarily directly in the brain. Unlike cancer in other parts of the body, primary brain cancer does not spread to other parts usually and tends to recur in the brain itself.
Though extensive research and trials on new drugs are ongoing for brain cancer (like Gliomas), there has been no definitive cure in sight for these patients. Treatment has been to ward off the disease for as long as possible (a few months in higher grades of cancer to a few years or more in lower grades) with preservation of quality of life. We speak with Dr Anandh Balasubramaniam, HOD, Neurosurgery, Amrita Hospital Faridabad, to understand what is the cause of brain cancer, its symptoms and the preventive measures.
What is the cause of brain cancer and the preventive measures? According to Dr Balasubramaniam, “There is no definitive cause for brain cancer." However, he says that mobile phone radiation is a long-suspected cause though direct correlation evidence is still lacking. "In the spirit of preventive measures, concerned mobile phone users can limit exposure to cell phone radiation for long durations at a stretch by limiting call duration, use of hands-free set/headphones and by not using mobiles in weak signal areas where the phone radiates more energy to latch to towers,” says Dr Balasubramaniam.
He adds that though.