Brain tumour is an overgrowth of cells, either within the brain or near it in places like nerves, the pituitary gland, and the meninges Brain tumours can be benign (non-cancerous growth or lumps that generally do not spread to other organs/tissues) or malignant (made up of cancerous cells that multiply and spread to neighbouring tissues and organs and sometimes break away and spread to many organs in the body, a process called metastasis).
The prevalence of brain tumours is variable around the world and in India. Approximately 2% of all cancers are brain cancers. The incidence rate globally is approximately 6.2 per 100,000 people per year.
While brain tumours account for a relatively small percentage of overall cancer cases in India, they are a significant cause of mortality, with over 24,000 deaths reported each year.
Management of Brain Tumour
Role of palliative care:
Palliative care helps in improving the quality of life of not just the patient but the families and caregivers of patients with cancer. It has many roles:
Symptom Management: Palliative care helps to mitigate and manage many symptoms due to cancer and the related treatment like pain, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and breathlessness. It combines several modalities like use of medications, physiotherapy, counselling etc.
Emotional and Psychological Support: The very diagnosis of cancer is daunting and is associated with fear and stigma of high fatality which can significantly impact the patient’s mental health. Palliative care may extend the needed support through counselling, connecting with support groups, and mindfulness/relaxation techniques to help allay the emotional distress, anxiety and depression of the patients and families.
Assistance with Treatment Decisions: Palliative care also aids the patients in understanding their treatment options, risks, and benefits in simple terms, allowing them to make informed choices.
Advance Care Planning: Palliative care also incorporates the planning and documentation of their choice of future care including the end-of-life care if the illness progresses/worsens.
Support for Families and Caregivers: Palliative care is inclusive as it understands that the family as a whole gets affected. It provides clear guidance to caregivers, offers counselling, and also helps with other important aspects like financial aids and legal matters by connecting patients and family to the concerned providers.
Changed
08/Jun/2026
Community
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