Brain Tumour

A brain tumour is a mass collection of abnormal cells in the brain. A tumour can be both cancerous and non-cancerous. The cancerous tumour is known as Benign and the non-cancerous one is known as Malignant. It is essential to understand brain tumour symptoms to get the right treatment at the right time. Brain tumour types are broadly categorised into two types-

• Primary tumour- A brain tumour that develops in the brain is the primary tumour
• Secondary tumour- A tumour that develops in some other organ like the breast or lung but gradually spreads to the brain is the secondary tumour

Brain tumour causes are not known by the researchers. However, there are several risk factors associated with the brain tumour. These include-

• Hereditary:

  People who have a family history of brain tumours might have a chance of getting one in the future.

• Exposure to certain chemicals:

  Excessive exposure to carcinogens like nickel, radon, cadmium, asbestos, benzene, etc. This can lead to the formation of tumours that may result in cancer.

• Radiation Exposure:

  Ionising radiation can lead to cancerous tumours in future. Cancer therapies may be included as one due to their high radiation. Even in the case of nuclear fallout, people can suffer high radiation. For instance, the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Apart from all these factors, brain tumour risk also increases with increasing age.

To get the right treatment, it is vital to understand "What are the symptoms of brain tumour". Depending on the location of the tumour and its size, the signs of a brain tumour may differ.

Some of the commonly known brain tumour symptoms are:

• Headaches are one of the basic symptoms. It may trigger the most in the morning while sleeping, or more while sneezing, exercising, or coughing
• Trouble seeing properly
• Vomiting
• Numbness and weakness of face or limbs
• Seizures and confusion
• Memory loss
• Difficulty while reading or writing
• Loss of balance
• Trouble speaking or listening to others
• Behavioural changes
• Loss of bowel control
• Dizziness
• Problem in swallowing
• Change of taste or smell

A brain tumour diagnosis is done through an in-depth neurological examination including cranial nerves. The condition of pupils is also checked using an instrument known as an ophthalmoscope. CT scan, MRI, Angiography, Biopsy, and Skull X-rays of the brain is also done to get a thorough idea. The brain tumour treatment is done depending on the type, size, and location of the tumour. Brain tumour surgery is one of the most common treatments provided. Post-surgery treatments like occupational, physical, and speech therapy are given to speed up the recovery.

Unfortunately, there is no way you can prevent a brain tumour or brain cancer. One can only take the basic preventive measures to reduce the risk factors associated with a brain tumour. These include-

• Trying to make as less contact with insecticides and pesticides as possible
• Reducing the exposure to carcinogen chemicals is vital. At least, one must try to take all the required safety measures
• Quit smoking today as it increases the chances of brain tumours
• Some radiation exposure is inevitable like those related to chemotherapy. However, unnecessary exposure to such radiations must be avoided

A health insurance plan is supported in need that does not let your treatment be affected. Due to the much needed financial support, the insured person can get the right treatment without any worries.

Let's have a look at various benefits of health insurance:

• Cut on the financial stress:

  Financial stress is obvious to strike in times of medical emergency, especially when it's a critical illness treatment. A good amount of your hard-earned money goes into the treatment. However, when you have a health plan, all this stress goes in vain and you can stay calm and get the treatment done

• Tax benefits:

  Most health plans allow the insured individuals to avail of tax benefits under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act. So, it lets the insured person cut on their premium burden.

• A wide range of coverage:

  A health plan mostly covers more than a number of illnesses and medical expenses. So, under one plan, you can get a wide range of treatments covered. From critical illness expenses to hospitalisation expenses and so on, a lot of coverage is provided.

• Go cashless:

  Network hospitals of an insurance company allow you to avail the benefit of cashless treatment. This means you need not pay the hospital for the treatment. The insurance company settle the expenses up to e coverage limit. Only the uncovered expenses are to be borne by you.

A health insurance plan intends to cover maximum benefits so that the insured person can get the best possible treatment in times of medical emergencies.

The Inclusions of the plans are-

• In-patient hospitalisation expenses
• Pre and post hospitalisation expenses
• Road ambulance
• AYUSH treatment may also be covered
• No claim bonus during plan renewal
• Daycare treatment is covered
• Organ donor and dialysis expenses are covered
• Major critical illness is covered
• Modern-day treatment like oral chemotherapy is also covered
• Room rent charges
• Tax benefits

Not everything is possible to cover in one single health plan. Hence, some of the factors remain uncovered known as the exclusions of the health plan.

The basic exclusions are-

• Medical expenses due to suicide attempt
• Medical expenses due to drug abuse
• Pre-existing medical condition is mostly excluded
• Cosmetic treatments might not be covered