World Brain Tumour Day 2021, June 8

June 8 is observed as World Brain Tumour Day every year to make people aware of this deadly disease. The day was marked by a German Brain Tumor Association named Deutsche Hirntumorhilfe e.V. in 2000 with an aim to draw global attention towards the disease and to encourage research into the topic. 

What is Brain Tumour?

According to the National Health Portal of India, a brain tumour is "unnecessary growth of cells when the body doesn’t require them is known as cancer. A brain tumour occurs when abnormal cells produce within any part of the brain. There are two main types of tumours namely, malignant and benign tumours."

History of the day

Deutsche Hirntumorhilfe, a non-profit organisation founded in 1998 and have over 500 registered members from 14 nations, declared World Brain Tumour Day in 2000 as an international commemoration day. Since then, this day is celebrated annually on June 8 as a tribute to brain tumour patients and their families.

Symptoms of Brain Tumour

- Headaches (all headaches are not due to tumours. Also, severe headaches that are not relieved by common medicines should be taken into note)

- A change in mental functioning

- Blurred vision or double vision

- Vomiting caused by headache

- Difficulty in physical movements like walking, speaking, as well as sensation and balancing

- Unexplained confusion even in normal things

- Hormonal imbalance or change

- Sexual dysfunction

- Drastic behavioural change