KOLKATA, June 8 -- Sangita Adhikari Pal (39), a government school teacher from Howrah, first noticed a sudden problem with her eyesight. It did not take long for the cheerful teacher to discover that she had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. It was April 2024, and in November that year, she underwent surgery under the care of Dr Amitabha Chanda, Director of Neurosurgery at CK Birla Hospitals, CMRI.
Contrary to the common belief that brain tumour surgery requires shaving off the patient's hair, Sangita did not have to do so. Remarkably, she was back at school within a week of the operation. On Monday, observed as World Brain Tumour Day, Sangita, accompanied by her only son, expressed her gratitude to Dr Chanda.
Dr Chanda, one of Kolkata's most respected neurosurgeons with over 36 years of experience, emphasised that not all brain tumours are cancerous. "Some tumours are cancerous and some are not. Till now, the primary treatment for brain tumours is surgery. Some brain tumours can also be treated with radiation and chemotherapy," he said.
A pioneer in 'Awake Brain Surgery', Dr Chanda performs at least seven to eight brain tumour surgeries every month. While persistent headaches, especially in the morning, can be a symptom, he pointed out that some patients may not show any symptoms at all.
However, headaches accompanied by seizures or loss of balance should never be ignored.
Dr Sombrata Roy, Unit Head at CK Birla Hospitals, CMRI, said that World Brain Tumour Day serves as an important reminder about awareness and empathy.
He added that the hospital gets around 30-40 per cent brain tumour patients every year from across the world. Recently, the hospital treated a patient from the Netherlands. "Early diagnosis can truly change the course of treatment and recovery," he said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.