Brain cancer diagnosis
The moment Kash Raju began to worry about his health, he was not lying in a hospital bed. He was trying to keep up with ordinary life: a new job, family responsibilities and early-morning gym sessions.
He had a wife and three young children, aged six, five and two. His headaches seemed like one more problem he could push through.The migraines grew more frequent. His legs began to feel weak, and dizziness joined the list of symptoms he could no longer comfortably explain away.Raju, 33, initially attributed his symptoms to stress, dehydration and the demands of being a father. After seeking medical help and being advised to see an optician, he eventually went to an emergency department for further assessment.
A CT scan revealed a large growth in his brain. Further investigations led to a diagnosis of grade 4 astrocytoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The symptoms that were easy to explain away
In his account published by Brain Tumour Support, Raju recalled that the headaches seemed manageable, so he blamed work pressure and his busy family life. He continued working, taking care of his children and exercising regularly.His symptoms continued to evolve. He experienced dizziness, weakness, low mood and a feeling that his legs were becoming unsteady.
Yet he kept going to the gym, initially wondering whether he was simply training too hard.The turning point came after the unexpected death of an old friend. Raju said the experience prompted him to stop putting off another medical visit and go to the emergency department.A CT scan on July 30 revealed the growth. He was admitted for further assessment, including an MRI, and his case was discussed by specialists. Doctors subsequently told him they were highly concerned that he had a grade 4 brain tumour.
What is a grade 4 astrocytoma?
Astrocytomas are brain tumours that develop from astrocytes, star-shaped cells that support nerve cells in the brain. They vary considerably: some grow slowly, while high-grade forms can grow aggressively and invade nearby brain tissue.Cancer Research UK explains that grade 4 astrocytomas are high-grade cancers. Doctors use scans, neurological examinations and, where appropriate, tissue and molecular testing to determine the precise tumour type and guide treatment.
Symptoms depend partly on the tumour's location and can include headaches, seizures, visual problems, weakness, numbness and balance difficulties.For Raju, discovering the tumour was followed by a series of urgent decisions. Two weeks after the diagnosis, he underwent emergency brain surgery at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham. Surgeons removed about 80% of the tumour, according to the BBC's report.Surgery was followed by another difficult stage. Raju began a six-week course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy through the UK's National Health Service, with further chemotherapy potentially planned afterwards.
When should a headache be checked?
Headaches are extremely common, and most are not caused by brain tumours. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Johns Hopkins Medicine both stress that a headache on its own is rarely a sign of a brain tumour. That matters because stories like Raju's should raise awareness without leaving readers convinced that an ordinary headache is evidence of cancer.The UK's NHS lists headaches, seizures, persistent nausea or vomiting, drowsiness, vision or speech problems, behavioural changes and progressive weakness among possible symptoms of a brain tumour. It advises people to seek medical assessment for symptoms such as headaches that feel different from their usual headaches or are getting worse. These symptoms can have other causes, too; a medical examination is needed to determine what is happening.