s.O.s : Brain tumour: Adanna Obi appeals for help

I met this pleasant young woman recently. She had been referred to me from the African Independent Television offices in Abuja. This, ostensibly, was for me to conduct an evaluation and consideration for the treatment for her brain tumour. The aim was to estimate the likely cost of care and help them in an appeal process to Nigerians.

She came into the consulting room looking well and quite pretty (in the Nigerian way!). I initially failed to see what the problem was, as she did not look in pain or distress. Well, until she removed her head gear and revealed a fleshy, nasty-looking tumour arising from her head like God knows what.

Oh boy! I mean, I have seen tumours and operated on countless numbers of brain tumours in the United Kingdom, but a stuff like this never stops to shock me in Nigeria. How did we or her get to this stage? How and why did she allow this to get so bad and shocking?

It started as a small lump on the head many years ago. She saw doctors in Anambra State, who reassured her and told her it would go away. Well, it didn’t. Years later, it actually started to grow like a hot potato and even started having ‘little children’ around the base. It causes severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, earache and fevers. Now, it has also started to bleed and release pus — as you can see.

This is, indeed, terrible and something needs to be done.

So, we need your help. The operation will entail working with a plastic surgeon, Dr. Amina Abubakar, in removing the tumour and replacing her scalp and skull bone. We need to move skin from another part of her head to cover where we will remove the tumour. We may need to replace the bone under the area of the tumour, if involved. This will help prevent recurrence of this thing.

The tumour itself needs to be sent to pathology laboratories here in Nigeria and in the UK for complete histological evaluation. What is this? What kind of tumour? Is it now a malignant cancer? If cancerous, she may need extensive chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

But we need to operate first and we need your help. I have estimated about N2m (two million Naira only) for the initial care and her immediate needs. Please, help with whatever you can, no matter how small.

The appeal account

 Please, pay into the account of Adanna Obi.    This is in First Bank, with account number 3027644307. Even if we all chip in a thousand Naira each, we would get the job done.

 And you would have done your good deed for today.

Likely causes of brain tumour

According to the online portal, betterhealth.vic.gov.au, brain and spinal cord tumours can be either malignant (cancerous) or benign (not cancerous). Cancerous brain tumours affect adults of all ages and are one of the few cancers that occur in children. Most brain tumours develop from glial cells (gliomas). Symptoms and treatment depend on which part of the brain is affected.

There are over 100 different types of brain tumours. They are commonly named after the type of cell they come from. Most brain tumours develop from glial cells. These cells grow from the supporting cells of the brain. These tumours are called ‘gliomas.’ Tumours that begin in the brain are known as primary brain tumours.

Benign brain tumours are often slow growing and are unlikely to spread, but they can press on and damage the surrounding brain tissue. Usually, this type of tumour can be successfully removed with surgery.

Malignant brain tumours vary in how they grow and respond to treatment. Some are contained inside a capsule and are easy to remove, while others have thin filaments spreading through the brain, making them very difficult to take out.

Causes of brain tumours

The causes of primary brain tumours are not fully understood. Researchers around the world are investigating possible causes. We know that brain and spinal cord tumours are more common in people with certain inherited or genetic conditions. They are also more common in people exposed to very high doses of radiation. However, for most people, the cause of their brain tumour is unknown.

Symptoms of brain tumours

Symptoms will depend on which part of the brain the tumour affects. Generally, a growing tumour and swelling brain tissue presses on the brain, causing symptoms. Symptoms can include headache s — this is the most common symptom and may be severe and persistent, or come and go.

Others are seizures (fits), nausea and vomiting, difficulty speaking or thinking of words, disturbed vision, hearing, smell or taste, weakness or paralysis in parts of the body, loss of balance, irritability, drowsiness or personality changes, and loss of consciousness.

-Dr. Biodun Ogungbo

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