study<\/a> published in Nature (Scientific Reports, 2024) also points toward a steady global increase in brain and CNS tumour burden, driven by a mix of ageing populations, environmental factors, and improved detection. \u201cWe estimated that the number of newly diagnosed cases of brain and CNS cancers in Asia will increase by 39.30%, from 166,925 in 2020 to 232,000 cases in 2040,\u201d the researchers have said. ![\"Is](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774557009_623_is-india-witnessing-a-silent-surge-in-brain-tumour-cases-doctors-urge-attention-to-early-warning-sig.png\" "\\"\\"")
But there\u2019s another layer, especially in India.\u201cThere has been a surge of brain tumours which remain unnoticed and this surge has been observed in childhood brain tumours which is disturbing,\u201d Dr Dhar notes.At the same time, underreporting remains a real issue.\u201cThe flip side of the story is that these statistics may not be a true reflection of the incidence of brain tumours as most of the cases from rural areas remain unreported.\u201dSo the numbers we see may only be part of the picture.<\/p>\nWhy brain tumours are so easy to miss<\/p>\n
One of the biggest challenges with brain tumours isn\u2019t just treatment. It\u2019s recognition.\u201cOne of the biggest challenges with brain tumors is that symptoms develop slowly. People adapt to changes, blame lifestyle factors, or delay seeking medical advice,\u201d says Dr Premsagar.And sometimes, fear plays a role too.\u201cFear of serious diagnosis also plays a role, leading many to wait until symptoms become intolerable.\u201dWhat makes it harder is how the symptoms overlap with everyday issues.A headache that feels slightly different but not severe. Nausea without a clear reason. Changes in vision that come and go. These don\u2019t immediately point to something serious.But there are patterns doctors watch for.Persistent headaches that don\u2019t behave like your usual ones. Vomiting that isn\u2019t linked to food or infection. Vision or hearing changes that don\u2019t resolve. And seizures in someone with no prior history.Then there are the changes that others notice first.\u201cBrain tumors can affect behaviour, mood, and thinking. Family members often notice changes before the individual does,\u201d Dr Premsagar says.Memory lapses. Difficulty concentrating. Unusual irritability. Even personality changes. These can easily be mistaken for stress or burnout.\u201cAs these symptoms can mimic stress, anxiety, or aging, they are often overlooked.\u201dBut when they persist or worsen without a clear reason, they need attention.<\/p>\n
What could be driving the increase?<\/p>\n
There isn\u2019t a single cause behind brain tumours. It\u2019s a mix of factors, some understood, some still being studied.Dr Dhar points to a few key contributors. \u201cFactors responsible for increase in incidence of Brain tumours: early diagnosis by means of scans, pollution and exposure to toxins, long-term mobile phone usage with radiation exposure particularly in the young population.\u201dNot all of these are fully established causes, but they are areas of concern and ongoing research.There\u2019s also a broader lifestyle shift. More screen time. Less movement. Greater exposure to environmental pollutants. These changes don\u2019t directly translate into tumours overnight, but they shape long-term health risks.And then there\u2019s the simple fact that people are living longer. With age, the risk of many cancers, including brain tumours, increases.<\/p>\n
Not all brain tumours are the same<\/p>\n
Another reason this conversation gets complicated is that \u201cbrain tumour\u201d isn\u2019t a single disease.\u201cBrain tumours are a divergent group of tumours which can be classified into two broad groups,\u201d explains Dr Dhar.\u201cPrimary brain tumours which arise from different neuronal cells\u201d and \u201cMetastatic brain tumour which originate from cells outside the brain and metastasize to the brain.\u201dEach behaves differently. Some are benign. Some are aggressive. Some grow slowly and can be managed for years. Others require urgent, intensive treatment.\u201cIn India the incidence of brain tumour is approximately 10 per 100000 population as against 30 to 35 per 100000 in the United states of America. Out of these 30 to 35 % are malignant and the rest are benign,\u201d he says.So a diagnosis doesn\u2019t always mean the same outcome. But it always requires timely evaluation.<\/p>\n
Why early detection changes everything<\/p>\n
With brain tumours, timing is critical.\u201cAny persistent, progressive, or unexplained neurological symptom deserves attention. While most symptoms do not turn out to be cancer, early evaluation ensures that serious conditions are ruled out or detected in time,\u201d says Dr Premsagar.Because once symptoms become severe, treatment options can become limited.\u201cUnfortunately, this delay can limit treatment options and affect outcomes.\u201dOn the other hand, early detection can make a significant difference\u2014not just in survival, but in quality of life.\u201cEarly detection has higher chances of cure and good quality of life.\u201dAnd that\u2019s really the shift doctors are trying to push. Not panic, but awareness. Paying attention to what feels off, even if it seems small.Medical experts consulted This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by: Dr. (Prof.) I. C. Premsagar<\/a>, Chief, Neuro & Spine Oncology services, RGCIRC (Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre)Dr (Brig) Anil Kumar Dhar<\/a>, Clinical Director & Head – Medical Oncology, Marengo Asia Hospitals, GurugramInputs were used to explain the silent surge of brain tumor in India and what are the early signs of the disease that could help people seek medical assistance on time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When people think of brain tumours, they imagine something dramatic. Sudden seizures. Loss of speech. Severe neurological problems…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":547062,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[27400,243835,243836,23413,97,243837,243838],"class_list":{"0":"post-547061","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-brain-cancer","9":"tag-brain-cancer-signs","10":"tag-brain-cancer-symptoms","11":"tag-brain-tumor","12":"tag-health","13":"tag-symptoms-of-brain-tumor","14":"tag-types-of-brain-tumor"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=547061"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547061\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/547062"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=547061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=547061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=547061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Is](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/is-india-witnessing-a-silent-surge-in-brain-tumour-cases-doctors-urge-attention-to-early-warning-sig.png\" "\\"Image:")
When people think of brain tumours, they imagine something dramatic. Sudden seizures. Loss of speech. Severe neurological problems that are impossible to ignore.But that\u2019s not how it usually begins.\u201cBrain tumors are often perceived as rare, dramatic illnesses that announce themselves with obvious neurological problems. In reality, early symptoms are often subtle, gradual, and easy to dismiss,\u201d says Dr. (Prof.) I. C. Premsagar, Chief, Neuro & Spine Oncology services, RGCIRC (Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre).And that subtlety is exactly what makes them dangerous.A slight change in headaches. A bit of confusion. Maybe some irritability or trouble focusing. Things most people would blame on stress, poor sleep, or a busy life. The brain controls almost everything we do, so even small disruptions can show up in ways that don\u2019t immediately seem serious.\u201cAs the brain controls nearly every function of the body, even small changes caused by a growing tumor can appear vague or unrelated,\u201d Dr Premsagar explains.So people wait. They adjust. They normalise what\u2019s happening.And that delay can cost time that\u2019s hard to get back.<\/p>\n