blog




  • Essay / Headaches as a symbol of brain cancer

    The brain, the masterpiece of creation, is almost unknown to us” - Nicholas Steno, 1669. Ancient physicians had conflicting views on the meaning of the brain. Aristotle considered the brain to be a secondary organ that served as a cooler for the heart. Anatomist provides a general description of this convoluted toolkit. Basic structures such as the pons and medulla regulate our lives. But what happens when these primitive systems slow down? When are abnormal and excessive cells produced? What happens when brain cell regulation and control is lost in a single cell? As the cell makes more and more copies of itself, it grows to form a tumor. This is called brain cancer. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay As I write this, a dull headache passes through the space above my right eye. The same headache visited me yesterday and the day before yesterday. In fact, over the past eight months, my headaches had taken over my life. On good days, the pain was just a slight nagging sensation. But more often than not, we felt increasing pressure. There were also those unforgettable days when it felt like screws were being driven into the hemispheres of my head and a hammer was hammering into my right eye. The way I classify this feeling is headache, a familiar electric current behind my retina. I've always had more headaches than the average person. I relied on medications and prescribed medications. I started getting them every day and they were more painful than usual. It felt like sharp objects were piercing through the center of my brain, leaving hidden eternal scars. This is an intense pain where your brain tries to forcefully push out of your skull while the constant pressure pulsates with each heartbeat. Especially, when people don't understand the effects. “You just have a headache,” they say without hesitation. “No, it’s much more than that.” A few months later, I underwent several brain scans such as an MRI, CT scan and EEG. The most horrible being the electroencephalogram. It was just my luck to have an unfriendly nurse tech who treated me very badly. The procedure took about 40 minutes and consisted of small metal discs with thin wires placed on my scalp. The results of these examinations revealed the presence of hemorrhagic colloid cysts. According to the World Health Organization, nine out of ten people diagnosed with a brain tumor will die from it. Unfortunately, I am part of this fraction. The most significant person in my life is the one who survived. After two years of surgeries, endless sessions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, my mother was saved from this terrible fungus. The only one who continues to inspire me with patience, perseverance and strength.