​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients who have abnormal growth or a tumor will experience pain in the localize of the tumor or growth area. They will have experiences discomfort and some will have dizziness, or vision loss if they have a brain tumor. Specific symptoms will depend on the condition they are experiencing.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Some patients with a brain tumor or nerve damage will have weakness when they walk or are doing other work. Patients who have a brain tumor and a tumor blocking their vision nerve may not be able to see and may experience dizziness or headaches, which prevent them from working or doing daily activities that they usually do.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Usually patients with complicated conditions like a brain tumor or any other tumor do not find out early about their diagnosis as there is not enough equipment to perform diagnostic tests like an MRI or CT scan at local clinics or hospitals. At the same time, financial issues are the biggest challenge to travel to a bigger hospital to get the diagnostic test as an MRI is considered very expensive by our local standards of living. Mostly, many patients who come from rural or remote areas will have waited a long time to be able to get to the care center where they can receive this important diagnostic test to plan for their treatment.

What does the treatment process look like?

The technologist will monitor you and tell you to lie down on a movable table that slides into the opening of the tube. If the patient has a fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), or if the patient is a child, he or she might be given medication to help them feel sleepy and less anxious. Most people get through the procedure without difficulty. The MRI machine creates a strong magnetic field around the patient, and radio waves are directed at their body. The procedure is painless and patient don't feel the magnetic field or radio waves, and there are no moving parts around the patient.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

After the MRI, the doctor specially trained to interpret MRIs (radiologist) will analyze the images from the scan and report the findings to the doctor who will treat the patient. The doctor will discuss important findings and next steps with the patient and determine the best treatment plan.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Because an MRI uses powerful magnets, the presence of metal in the body can be a safety hazard if attracted to the magnet. Even if not attracted to the magnet, metal objects can distort the MRI image. Before having an MRI, the patient will likely complete a questionnaire that includes whether they have metal or electronic devices in their body. There are not other major risks to this procedure.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

This diagnostic test is only available in the city or in bigger towns. This test is expensive compared to other tests, meaning that most of the patients cannot afford to pay. Many patients will travel place to place to look for funding and also to find out where this can take place. Most of the patients that BCMF supports are from rural areas and they hear about BCMF through former patients or through local BCMF partner organizations. Our patients do not have money to pay for this test and, but they still need to undergo it when the doctor has recommend it. Often treatment cannot proceed without this step.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

A CT scan may be recommended if a patient can't have an MRI especially any patient with metal implants, pacemakers or other implanted devices. They shouldn't have an MRI due to the powerful magnets inside the machine. Instead of having MRI, the doctor will recommend a CT scan. However, an MRI can create more clear images of blood flow to certain areas of the brain. It can be used to examine the brain's anatomy and determine which parts of the brain are handling critical functions. This helps identify important language and movement control areas in the brain for people being considered for brain surgery. Functional MRI can also be used to assess damage from a head injury.