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Saba Ali Khan Opens Up About Brain Tumour: Can It Go Unnoticed If You Walk, Talk And Work Normally?

Indian jewelery designer <span>Saba Ali Khan</span>, daughter of veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, has opened up about her brain tumor diagnosis at the age of 27.

Speaking on her sister, actress Soha Ali Khan’s podcast, <span>Saba</span> recalled that her diagnosis came as a surprise, without common warning signs such as headaches or vision loss.

Dr. <span>Mazda K. Turel</span>, the neurosurgeon who treated her at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai, told <strong><em>HealthandMe </em></strong>that people with brain tumors can be “walking, talking and functioning normally” despite having a potentially serious tumor. He explained why tumors can go unnoticed and which symptoms warrant medical attention.

<h2>How Saba Ali Khan Discovered Her Brain Tumor</h2>

Saba recalled fainting while out with a friend. After losing consciousness a second time, she took around 20–25 minutes to regain consciousness.

An MRI revealed a shadow in the third ventricle of her brain. Doctors initially diagnosed a colloid cyst, a rare, non-cancerous growth.

Six months later, she underwent surgery and was diagnosed with pilocytic <span>astrocytoma</span>, a slow-growing, generally low-grade tumor of the brain or spinal cord.

<strong>Also read</strong>: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/survival-in-aggressive-brain-tumors-improves-by-up-to-50-in-india-say-doctors-article-154467432" data-type="tilCustomLink">Survival In Aggressive Brain Tumors Improves By Up To 50% in India, Say Doctors</a>

<h2>Why <span rel="noindex"><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/brain-tumours">Brain Tumours</a></span> Go Undetected In Young Adults</h2>

“Brain tumors don’t check your age before making an appearance,” Dr. Turel said. “In young adults, symptoms are often dismissed as stress, migraines, fatigue or lack of sleep. Some tumors grow slowly, allowing the brain to adapt remarkably well.”

“The brain has an extraordinary ability to compensate, especially when a tumor grows slowly or develops in a relatively silent area,” he explained.

Early signs may include persistent headaches, subtle personality changes, difficulty concentrating, blurred vision and unexplained seizures. Other clues include forgetting familiar words, unexplained irritability, occasional imbalance and brief episodes of staring or losing awareness.

Sometimes, family members notice changes before the patient does. Dr. Turel illustrated the difference between ordinary forgetfulness and a potentially concerning change: “If you forget keys, that is OK, but if you forget what the keys are for,” it is a sign to get checked.

“The problem is that these symptoms are common, but their persistence or progression is what deserves attention,” he told <strong><em>HealthandMe</em></strong>.

<h2>How Tumor Location Affects Symptoms</h2>

<strong>Read More: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/can-eye-strain-lead-to-brain-cancer-experts-explain-article-153958530" data-type="tilCustomLink">Can 'Eye Strain' Lead To Brain Cancer? Experts Explain</a>

Symptoms often depend more on where a tumor is located than on its size, Dr. Turel explained.

<ul><li><strong>Frontal lobe:</strong> Changes in personality or judgement.</li><li><strong>Temporal lobe:</strong> Memory problems or unusual seizures.</li><li><strong>Visual pathways:</strong> Blurred or double vision.</li><li><strong>Cerebellum:</strong> Problems with balance and coordination.</li></ul>

“New speech difficulties, weakness, unexplained seizures or progressive cognitive changes should never be casually dismissed,” he warned.

<h2>Brain Tumor Or Migraine: When Should A <span rel="noindex">Headache</span> Worry You?</h2>

On Brain Tumour Day, Expert Talks About Early Signs That Patients Miss #shorts #shortsfeed

Migraines usually follow a recognizable pattern and may involve nausea or sensitivity to light and sound, Dr. Turel said.

Tumor-related headaches are more concerning when they are new, progressively worsening, different from previous headaches or accompanied by neurological changes. They may be worse in the morning or with coughing and straining, although this is not always the case.

A persistent headache that progressively worsens, wakes someone from sleep or occurs with vomiting, visual changes or neurological symptoms warrants medical evaluation.

"A sudden, explosive headache that reaches maximum intensity within seconds—a thunderclap headache—is a medical emergency," the neurosurgeon said, noting that it can occur while "walking, talking and functioning normally"

It may indicate bleeding around the brain from a ruptured aneurysm rather than a tumor. Sudden weakness, confusion, loss of consciousness or a first seizure also require emergency assessment.

“Most headaches are not caused by brain tumors, and a headache alone rarely indicates one. The key is not to panic about every headache, but to recognize when an old familiar headache begins behaving like a stranger,” Dr. Turel said.

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Indian jewelery designer Saba Ali Khan, daughter of veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, has opened up about her brain tumor diagnosis at the age of 27.Speaking on her sister, actress Soha Ali Khan’s podcast, Saba recalled that her diagnosis came as a surprise, without common warning signs such as headaches or vision loss.Dr. Mazda K. Turel, the neurosurgeon who treated her at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai, told HealthandMe that people with brain tumors can be “walking, talking and functioning normally” despite having a potentially serious tumor. He explained why tumors can go unnoticed and which symptoms warrant medical attention.How Saba Ali Khan Discovered Her Brain TumorSaba recalled fainting while out with a friend. After losing consciousness a second time, she took around 20–25 minutes to regain consciousness.An MRI revealed a shadow in the third ventricle of her brain. Doctors initially diagnosed a colloid cyst, a rare, non-cancerous growth.Six months later, she underwent surgery and was diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma, a slow-growing, generally low-grade tumor of the brain or spinal cord.Also read: Survival In Aggressive Brain Tumors Improves By Up To 50% in India, Say DoctorsWhy Brain Tumours Go Undetected In Young Adults“Brain tumors don’t check your age before making an appearance,” Dr. Turel said. “In young adults, symptoms are often dismissed as stress, migraines, fatigue or lack of sleep. Some tumors grow slowly, allowing the brain to adapt remarkably well.”“The brain has an extraordinary ability to compensate, especially when a tumor grows slowly or develops in a relatively silent area,” he explained.Early signs may include persistent headaches, subtle personality changes, difficulty concentrating, blurred vision and unexplained seizures. Other clues include forgetting familiar words, unexplained irritability, occasional imbalance and brief episodes of staring or losing awareness.Sometimes, family members notice changes before the patient does. Dr. Turel illustrated the difference between ordinary forgetfulness and a potentially concerning change: “If you forget keys, that is OK, but if you forget what the keys are for,” it is a sign to get checked.“The problem is that these symptoms are common, but their persistence or progression is what deserves attention,” he told HealthandMe.How Tumor Location Affects SymptomsRead More: Can 'Eye Strain' Lead To Brain Cancer? Experts ExplainSymptoms often depend more on where a tumor is located than on its size, Dr. Turel explained.Frontal lobe: Changes in personality or judgement.Temporal lobe: Memory problems or unusual seizures.Visual pathways: Blurred or double vision.Cerebellum: Problems with balance and coordination.“New speech difficulties, weakness, unexplained seizures or progressive cognitive changes should never be casually dismissed,” he warned.Brain Tumor Or Migraine: When Should A Headache Worry You?         Migraines usually follow a recognizable pattern and may involve nausea or sensitivity to light and sound, Dr. Turel said.Tumor-related headaches are more concerning when they are new, progressively worsening, different from previous headaches or accompanied by neurological changes. They may be worse in the morning or with coughing and straining, although this is not always the case.A persistent headache that progressively worsens, wakes someone from sleep or occurs with vomiting, visual changes or neurological symptoms warrants medical evaluation."A sudden, explosive headache that reaches maximum intensity within seconds—a thunderclap headache—is a medical emergency," the neurosurgeon said, noting that it can occur while "walking, talking and functioning normally"It may indicate bleeding around the brain from a ruptured aneurysm rather than a tumor. Sudden weakness, confusion, loss of consciousness or a first seizure also require emergency assessment.“Most headaches are not caused by brain tumors, and a headache alone rarely indicates one. The key is not to panic about every headache, but to recognize when an old familiar headache begins behaving like a stranger,” Dr. Turel said.

saba ali khan opens up about brain tumour: can it go unnoticed if you walk, talk and work normally?

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Saba Ali Khan Opens Up About Brain Tumour: Can It Go Unnoticed If You Walk, Talk And Work Normally?

The 10-Minute Silence Test: What Your Brain Reveals When You Stop Filling Every Quiet Moment With Your Phone