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Raila's daughter diagnosed with a brain tumor

Rosemary has meningioma, a brain tumor that is not life-threatening but applies pressure to the brain.
 
 

More details have emerged on what is ailing opposition chief, Raila Odinga’s daughter, Rosemary Odinga.

According to a local daily, Rosemary Odinga has a brain tumor which is non-cancerous at this point.

The eldest daughter of Raila was admitted at Aga Khan University hospital on Friday after she complained of a head ache; she was later transferred to Nairobi hospital on Sunday where she was admitted at Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Rosemary has meningioma, a brain tumor that is not life-threatening but applies pressure to the brain according to a source at the hospital where she was admitted.

A meningioma is a tumor that forms on membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord just inside the skull. Specifically, the tumor forms on the three layers of membranes that are called meninges according to Web MD.

Meningioma is often slow-growing and has no immediate symptoms making it hard to detect, it usually does not require immediate treatment and the good news is as many as 90 per cent are benign (not cancerous).

Benign meningiomas is not immediately life-threatening but it can cause serious problems. In some cases, such growth can be fatal.

Another interesting fact about Meningioma is it tends to occur more often in women than in men.

Middle-aged women are more than twice as likely as men to develop a meningioma, with most meningiomas cases occuring between the ages of 30 and 70.

Rosemary Odinga is 39 years old.

The causes of meningioma are not well understood. However exposure to radiation and Neurofibromatosis type 2, a genetic disorder are two known risk factors.

Rosemary is currently being examined by two surgeons who will decide if she should undergo surgery. The removal of the tumor involves lengthy neurosurgery and is followed by radiotherapy.

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