A brain tumor can cause symptoms, which are changes in how you feel or think. Symptoms can be different for everyone.
Noncancerous (benign) brain tumors usually grow slowly and don’t spread. They also tend to have clearly defined borders, so they are easier to remove surgically.
Cancerous (malignant) brain tumors usually grow faster and may spread to other parts of the brain or spinal cord. They can also recur after treatment.
Headaches
Headaches are one of the most common symptoms of brain tumors. They are a result of pressure on the brain from the tumor, swelling or blood. They tend to be worse in the morning and can be made worse by sneezing or coughing. They can feel like a tension headache, a migraine or even a sinus headache.
Most people get the occasional headache that can be caused by a lack of sleep, bright lights or changes in weather. For the most part, these headaches don’t cause a lot of concern and usually respond to some rest or over-the-counter pain relievers. However, when a headache is accompanied by other symptoms, it can be an early sign of a brain tumor.
If a person experiences frequent headaches that differ in type or severity, it is important to visit a doctor. Depending on the location and grade of the tumor, this could lead to a referral to a specialist or even Accident and Emergency (A&E) for further examination.
The onset of brain tumor headaches can happen at any age and they can be either chronic or episodic. It is also important to note whether the headaches are worse in the morning, more frequent or getting progressively worse. Some headaches are more sharp and throbbing than others and some are made worse by certain activities or medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
In addition to headaches, some brain tumors can cause other signs and symptoms that depend on the location of the tumour. For example, if the tumor is affecting the nerves in the head, symptoms can include weakness on one side of the face or loss of balance, or it can be a symptom of a tumour involving the vestibular nerve, such as hearing problems or deafness.
It is important to note that not everyone with a brain tumour will experience any of these symptoms and many of the signs and symptoms mentioned in this article are often mistaken for other conditions. However, it is still a good idea to talk to your doctor if you are concerned about any new or unusual symptoms and keep track of the time, duration and frequency of these symptoms so that they can be accurately diagnosed.
Seizures
A tumour in the brain or spinal cord can affect your ability to control movement. If it gets big enough it can cause seizures. It can also lead to headaches, nausea or loss of balance. Your doctor will give you medicine to prevent seizures, but if they do happen it’s important to tell your health care team right away.
Symptoms can be different for everyone, and they depend on the type of tumour, where it is and how fast it’s growing. Some people don’t have any symptoms, while others may have more than one symptom. Symptoms are changes that can be felt in your body, or that you can measure with a test. Signs are changes that you can see or hear, like when you cough or have a bowel movement.
A cancerous brain tumor can be more likely to cause seizures than a non-cancerous one. This is because a malignant tumour can be more invasive and can infiltrate other brain tissues, causing them to shrink or compress them.
You might also have a higher chance of having seizures if your tumour is in the temporal lobe, and it’s getting bigger. This is because the brain cells that produce and process emotions and memory are found there. Whether or not you have a seizure depends on the location, size and grade of your tumour.
When you do have a seizure, it can feel frightening. Try to stay calm and sit up, if possible, so you don’t fall over. If you’re unable to sit up, lie down with your head tilted back slightly. This will reduce the chance of choking or hitting your teeth on the floor or ground. After a seizure, you might be very tired and sleepy. If this happens, ask someone to rest for a while until you feel better.
You might need medication to help prevent seizures, or your doctors might use a technique called surgery to remove the tumour and relieve pressure on your skull. They might also recommend a shunt, which is a piece of tubing that’s surgically placed to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid. Medicines such as mannitol and corticosteroids can also help to lower pressure within your skull, but they won’t cure the cancer.
Loss of Appetite
A common problem associated with brain tumors is a loss of appetite. This can be because of the stress and pain from the tumour or the medications you may be taking to treat it. It’s important to eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water to ensure you are getting enough nutrients to stay healthy, even when your appetite isn’t good.
If you are experiencing this symptom, it is important to tell your doctor as soon as possible. They will be able to offer you some advice and help you manage this side effect of your treatment.
You are more likely to develop symptoms if you have a primary brain tumor, rather than a secondary one that has spread from another area of your body. However, there are some cases where this is not the case and your symptoms can be caused by other conditions or illness.
Your symptoms are usually related to where the tumour is in your brain and how it’s growing. It’s also possible that your symptoms are due to a build-up of pressure from the tumour or swelling around it, which is called intracranial pressure.
If the tumor is benign, it might grow slowly and cause your symptoms to develop over months or years. But if it is cancerous, it can grow quickly and put pressure on your brain and spinal cord, causing the symptoms to develop more quickly.
The most common symptoms of brain and spinal cord tumours include headache, seizures, changes in your mental function, balance problems, weakness or numbness, vision changes, difficulty speaking, loss of appetite and vomiting.
It is often difficult for doctors to diagnose brain and spinal cord tumours, because these symptoms are so unusual compared to other health conditions. In fact, more than half of people who reported brain tumor symptoms said their doctor didn’t think they were a brain tumor at first and instead thought of other reasons for their symptoms.
Depending on the type and location of the tumour, it might be treated with surgery or other treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These can kill any remaining abnormal cells and reduce your risk of the tumour coming back. Regular follow-up appointments with your doctor can help detect a recurrence and improve your chances of survival.
Dizziness
Dizziness can be a sign of a brain tumour, but it is also a common symptom in many medical conditions. It is important to talk to your doctor about it, especially if other symptoms are present and it reoccurs. Tracking how often it happens and how long the episodes last can help your doctor to diagnose it.
The location of a brain tumor and its grade (how fast it is growing) determines which symptoms might occur. It also impacts how easily it might be treated and the outcome.
A brain tumour causes general symptoms such as headaches, feeling sick and seizures (fits). It may also cause specific problems depending on where it is located in the brain and spinal cord.
For example, a brain tumour in the cerebellum might lead to balance problems. A tumour in the frontal lobes might cause changes in judgment, sluggishness and forgetfulness. A tumour in the pituitary gland might cause a loss of appetite, a stop in menstruation or abnormal secretion of hormones (Cushing’s disease and acromegaly).
Most non-cancerous brain tumours do not grow quickly enough to produce any obvious symptoms. But they can grow to a very large size before any symptoms develop. Some may bleed or rupture, which might require immediate surgery. A cancer that has spread to the brain from elsewhere in the body is called a metastatic brain tumour. These are not as dangerous as primary brain tumors, but they can still cause serious and life-threatening symptoms.
Brain tumours can sometimes cause dizziness because they compress or displace brain tissue. This can lead to a buildup of fluid (edema), which increases pressure on the skull. The increased pressure can also affect how well certain parts of the brain work.
A person might feel dizzy or off-balance when a brain tumour is pressing on the part of the brain that controls movement and balance (the cerebellum). This can lead to trouble walking, loss of coordination or changes in your sense of direction. A brain tumour in the temporal lobes might affect your memory or the way you perceive sounds and smells. You might also have difficulty remembering new information and be unable to recall past events.
