A headache after a long day, occasional dizziness or feeling nauseous can happen for many everyday reasons. Most of the time, these symptoms are not related to a brain tumour. But when symptoms are persistent, unusual, progressively worsening or accompanied by neurological changes, they should not be ignored.
Brain tumours can cause different symptoms depending on their location, size and rate of growth. Some symptoms may develop gradually, while others, such as a seizure, may appear suddenly. The challenge is knowing when a symptom is likely to be routine and when it deserves medical attention.
What Is a Brain Tumour?
A brain tumour occurs when abnormal cells grow in or around the brain. Brain tumours can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Even a benign tumour can cause problems if it grows in an area of the brain responsible for important functions or puts pressure on surrounding tissue.Because different parts of the brain control movement, speech, vision, memory, coordination and behaviour, symptoms can vary considerably from one person to another.This means there is no single symptom that confirms a brain tumour.
Which Symptoms Are Common and Usually Have Other Causes?
Occasional Headaches
Headaches are extremely common and are usually caused by conditions such as tension, migraine, dehydration, lack of sleep or other everyday factors.Having a headache does not mean you have a brain tumour. In fact, most headaches are not caused by brain tumours.
However, a headache deserves medical evaluation when it is new, persistent, progressively worsening or noticeably different from your usual headaches, particularly when accompanied by other symptoms.
Occasional Nausea or Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting can occur because of food-related illness, infections, migraine, medication and many other conditions.But frequent or persistent nausea and vomiting, particularly when associated with headaches or neurological symptoms, should be assessed by a doctor.
Feeling Tired or Sleepy
Fatigue and sleepiness can result from poor sleep, stress, medications, infections and several other health conditions.Unusual or increasing drowsiness, particularly when accompanied by other neurological changes, should not simply be attributed to tiredness.
Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored
Certain symptoms become more concerning when they are new, persistent, worsening or occur together.
1. Headaches That Keep Getting Worse
A headache that gradually becomes more frequent or severe deserves attention.Some brain tumours can cause headaches because of increased pressure inside the skull. Headaches associated with brain tumours may become progressively worse and can occur along with nausea, vomiting or other neurological symptoms.
Pay particular attention if a headache:
- Is new or significantly different from your usual headaches
- Keeps returning or becomes progressively worse
- Occurs along with early morning vomiting
- Is associated with vision or balance problems
- Is accompanied by weakness, confusion or other neurological changes
A persistent headache does not automatically indicate a tumour, but finding the cause is important.
2. Seizures
A first-time seizure in an adult should always receive medical attention.Seizures can occur suddenly and may involve jerking movements or loss of consciousness, but they do not always look like a dramatic convulsion. Some people may experience unusual sensations, staring, confusion or temporary changes in awareness.
A seizure can have many causes, and a brain tumour is only one possibility. However, it can sometimes be the first sign of a brain tumour. If someone has a first seizure, seek emergency medical care.
3. Changes in Vision
New or worsening vision problems should be evaluated, particularly when they cannot be explained by an existing eye condition.
Possible symptoms can include:
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Loss of part of the visual field
- Seeing flashes or unusual spots
- Difficulty seeing normally
Tumours affecting areas involved in vision or structures connected to the visual pathways can produce visual symptoms.
4. Difficulty Speaking or Understanding
A person may suddenly or gradually have difficulty finding words, speaking clearly or understanding what others are saying.Because speech and language are controlled by specific areas of the brain, problems with these functions can sometimes be associated with a neurological disorder, including a brain tumour. Sudden speech difficulty, however, can also be a sign of stroke and requires emergency evaluation.
5. Weakness or Numbness
Unexplained weakness or numbness, particularly when it affects one side of the body, should not be ignored.A tumour affecting areas of the brain involved in movement or sensation may cause weakness or altered sensation in part of the body.Sudden weakness or numbness needs immediate medical assessment because stroke is another important possible cause.
6. Problems With Balance or Walking
Difficulty walking, frequent unexplained falls, poor coordination or a new sense of imbalance can sometimes indicate a neurological problem.The cerebellum and other parts of the nervous system play an important role in balance and coordination. Tumours affecting these areas can lead to difficulty walking or performing precise movements.
7. Changes in Memory, Behaviour or Personality
Changes may not always be physical.
A person may begin experiencing:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Confusion
- Unusual changes in behaviour
- Personality changes
- Difficulty thinking or communicating
These symptoms can have many causes, but persistent or progressive changes should be discussed with a doctor.Sometimes family members notice these changes before the person experiencing them does.
When Should You See a Doctor?
You do not need to panic every time you experience a headache or feel dizzy. But persistent or progressively worsening symptoms should be evaluated rather than self-diagnosed.
Consider consulting a doctor if you experience:
- A new headache pattern that keeps returning
- Headaches that are becoming worse
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- New vision, speech or hearing problems
- Repeated problems with balance or coordination
- Unexplained weakness or numbness
- Changes in memory, concentration or behaviour
- A new seizure
When Is It an Emergency?
Some neurological symptoms require immediate emergency medical attention, regardless of whether a brain tumour is suspected.
Seek emergency care for:
- A sudden, extremely severe headache
- A first-time seizure
- Sudden weakness or numbness
- Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden loss or significant change in vision
- Sudden difficulty walking or maintaining balance
- Loss of consciousness or difficulty waking the person
These symptoms can occur with several serious conditions, including stroke and other neurological emergencies.
How Is a Brain Tumour Diagnosed?
Symptoms alone cannot confirm whether someone has a brain tumour.A doctor will usually begin by discussing the person's symptoms, medical history and how the symptoms have changed over time. A neurological examination may also assess areas such as coordination, movement, reflexes, sensation, vision and mental function. Depending on the findings, the doctor may recommend brain imaging or other investigations.
Imaging can help doctors identify an abnormal area and understand its location and characteristics. In some cases, a biopsy may be needed to determine the type of tumour. Importantly, experiencing symptoms that can occur with a brain tumour does not mean that a tumour is present. Many of these symptoms have other, more common causes.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Headaches are extremely common and are usually caused by conditions other than brain tumours. However, a new or progressively worsening headache, particularly when accompanied by other neurological symptoms, should be evaluated
Brain tumour-related headaches can vary. They may become progressively worse and may occur along with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, transient blurring of vision, double vision or other neurological problems. There is no single headache pattern that confirms a brain tumour.
Yes. Depending on its location, a brain tumour can affect thinking, concentration, mood, behaviour or personality. These changes can also have many other causes, so medical evaluation is important when they are persistent or unusual.
A seizure can be associated with a brain tumour, but there are many other possible causes. A first-time seizure should always be medically evaluated.
Yes. Depending on the tumour's location, people may experience blurred or double vision, visual field changes or other vision problems. New or worsening vision changes should be assessed by a doctor.
Consider medical evaluation when headaches are new, keep recurring, become progressively worse, are different from your usual headaches or occur alongside symptoms such as vomiting, vision changes, weakness, balance problems or speech difficulties.
There is currently no widely recommended routine screening test for brain tumours in people without symptoms. Many brain tumours are investigated after symptoms lead to medical evaluation
