Understanding the Symptoms of a Brain Tumor

• The brain is the body organ composed of nerve cells and supportive tissues like glial cells and meninges – there are three major parts – they control your activity like breathing (brain stem), activity like moving muscles to walk (cerebellum) and your senses like sight and our memory, emotions, thinking and personality (cerebrum).
• Primary brain tumours can be either malignant (contain cancer cells) or benign (do not contain cancer cells). A primary brain tumor is a tumor which begins in the brain tissue. If a cancerous tumor starts elsewhere in the body, it can spread cancer cells, which grow in the brain. These type of tumors are called secondary or metastatic brain tumors.
• Brain tumors can occur at any age.
• Researchers and doctors do not know exact cause of brain tumors.
• Risk factors include exposure to ionizing radiation and family history of brain tumors.
• The signs symptoms of brain tumors depend on their size, type, and location. The most common signs symptoms include headaches; numbness or tingling in the arms or legs; seizures; memory problems; mood and personality changes; balance and walking problems; nausea and vomiting; or changes in speech, vision, or hearing.
• Doctors group brain tumors are classified by grade (grade I, grade II, grade III, or grade IV -the most severe). The grade is determined by the way the cells look under a microscope. The higher the grade number, the more abnormal the cells appear, and the more aggressively the tumor usually behaves.
• The most common types of primary brain tumors among adults are astrocytoma, meningiom (a tumor that arises from the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) and oligodendroglioma.
• The most common type of primary brain tumors in children are medulloblastoma, grade I or II astrocytoma, (or glioma) ependymoma, and brain stem glioma.
• Studies have found risk factors for brain tumors to include ionizing radiation from high dose X-rays (for example, radiation therapy where the machine is aimed at the head), and family history.
• Diagnosis of a brain tumor is done by a neurologic exam (by a neurologist or neurosurgeon), CT (computer tomography scan) and/or magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI), and other tests like an angiogram, spinal tap and biopsy. Your diagnosis helps predict the treatment.
• Neurologists base the treatment of brain tumors on the type, location, and size of the tumor, your health, and age. Treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy (or a combination of treatments).
• Supportive care is important before, during and after treatment to minimize symptoms and to improve your quality of life.

 Brain Tumor Symptoms
Symptoms (signs) of benign brain tumors often are not specific. The following is a list of symptoms that, alone or combined, can be caused by benign brain tumors; unfortunately, these symptoms can occur in many other diseases:

• vision problems
• hearing problems-Sudden hearing problems can also be a sign of a brain tumor. According to a Dr., "if you’re experiencing hearing loss from one side or a constant ringing sensation, known as tinnitus, you’ll want to make an appointment with your doctor, who can determine whether your symptoms are severe enough to see a neurologist.”
• balance problems- Since our brain controls our balance, when that part of the brain has tumour, then one loses balance. If it is often, then it is best to consult your doctor at once to rule out the root cause.
• changes in mental ability (for example, concentration, memory, speech)-If you're finding it difficult to remember what you ate for breakfast or what your best friend's phone number is, then this may be a sign of a brain tumor. If this is the case, you may also discover that you're finding it more difficult to multitask or that you're becoming far more easily confused.
• seizures, muscle jerking-If you've never had a seizure before, experiencing one may be one of the first signs of a brain tumor. This occurs because a tumor may apply pressure to the brain's nerve cells, which can end up triggering a seizure. Around 50% of people with a brain tumor experience at least one brain seizure, according to the doctors.
• change in sense of smell
• nausea/vomiting-Nausea and vomiting You might have nausea and vomiting in the early stages because a tumor is causing a hormone imbalance.
  During treatment for a cancerous brain tumor, nausea and vomiting could be side effects from chemotherapy or other treatments.
  Of course, you can experience nausea and vomiting for a variety of other reasons, including food poisoning, influenza, or pregnancy.
• facial paralysis
• headaches-One of the most commons signs of a brain tumor is the development of persistent headaches. In fact, according to the American Brain Tumor Association, about half of all people with a brain tumor experience such headaches. These headaches typically don't respond to pain medication and are usually the worst in the mornings and when sudden movements are made.
• Weakness and numbness A feeling of weakness can happen just because your body is fighting the tumor. Some brain tumors cause numbness or tingling of the hands and feet.
  This tends to happen on only one side of the body and could indicate a tumor in certain parts of the brain.
  Weakness or numbness can be side effects of cancer treatment, too. Other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, diabetic neuropathy and Guillain-Barre syndrome can also cause these symptoms.

 Fatigue- Fatigue is more than feeling a little tired once in a while. These are some signs that you’re experiencing true fatigue:

• You’re completely exhausted most or all of the time.
• You feel weak overall and your limbs feel heavy.
• You often find yourself falling asleep in the middle of the day.
• You’ve lost your ability to focus.
• You’re irritable and out of sorts

Fatigue can be due to a cancerous brain tumor. But fatigue can also be a side effect of cancer treatments. Other conditions that cause fatigue include autoimmune diseases, neurological conditions, and anemia, to name just a few.

Depression

Depression is a common symptom among people who have received a diagnosis of a brain tumor. Even caregivers and loved ones can develop  depression during the treatment period. This can present as:

• feelings of sadness lasting longer than what seems normal for the situation
• loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
• lack of energy, trouble sleeping, insomnia
• thoughts of self-harm or suicide
• feelings of guilt or worthlessness

Being diagnosed with cancer will always be a terrifying and devastating thing, but cancer of the brain is said to be the scariest and most serious of them all. That's why it is vital that everyone is aware of the symptoms of this terrible disease so that it can be picked up and treated before it's too late.




Benign brain tumors usually have an obvious border or edge. Cells from benign tumors rarely invade tissues around them. They don't spread to other parts of the body. However, benign tumors can press on sensitive areas of the brain and cause serious health problems.

• Unlike benign tumors in most other parts of the body, benign brain tumors are sometimes life threatening.
• Benign brain tumors may become malignant.

Malignant brain tumors (also called brain cancer) contain cancer cells:

• Malignant brain tumors are generally more serious and often are a threat to life.
• They are likely to grow rapidly and crowd or invade the nearby healthy brain tissue.
• Cancer cells may break away from malignant brain tumors and spread to other parts of the brain or to the spinal cord. They rarely spread to other parts of the body.

Signs and symptoms based on tumor location

Some symptoms can provide insights into where the tumor might be located within the brain.
Vision problems can be due to a tumor located in or around the:

• pituitary gland
• optic nerve
• occipital lobe
• temporal lobe

Speech, reading, and writing difficulties:

• certain parts of the cerebrum
• certain parts of the cerebellum
• temporal lobe
• parietal lobe

Hearing problems:

• near cranial nerves
• temporal lobe

Swallowing problems:

• cerebellum
• in or near cranial nerves

Trouble with movement in the hands, arms, feet, and legs, or difficulty walking:

• cerebellum
• frontal lobe

Balance issues may indicate a tumor near the base of the brain.
Facial numbness, weakness, or pain may also occur with a tumor in this area.

When to see a doctor

If you have some of the signs and symptoms listed above, it certainly doesn’t mean you have a brain tumor.
Because these symptoms overlap with those of so many other conditions, it’s important to get the correct diagnosis. And for many diseases, earlier diagnosis and treatment provide a better outlook.
Make an appointment to see your doctor. Determining the cause for your symptoms is the first step toward getting the treatment you need.

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