Â鶹ӳ»­

Headaches, seizures and weakness throughout the body can all be potential brain tumor symptoms. Because these symptoms can also be signs of other conditions, how do you know the difference between a common headache and something more serious?

We met with neurosurgeon and neuro-oncologist to learn about brain tumor symptoms. But first, let¡¯s start with the basics.

What is a brain tumor?

A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells in the brain that might be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). When people think about brain tumors, they most likely think it¡¯s anything that occurs inside the head.

The way brain tumors are categorized depends on where they are in the skull. ¡°Tumors are typically named by the cells that they derive from,¡± Weinberg says. ¡°For example, astrocytoma is a type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord. It begins in cells called astrocytes that support nerve cells.¡±

What are common brain tumor signs and symptoms?

There are a few common brain tumor symptoms. These include:

Headaches

Red flags include headaches that:

• won't go away after you try over-the-counter pain medication
• make you vomit
• wake you up in the middle of the night?
• are worse when you lie flat

¡°If you have a headache and notice other neurologic symptoms, such as weakness or feeling uncoordinated, these are all warning signs that something may be going on that warrants medical attention,¡± Weathers says. ¡°It might not mean that it¡¯s a brain tumor, but it¡¯s a sign that you should see a doctor urgently.

Seizures?

A seizure can be related to many different types of diagnoses. For a brain tumor, a seizure might occur because the tumor is irritating that part of the brain. Seizures also vary in how they present. ¡°A seizure doesn¡¯t have to be a big event where someone loses consciousness and shakes all over,¡± Weathers says. ¡°It can be more subtle than that.¡± A seizure might target a certain part of the body and cause tingling in the arm or leg, confusion, or trouble speaking.

Changes related to motor function of the brain

Depending on the location of the brain tumor, it might affect the motor function of the brain. Some people might experience weakness of the face, arms or legs. If a tumor involves a sensory area, a patient may experience numbness.

¡°The person could also have difficulty speaking, understanding or both,¡± Weathers says. ¡°And very rarely, if a tumor involves the back part of the brain near the brainstem, they can present with incoordination. This includes difficulty with balance, either with walking or using the arms and legs.¡±

¡°If there¡¯s pressure on the cranial nerves, you¡¯re going to have dysfunction from what that nerve does,¡± Weinberg says. ¡°An acoustic neuroma might present itself through ringing in the ear or weakness of the face. You can have pressure on the nerve that controls the tongue, so your tongue might not stick out straight. Pituitary tumors might cause blind spots. You can have an eye movement disability, and sometimes patients won¡¯t be able to look straight up.¡±

Are symptoms different for malignant versus benign brain tumors?

Unfortunately, there is no specific symptom that confirms whether someone has a brain tumor, whether it be malignant or benign.

?

Sometimes, low-grade tumors, such as oligodendrogliomas, have a higher tendency to present with a seizure versus a high-grade tumor such as a glioblastoma, says Weathers. If a tumor is growing rapidly, the patient may experience new headaches that cause nausea and vomiting.

• Related: Glioblastoma symptoms

When should I contact you¡¯re my doctor if I start to notice brain tumor symptoms?

Reach out to your primary care doctor when a symptom is new and different.

¡°All of these symptoms might be caused by something different, but if symptoms like a headache continue to become more painful or severe over the course of a few weeks, it deserves to be looked at,¡± Weinberg says.

How will my doctor determine if I have a brain tumor?

Your primary care doctor will most likely evaluate you in person to look for anything abnormal. This evaluation might include imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI. If there¡¯s an urgent need for care, such as extreme headaches or a seizure, you may need to go to an emergency room for evaluation.

Brain tumor symptoms can overlap with symptoms related to other medical conditions. Experiencing any of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have a brain tumor, but it¡¯s important to see a doctor to determine

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online?or by calling 1-877-632-6789.

Headaches and seizures are common brain tumor symptoms. But they can also be caused by other medical conditions.

So, how can you tell when a symptom is due to a brain tumor? And when should you see a doctor?

For more insight, we spoke with neuro-oncologist , and four survivors, who shared their first brain tumor symptoms and what led them to see a doctor.

Headache

Shelby Espinosa had had headaches in the past; doctors said they were related to back pain. But at age 22, she got a headache so severe that it caused her to stop mid-conversation.

¡°I had to stop talking and just hold my head,¡± she recalls. ¡°It was so intense that I couldn¡¯t think or respond. The pain would come and go, but the headache lingered for three days.¡±

Her back pain was gone, so she knew this was different. At the urging of her mom and then-fianc¨¦, Shelby went to the emergency room, where she had a CT scan of her brain. Results revealed a tumor the size of a kiwi pressing against her brainstem. She had surgery to remove it, and a biopsy confirmed it was a type of brain tumor called medulloblastoma.

¡°Headaches that may indicate a brain tumor typically feel distinctly different from headaches you¡¯ve had before,¡± says Weathers. ¡°For example, people with chronic migraines are used to having headaches, but their headache usually feels the same each time.¡±

See a doctor if you have a history of headaches and suddenly have a new type of headache. Warning signs could be a headache that:

• wakes you up from sleep
• is worse in the morning
• feels worse when you¡¯re lying flat
• causes nausea and vomiting that won¡¯t go away

¡°Other potentially concerning signs could be a headache that lingers for days or weeks (especially if you rarely get headaches), or a headache that is accompanied by other symptoms, such as weakness, numbness, tingling or vision changes,¡± adds Weathers.

This was the case for Sean O¡¯Brien. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor called juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma at age 20. He¡¯d been suffering from a headache for years but didn¡¯t find it too concerning because his family has a history of migraines and allergies. That was until the headache worsened during his sophomore year of college.

¡°At one point, the headache got so bad I sought out medical services on campus,¡± recalls Sean. ¡°They told me I was overtired and needed to rest. Eventually, I did start to feel a little better.¡±

But then more symptoms arose.

He couldn¡¯t sleep at night. And he began having blind spells where his vision would suddenly go out and return after a few moments. This started happening multiple times a day.

¡°I finally told my parents what was going on, and they got me to a doctor while I was home on Thanksgiving break,¡± says Sean. ¡°The doctor discovered fluid buildup in my brain, and scans revealed a brain tumor.¡±

Seizure

Colin Clarke was playing soccer when he felt numbness on the left side of his face under his eye. Moments later, it happened again. Then he passed out.

¡°The next thing I know, I was on a gurney and put in an ambulance,¡± says Colin, who was 45 at the time. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize I¡¯d had a seizure. I¡¯d just headed the soccer ball! But I was told I had several seizures in the ambulance.¡±

He was later diagnosed with a grade II oligodendroglioma.

¡°A seizure is your body¡¯s way of telling you something is going on medically. Sometimes it could be the hallmark of a new brain tumor that has yet to be discovered,¡± says Weathers. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t always mean a brain tumor. Any of us can seize under certain circumstances; for example, if your sodium drops low enough. Every person¡¯s threshold to have a seizure is different.¡±

On two separate occasions, 39-year-old Chris Cook experienced a metallic taste in his mouth. It was subtle and sudden, and he assumed it was due to old cavities. Two weeks later, he noticed the metallic taste again while running with his dog. He began to feel faint. Then he blacked out.

¡°I woke up to my dog protecting me, first responders and the good Samaritans who called them to help me,¡± Chris recalls. ¡°It was hard for me to comprehend what was happening, and I could not speak coherently. After a few minutes, I could think clearly, but I was unable to verbally express my thoughts until I was loaded into the ambulance.¡±

A neurologist diagnosed him with glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of brain tumor.

¡°A lot of patients think seizures are when your body stiffens all over, and you¡¯re jerking on the ground losing consciousness because that¡¯s what they show on TV,¡± says Weathers. ¡°But seizures come in different types. It could be a flash of colored lights, stiffening and/or jerking of the face, arm and/or leg, or a period where you¡¯re suddenly confused or unable to speak. It can also be an abnormal and typically foul smell or taste. Seizures usually present the same way each time.¡±

If it¡¯s your first time having a seizure, see a doctor.

¡°It may not mean you have a brain tumor, but it could be indicating something else is going on in your body,¡± says Weathers. ¡°The seizure is a warning sign to seek medical attention.¡±

Symptoms vary depending on the brain tumor's location

The type of symptom and its severity depend on where the tumor is in the brain.

Weathers classifies brain tumor symptoms into two buckets: global and focal. A global symptom is a more general symptom indicating something is growing in the brain and causing a buildup of pressure. A focal symptom tells you where the tumor likely is in the brain.

¡°If you have a constant headache for weeks that makes you nauseous or vomit, that¡¯s a global symptom,¡± explains Weathers. ¡°If you have anything growing in your brain, it will give you a headache if it grows large enough and starts pushing. But that doesn¡¯t tell me exactly where it might be.¡±

Sometimes a brain tumor can cause a certain symptom based on where it¡¯s growing in the brain. Depending on the location, you may have:

• difficulty speaking or understanding
• changes in vision, like a visual field cut or double vision
• weakness in the face, arm and/or leg
• numbness or tingling in the face, arm and/or leg
• hearing loss
• trouble swallowing
• slurred speech

Data suggests some symptoms are more common with certain types of brain tumors.

¡°It¡¯s not a perfect correlation, but we tend to see seizures more often in patients with oligodendrogliomas than in patients with astrocytomas,¡± says Weathers.

Bottom line: See a doctor for new or different brain tumor symptoms

Brain tumor symptoms can be subtle, like a vision change. Or they can be more urgent, like a first-time seizure.

¡°Whether you visit an emergency room or make an appointment with your primary doctor may depend on the severity of your symptoms and how sick you feel,¡± notes Weathers. ¡°If you have a new or different symptom that is concerning you or a family member, err on the side of caution. Brain tumor symptoms can mimic those of other medical conditions, so it¡¯s important to see a doctor to get checked out.¡±

or call 1-877-632-6789.