Signs and Symptoms of Brain Cancer

You get a headache in the afternoon, take medicine to reduce the pain and think nothing of it. Suddenly a headache persists and you experience some nausea. These symptoms are fairly common in your average person, however mixed with other symptoms, they can potentially mean that there is a brain tumor. Although not all brain tumors are cancerous, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms so that in the event of such symptoms, you’ll know to consult a doctor at the earliest stages. Signs are a warning signal, and in the possibility of cancer, should be taken seriously.

Here are warning signs of a brain tumor and brain cancer:

• Headaches
• Seizures
• Clumsiness
• Weakness
• Speech and Communication Difficulty
• Blurred Vision
• Sleepiness

Let’s break them down.

Headaches

Now, if you have a headache you shouldn’t automatically assume you have brain cancer. However, if your headaches are frequent and severe, as well as combined with other symptoms, then you should consult a doctor.

Headaches are a common symptom with brain tumors and brain cancer. Although headaches are common in people without tumors, the frequency and intensity of your headaches could indicate that there is a brain tumor. Not all tumors are cancerous, but cancer can grow in brain tumors over time.

Seizures

Seizures can occur for a multitude of reasons, however one reason could be a tumor forming in the brain. If you have a seizure, you should go to the hospital for doctors to run tests.

Clumsiness

A lack of motor skills could be cause by the tumor affecting the part of the brain for motor function. Clumsiness, lack of balance, and the inability to coordinate movement are all signs a tumor may be affecting the cranial nerves.

Weakness/Numbness

There is a part of the brain that connects to your spinal chord and directs how your body moves. A loss of feeling in the face or other muscles, as well as a feeling of weakness could indicate that a tumor is forming on the brain stem. If you experience symptoms of weakness and tingling, along with other symptoms listed, you should consult a doctor right away.

Speech and Communication Difficulty

A brain tumor can affect your entire thinking process, how you communicate and even your memory. Big shifts in personality and behavior are recognizable signs of a tumor on the front part of your brain. It’s easy for a person with a tumor to forget things, experience confusion, and have a change in their behavior.  

Although a benign tumor is less serious than a malignant tumor, tumors come in all shapes and sizes– with the possibility to form on any cell in your brain. While many of these signs and symptoms could be from other causes that are less threatening, it’s important to know your body and seek a doctor’s opinion if there is any chance of brain cancer.