Brain Health
Possible Signs of a Brain Tumor Not to Ignore
Brain tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), but in either case the tumor itself can affect a patient in varying ways. ” The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor vary greatly and depend on the brain tumor’s size, location and rate of growth,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
However, there are some potentially debilitating symptoms associated with a brain tumor, and a doctor will have to assess the best treatment option whether it’s surgery, radiation or another approach. If you’re experiencing any of these 13 related symptoms, it’s best to see a medical professional for assessment…
1. Headaches
If you’re not the type to usually have headaches, and you suddenly find yourself dealing with them regularly, it could be many things – including early signs of a brain tumor, notes WebMD.
These particular headaches that are associated with brain tumors don’t respond to over-the-counter remedies the same way other headaches do, adds the source. However, the site also says you shouldn’t panic if you’re having headaches – “Keep in mind that most headaches are unrelated to brain tumors,” it notes.
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2. Seizures
Brain tumors can also trigger seizures, which “might be the first clue that something unusual is happening in the brain,” according to the American Brain Tumor Association. It notes seizures are more common with particular types of brain tumors, such as slow-growing gliomas, meningiomas (affecting the membranes of the brain and spinal cord), and metastatic brain tumors (cancer that starts elsewhere and spreads to the brain).
Characteristics of tumor-related seizures include a sudden onset of the problem, loss of body function, arrested breathing (for 30-seconds or so) that could lead to a “dusky blue” skin color, an overall short episode of 2 or 3-minutes, and weakness or numbness afterwards, adds the source.
3. Cognitive Decline
A host of problems with the brain’s ability to process information might be a result of a brain tumor. Cancer Treatment Centers of America notes brain cancer (tumors) can make it difficult for a patient to remember things, concentrate on a task, or communicate clearly.
The source also notes that a variety of the symptoms – such as being confused and not being able to think clearly – may be subtle or show up gradually. These could be early red flags to prompt your doctor to have a closer look at the root cause.
4. Trouble with Balance and Coordination
Cancer.net explains there could be some telltale signs of a brain tumor that show up in physical ways, whether from the cancer itself or the treatments. As the brain and spinal cord are part of the central nervous system, brain cancer patients can experience a variety of these unwanted side effects.
Aside from the cognitive decline already mentioned, brain tumor patients may find they have trouble with walking and balance, and they could experience vertigo, which is the sensation of the room spinning, it adds. Problems with coordination (e.g. something simple like tying your shoelaces) might also be impacted.
5. Personality Changes
Family members and caregivers could notice a change in your behavior if you’re dealing with a brain tumor. CureToday.com explains that personality changes in a patient can put extra burden on those already dealing with the illness.
As the frontal lobe of the brain is the “command center” for personality, tumors in this area of the brain will have a more severe impact, notes the source. However, other locations of tumors can cause hormonal imbalances and severe frustration for the patient, especially if their ability to speak has been impacted, it adds. “A brain tumor patient that has lost their speech might desperately want to tell a grandchild how much they love them, but not be able to get the words out,” it offers.
6. Hearing Loss
While the ability to be heard can be affected by a brain tumor, so can the ability to hear, according to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. While the ear is obviously important for hearing, it’s the brain the ultimately processes sound, notes the source. That means in theory that your ear and its inner structures could be fine, but the pathways and receptors in your brain are not.
One type of tumor that can impact hearing is called an acoustic neuroma, notes the foundation, which may affect one or both ears. Tests for this generally show hearing loss in high frequencies, as well as poor recognition of words, it adds. Tumors can affect a smaller area where auditory relay systems are, or by “mass effects” such as creating pressure or even causing the brain to move depending on the size of the tumor.
7. Weakness in One Side
Cancer.net also explains that you may experience weakness in 1-side of the body, affecting the arm and leg on that side. On top of that, you may become confused about which side of your body is left or right, which are all linked to a tumor in the frontal or parietal lobe of the brain, it explains.
Another symptom of this type of brain tumor is an “altered perception” of touch or pressure, it adds. Other sources note this could affect your ability to feel pain or different temperatures.
8. Vision Changes
Cancer Treatment Centers of America notes that a tumor that’s located near the optical nerve could result in blurred or double vision, and some other types of tumors can actually result in abnormal eye movements.
The American Brain Tumor Association paints a slight less rosy picture when it comes to the relation of brain tumors and vision: the source notes you may develop blind spots, loss of peripheral vision (seeing out of the corner of your eyes), or sudden blindness – which could indicate pressure from the tumor on the brain, it adds. If you’re experiencing sudden blindness, seek medical assistance immediately, urges the association.
9. Speech Challenges
The Cancer Treatment Centers of America note that depending on the location of the brain tumor, it can affect areas that are normally responsible for clear communication.
That being said, speech itself may become difficult for the affected person, or they may experience “language difficulties,” it adds. This typically means the person can’t find the right words to express something, or can’t comprehend what someone is telling them.
10. Muscle Twitches
Cancer.net talks about meningioma, which is a tumor that forms on the membranes covering the brain and nearby spinal cord. It says the tumor pressing against these 2-essential areas can cause involuntary movements of muscles – these are called convulsions, which are also sometimes referred to as motor seizures, adds the source.
While this can present as full-blown seizures with loss of bodily function as we’ve detailed previously (known as tonic-clonic or grand mal seizures), it can also be in the form of single/multiple muscle twitches, jerks or spasms (known as myoclonic seizures), it adds.
11. Depression
Along with personality changes that could involve risky behavior, a person’s mood may drop due to the presence of brain cancer, according to Reader’s Digest. Depression, anxiety and anger all radiate from the frontal lobe, which can become compressed or irritated by formation of a tumor, it adds.
In some cases, this may result in a misdiagnosis of a psychiatric problem, when in fact it’s a physical change in the brain region causing the depression or other unusual mood or behavior, it adds.
12. Infertility
The same source says that brain cancer can even impact the ability to conceive a child. This is because the brain controls hormones, including those that are essential for reproduction, says Reader’s Digest.
The pituitary gland in particular, although very small, is responsible for hormone production, it adds.” “Tumors affecting the pituitary gland can secrete high amounts of hormones or prevent the normal gland from working,” explains the source. This may affect the ability to conceive, or the ability to produce breast milk following giving birth, it notes.
13. Fatigue/Lethargy
TheBrainTumorCharity.com based in the UK discusses tumor-related fatigue, noting is “the most common side effect” of brain tumors and brain cancer. Those with non-cancerous brain tumors may also experience fatigue (defined as tiredness that’s not relieved by resting), it adds. You may also feel like your limbs are heavier and it’s generally tougher to move around.
This tumor-related fatigue can disrupt your sleep patterns and vary in intensity day-to-day or even during the same day, it adds. Other sources note fatigue is also a side effect of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy – so if the tumor itself isn’t causing you to feel endlessly tired, the treatment might be.
