Symptoms of a Brain Tumor

Symptoms of brain tumors are similar to brain cancer symptoms. Not all tumors in the brain are cancer. The most common tumors in the brain occur because of metastatic disease.

The skull does not enlarge with the growth of brain tumors, so increased pressure develops over time. This leads to progression of brain tumor symptoms

Symptoms of brain cancer will get worse over time, because these cancerous tumors are growing larger. Because the brain is housed within the skull, there is a limited amount of space, so a growing mass will eventually result in some symptoms.

Approximately 20% of brain tumors will be associated with headache at the time of diagnosis. Seizures occur in 33% of patients.

Other symptoms of brain tumors can be similar to symptoms seen in people with a stroke. Hemiparesis (weakness of one side of the body), aphasia (difficulty speaking or understanding spoken words), and visual field deficits can occur.

Primary tumors of the brain are associated with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Turcot’s syndrome, neurofibromatosis, and tuberous sclerosis.

Metastatic brain tumors most commonly originate in the breast and lung.

Symptoms of brain tumor often do not lead directly to the underlying diagnosis and many symptoms can be misleading. Please review all concerns and information found on this website with your health care provider.