The Most Common Signs of Brain Tumors

Roughly 84,000 Americans were diagnosed with a primary brain tumor in 2021, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. A primary brain tumor is a growth of abnormal cells that originates in the brain. Secondary brain tumors, also called metastatic brain tumors, are cancerous brain tumors that originated in a different part of the body, then migrated or moved to the brain. Metastatic brain tumors occur four times more often than primary brain tumors.

There are over 120 distinct types of brain tumors, many of which are benign in nature, meaning they are non-cancerous. While benign brain tumors are not cancerous, they can still be very dangerous, as the skull which houses the brain is a fixed, enclosed space and tumors, cancerous or non-cancerous, can cause damage by compressing, or squeezing and crowding, healthy brain tissue. Malignant brain tumors are a concentration of cancerous cells that typically grow rapidly and invade surrounding healthy tissue.

The symptoms of a brain tumor vary depending on the location of the tumor within the brain and how fast it is growing. Benign brain tumors tend to be slow growing. while malignant, cancerous brain tumors tend to progress more quickly. Just under 30% of all brain tumors diagnosed are malignant, meaning 70% of brain tumors are benign. 

Each brain tumor will present somewhat differently, depending on its location within the brain and how it impacts the brain functions within that location, but there are several recognized or common symptoms of brain tumors that are good to know.

10 Common Brain Tumor Symptoms

• Headaches, often in the morning

• Seizures or convulsions

• Acute changes in vision or hearing

• Loss of balance or an unsteady gait when walking

• Dizziness

• Weakness, numbness, or paralysis, especially impacting only one side of the body

• Confusion or disorientation

• Nausea or vomiting, often in the morning

• Difficulty with speaking or communication

• Abrupt changes in personality or behavior

Once symptoms have been detected and medical help has been sought, brain tumors are diagnosed with neurological exams, brain scans (generally CAT scans or MRIs), and, if possible, based on location and accessibility within the brain, tissue samples taken from a biopsy.

Dr. Srilata Gundala, hematologist/oncologist and founder of Hope & Healing Care Services in Hinsdale, Illinois knows from her practice that many people fear brain tumors, “It is a common worry I know of that patients can fear brain tumors from passing headaches or even interpret normal signs of aging as being a cancerous tumor growing in their brain. Knowing the symptoms to watch out for, when they are occurring, and other things that could contribute to those symptoms is important. Always speak to your doctor if the symptoms concern you and continue without improvement. There continue to be advancements in the care and treatment of brain tumors that are hopeful.”

Brain tumors are a very serious health condition, but not all of them have a poor prognosis. The majority of patients diagnosed with a brain tumor will learn that it is a benign, non-cancerous growth, and something that is managed using regular scans and more aggressive treatment, as needed, or even if needed. That is a significant improvement from generations past that may have equated brain tumors with a worse outcome. Significant progress continues to be made.

Written By: Sheila Quirke, MSW

Reviewed By: Srilata Gundala, MD