What You Need to Know about Brain Tumors

The symptoms of brain tumors depend mainly on their size and their location in the brain. Symptoms are caused by damage to vital tissue and by pressure on the brain as the tumor grows within the limited space in the skull. They also may be caused by swelling and a buildup of fluid around the tumor, a condition called edema. Symptoms may also be due to hydrocephalus, which occurs when the tumor blocks the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and causes it to build up in the ventricles. If a brain tumor grows very slowly, its symptoms may appear so gradually that they are overlooked for a long time.

The most frequent symptoms of brain tumors include:

• Headaches that tend to be worse in the morning and ease during the day,
• Seizures (convulsions),
• Nausea or vomiting,
• Weakness or loss of feeling in the arms or legs,
• Stumbling or lack of coordination in walking (ataxic gait),
• Abnormal eye movements or changes in vision,
• Drowsiness,
• Changes in personality or memory, and
• Changes in speech.

These symptoms may be caused by brain tumors or by other problems. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

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