Key takeaways

  • Brain tumors can cause symptoms like headaches, seizures, and personality changes, but these signs can also result from other conditions.
  • While brain cancer is rare, early diagnosis can prevent complications, making it crucial to consult a healthcare professional if symptoms arise.
  • Understanding symptoms based on tumor location can help in identifying affected areas of the brain, aiding in quicker diagnosis and treatment.

A brain tumor is a mass of irregular cells that develops in the brain, beneath your skull. There are many types of brain tumors. Some are cancerous (malignant), and some are noncancerous (benign).

Symptoms of brain tumors vary depending on the type, size, and exact location in the brain. Most of them cause general symptoms or early warning signs, such as headaches, nausea, changes in eyesight, and cognitive changes.

However, it’s important to note that many of these symptoms can also be caused by another health condition, so experiencing some of them doesn’t mean you have a brain tumor.

In fact, brain cancer is relatively rare. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), less than 1 in 100 people in the United States will develop brain cancer.

Keep reading to learn more about the most common symptoms of brain tumors, plus some symptoms that may provide a clue as to the location of the tumor.

Worsening headaches are a common symptom of brain tumors. According to the ACS, 1 in 2 people with brain cancer will experience worsening headaches.

A tumor in the brain can put pressure on sensitive nerves and blood vessels, as well as prevent fluid from flowing freely within the brain. This increased pressure may cause new headaches or a change in your old pattern of headaches.

According to the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA), the following symptoms may indicate worsening headaches associated with a brain tumor:

  • You have severe unexplained vomiting.
  • You have persistent pain, but it’s not like a migraine.
  • It hurts more when you first get out of bed in the morning.
  • It’s accompanied by new neurological symptoms.
  • It worsens when you exercise, cough, or change position.
  • Over-the-counter pain relievers don’t help manage pain.

Remember, worsening or more frequent headaches are not only caused by brain tumors. Other causes, such as migraine, stress, and lack of sleep, may cause headaches.

Tumors and inflammation in the brain can compress surrounding structures, which can interfere with the transmission of electrical signals between nerve cells and lead to a seizure.

A seizure is sometimes the first sign of a brain tumor, but it can happen at any stage. Up to 1 in 2 people with a brain tumor experience at least one seizure, but seizures don’t always come from a brain tumor.

Tumors in the brain can disrupt brain function, affecting your personality and behavior. They can also cause unexplained mood shifts.

Some research suggests that people with a brain tumor may be more likely to experience:

This may manifest in several ways. For instance:

  • You may have been easy to get along with before your brain tumor, but now you get more easily irritated, overwhelmed, or stressed.
  • You used to be a “go-getter,” but you’ve become passive.
  • You’re relaxed and happy one minute, and the next, you’re starting an argument for no apparent reason.

These changes can occur early on from the tumor in the brain, but personality changes can also develop as a result of chemotherapy or other cancer treatments.

Changes in memory, attention, reasoning, and the ability to make judgments, decisions, and manage impulses are early common symptoms of a brain tumor, especially if it affects the frontal or temporal lobes.

For example, you may find that:

  • It’s hard to concentrate, and you’re easily distracted.
  • You’re often confused about simple matters.
  • You have difficulty multitasking and planning.
  • You have short-term memory issues.

This can happen with a brain tumor at any stage. It can also be a side effect of chemotherapy, radiation, or other cancer treatments. These problems can be exacerbated by fatigue.

Mild cognitive problems can happen for a variety of reasons other than a brain tumor. They can be the result of vitamin deficiencies, medications, or mental health conditions, among other things.

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of brain cancer and other cancers. It’s sometimes called cancer-related fatigue (CRF).

CRF is more than feeling tired occasionally. These are some signs that you’re experiencing true fatigue:

  • You’re completely exhausted most or all of the time.
  • You feel weak overall, and your limbs feel heavy.
  • You often find yourself falling asleep in the middle of the day.
  • You’ve lost your ability to focus.
  • You’re irritable and out of sorts.

Fatigue can be due to a cancerous brain tumor, but it’s likely not to be the first sign.

Depression is a common symptom in people with a brain tumor, according to the ABTA. Even caregivers and loved ones can develop depression during the treatment period. This can present as:

  • persistent feelings of sadness
  • loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
  • lack of energy, trouble sleeping, and insomnia
  • thoughts of self-harm or suicide
  • feelings of guilt or worthlessness

Suicide prevention

If you think someone is at immediate risk of harming themselves or someone else:

  • Call 911 or your local emergency number.
  • Stay with the person until help arrives.
  • Remove any guns, knives, medications, or other things that may cause harm.
  • Listen, but don’t judge, argue, threaten, or yell.

If you or someone you know is considering self-harm, help is available. Call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or text “HOME” or “HOLA” to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line.

Nausea and vomiting are common early symptoms of a brain tumor, usually due to increased intracranial pressure. In some cases, they may occur due to a hormonal imbalance if the tumor affects the pituitary gland.

During treatment for a cancerous brain tumor, nausea and vomiting may be side effects from chemotherapy or other treatments.

Of course, you can experience nausea and vomiting for a variety of other reasons, including food poisoning, influenza, or pregnancy.

Vomiting from a brain tumor is usually severe and is often projectile vomiting, which is very different from the vomiting that occurs with pregnancy, food poisoning, or the flu.

Some people who have a brain tumor may experience feelings of general weakness and muscle weakness. This can occur because your body is fighting the tumor, but some cancer treatments can also cause muscle weakness.

Muscle weakness or numbness typically occurs on only one side of the body and may indicate a tumor in certain parts of the brain. But brain tumors may cause sensory symptoms anywhere in the body, depending on their size and location.

Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, may also lead to peripheral neuropathy, which often presents as numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.

Some symptoms can provide insights into where the tumor might be located within the brain:

  • Vision problems: These may arise due to a tumor located in or around the pituitary gland, optic nerve, occipital lobe, or temporal lobe.
  • Speech, reading, and writing difficulties: These difficulties may be caused by a tumor near the temporal lobe or parietal lobe.
  • Hearing problems: These may be caused by a tumor near the cranial nerves or the temporal lobe.
  • Swallowing problems: A tumor may be present near the cerebellum or in or near cranial nerves.
  • Trouble with movement in the hands, arms, feet, and legs, or difficulty walking: This could be caused by a tumor near the cerebellum, frontal lobe, or brainstem.
  • Balance issues: Balance issues may indicate a tumor near the cerebellum, brainstem, or the base of the brain.
  • Facial numbness, weakness, or pain: This may also occur with a tumor involving the brainstem.

It’s important to speak with a healthcare professional if you start to experience symptoms of a brain tumor, as early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce the risk of complications.

In particular, consider speaking with a primary care doctor if you experience headaches that feel different from headaches you’re used to, or if they increase in severity, frequency, and duration.

A primary care doctor can assess your symptoms and your medical history. In some cases, they can refer you to a medical specialist, such as a neurologist, for further examination.

Find a medical specialist in your area today

Your healthcare team may comprise several people who can provide support.

Sometimes, a medical specialist will be required to help diagnose, manage, or treat a healthcare condition.

You can find the following medical specialists in your area today:

Brain tumors, whether benign or malignant, may cause general symptoms like worsening headaches, fatigue, behavioral changes, and cognitive changes.

It’s important to speak with a healthcare professional if you experience a sudden increase in these symptoms. While they may also be caused by a wide range of other health conditions, early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent any possible complications.