Brain metastases (cancerous tumors)

Brain metastases symptoms

The size of the tumor, how fast it’s growing, and its location inside the brain all affect the brain metastases symptoms you may experience. Symptoms of brain metastases may include:

• Sudden or severe headache
• Seizures
• Weakness, tingling or numbness in the arms or legs (often on one side)
• Confusion, or changes in behavior
• Changes in vision
• Changes in balance
• Hearing loss
• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Difficulty using fine motor skills

Diagnosis

First, your doctor will ask about your potential brain metastases symptoms. They may recommend an MRI or a CT scan.

Treatment options

Brain metastases treatment will depend on the tumor’s primary location, how quickly it’s growing, and your symptoms and overall health. These types of tumors can often be treated and controlled, so you can continue to live a full life. Treatment options include:

• The Expanded Endonasal Approach (EEA), a minimally invasive procedure in which the tumor is removed through the nasal passages, resulting in no incisions, a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery than conventional surgery.
• CyberKnife^® stereotactic radiosurgery, a noninvasive, robotic system that can deliver high radiation doses with pinpoint accuracy.