Brain tumor signs & symptoms

Simply seeing or hearing the words brain tumor can be frightening. But thankfully, not all brain tumors are cancerous, harmful or even require treatment. Know the symptoms, take them seriously and promptly share your concerns with your health care provider. Brain tumor treatments are available with and without surgery.

There are more than 120 different types of brain tumors, lesions and cysts, and they differ by where they occur and what kinds of cells they're made of. Careful study has shown that some types of brain tumors are almost always benign (noncancerous), and others are almost always malignant (cancerous). Others may have a 50% chance of being cancerous.

The main types of brain tumors include primary brain tumors such as gliomas and meningiomas and secondary (metastatic) brain tumors, which are always cancerous.

There are two brain cancer types: brain cancer that begins in another part of the body and then travels to the brain and brain cancer that forms within the brain itself.

Common brain tumor symptoms

Signs of a brain tumor vary depending on the type of the tumor, how fast it’s growing and where it’s located (either inside or around the brain).

The following is a list of the most common signs of a brain tumor, but they could also be symptoms of many other conditions, including stroke. The first step is to get a diagnosis from your doctor. Once you have a diagnosis that explains your symptoms, treatment can begin. See a doctor promptly or call 911 if you’re experiencing:

• Confusion or changes in behavior or personality
• Difficulty with balance
• Feeling very tired
• Problems with your eyesight such as blurred vision, double vision or loss of peripheral (side) vision
• Sudden or severe headaches that become more frequent and more severe
• Seizures
• Unexplained nausea or vomiting
• Weakness, tingling or numbness in the arms or legs (often on one side)

Are you at risk for stroke?

Most strokes are preventable, and many of the risk factors are controllable. Our stroke risk quiz will help you estimate your chances of experiencing one, find ways to minimize your risk and give you an idea of what to do next based on your results.

Primary brain tumors

Primary brain tumors arise from the brain, spinal cord and associated tissues. They can be benign or cancerous. Two of the most common types of primary brain tumors are gliomas and meningiomas.

Glioma

A glioma is a primary brain tumor that forms when glial cells grow out of control. Normally, these cells support nerves and help your central nervous system work. Gliomas usually grow in the brain but can also form in the spinal cord. About 25%-30% of brain tumors are gliomas.

Gliomas may become cancerous, but some grow very slowly. They don’t usually spread outside the brain or spine, but are life-threatening because they can:

• Be hard to reach and treat with surgery
• Grow into other areas of the brain

Types of gliomas

There are three main categories of gliomas, grouped by the type of glial cell they start in. Gliomas include:

• Astrocytomas: These brain tumors start in cells called astrocytes. Grade 1 astrocytomas are the most common glioma found in children. Glioblastoma is a Grade 4 astrocytoma that grows very quickly and is the most common cancerous brain tumor in adults.
• Ependymomas: Ependymomas usually form in the ventricles of the brain or spinal cord. They may spread through cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord), but don’t spread outside the brain or spine. They’re more common in children than adults.
• Oligodendrogliomas: These gliomas tend to grow more slowly but can become more aggressive over time. Like ependymomas, they rarely spread outside the brain or spinal cord. They’re more common in adults than children.

Risk factors for glioma

Anyone can develop a glioma, but the following factors may increase your risk:

• Age: Gliomas are most common in adults over 65 and children under 12.
• Ethnicity: White people may be more likely to develop gliomas than other people.
• Family history: Some inherited genetic disorders may increase your risk of gliomas.
• Gender: Gliomas are slightly more common in men than women.
• Radiation or toxin exposure: Repeated or prolonged exposure to radiation or certain chemicals may increase your risk.

Meningiomas

Meningiomas are primary brain tumors usually found on the outside surface of the brain. They’re usually benign and develop from cells that line the brain coverings (meninges). They’re usually removed with surgery, but more aggressive ones require radiation therapy.

Larger meningiomas can block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in hydrocephalus (water on the brain), which can affect gait and memory. These tumors in other parts of the brain can affect your sense of smell, vision, hearing or even the function of your pituitary gland.

When a doctor diagnoses meningioma, you'll get further tests to find out how the tumor is likely to behave. Based on these data, a neurosurgeon will recommend removing the tumor or just watching it to see if it grows. Most meningiomas don’t spread, but over time they can get large.

Secondary (metastatic) brain tumors

Metastatic brain tumors are malignant tumors that originate as cancer elsewhere in the body. They spread through the bloodstream or lymph system and start to grow inside the brain.

Metastatic brain tumors are about four times more common than primary brain tumors. They can grow rapidly, crowding or invading nearby brain tissue. Common cancers that can spread to the brain are:

• Breast cancer
• Colon (colorectal) cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Lung cancer
• Skin cancer (melanoma)

Brain tumor vs. brain cancer

All brain cancers are tumors, but not all brain tumors are cancerous. Noncancerous brain tumors are called benign brain tumors.

Benign brain tumors

These tumors typically grow slowly, have distinct borders and rarely spread. Benign brain tumors can still be dangerous. They can damage and compress parts of the brain, causing severe dysfunction. Benign brain tumors located in a vital area of the brain can be life-threatening. Very rarely, a benign brain tumor can become cancerous. Examples of typically benign brain tumors include meningioma, vestibular schwannoma and pituitary tumors.

Brain cancer

Brain cancer involves tumors that grow rapidly and invade surrounding healthy brain structures. Brain cancer can be life-threatening due to the changes it causes to the vital structures of the brain. Some examples of brain cancers that originate in or near the brain include olfactory neuroblastoma, chondrosarcoma and medulloblastoma. Other cancerous brain tumors originate from cancer cells that travel to the brain from other parts of the body.

Diagnosis and treatment for benign brain tumors and brain cancer

Diagnosis usually begins with a visit with your primary care doctor. They’ll give you a physical exam, ask you about your symptoms and order imaging and other tests. Some brain tumors can be diagnosed with an MRI or CT scan and require no further testing because the image clearly defines the type of tumor. In most other cases when a mass appears on an imaging test, the doctor will need to go inside the brain to get a tissue sample for further testing. Your doctor will recommend the best brain cancer and brain tumor treatments for you based on your exam and test results including brain metastases and brain tumor treatment without surgery.