Identifying the Symptoms of a Brain Tumor

The brain is like a central office that controls much of our emotional and physical functions. Having a tumor in it will therefore definitely mean that some of these functions will be impaired. This will result in a variety of changes in a person. A person’s symptoms will depend on where the tumor is located, its size and the speed of its growth.

Common Symptoms

Not every patient will have the exact same symptoms. It is even quite possible for some to have some brain tumor symptoms because of a medical condition other than a brain tumor. In any case, depending on a person’s condition, the symptoms can be a combination of some of the following:

• It is obvious that many brain tumor patients initially experience some form of persistent headache. This type of pain is usually at its worst in the morning or during particular positions such as bending over. It may be accompanied by other equally persistent symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, seizures and tiredness.

• The specific location of the brain tumor may affect hearing and vision in some people. Some patients at first may think of going to an eye specialist. A specialist however would normally refer a patient to other experts when it is clear that the eye problems may not be caused by inherent eye defects.

• Seizures happen when a tumor disrupts the normal flow of signals in the brain. The intensity of seizures may vary from mere muscle or limb twitching to extreme shaking accompanied by numbness and speech difficulties. Other conditions may cause seizures but one should be concerned if he has never had a seizure before and if other symptoms are present.

• Brain tumors may cause changes in a person’s personality, temperament, behavior and mental capacity. All of a sudden, a patient may become uncharacteristically impatient, forgetful, absent minded and confused.

• Different muscles in the body may be affected by a growing tumor. A person may begin to show an uneven gait or facial asymmetry. The muscles of the limbs may also feel weak.

In some people, a combination of the above-mentioned symptoms may be a sign of increased intracranial pressure (IICP). This condition may result from the cerebrospinal fluid being blocked which leads to hydrocephalus. IICP may also stem from edema in which fluid fills brain tissue near the tumor. Of course, IICP is also a direct result of a tumor increasing in size within the limited space of the skull.

Tumor Locations and Symptoms

A specific combination of symptoms may offer clues about the location of the tumor. This is because specific areas in the brain have been known to be responsible for certain functions. A tumor in the brain stem for example may lead to muscle weakness on one side, vomiting, imbalanced gait, speech difficulties, swallowing problems, eye movement problems and drowsiness. A tumor in the frontal lobe may cause seizures, memory loss, paralysis of one side of the body and an uncoordinated gait.

It is not however, a good idea to perform your own diagnosis and make conclusions. If you notice anything different, it is best to consult your doctor immediately so your condition can be properly assessed.