What Are the Symptoms of Brain Cancer?

The symptoms of brain cancer include headaches, vision problems, and mental disorders. The types of symptoms that appear depend on the location of the brain tumor. If the malignancy is in the frontal lobe, it can result in memory loss and a change in personality. Speech and mobility problems are more common if the malignancy is in the parietal lobe. The severity of the brain cancer symptoms depends on the size of the brain tumor and can vary in each individual.

There are two types of brain cancers, known as primary and metastatic. Primary brain cancer is when the cancer develops within the brain cells, and metastatic brain cancer is when the cancer has spread to the brain from another organ via the bloodstream. Malignant tumors grow at a rapid pace and are more severe than benign tumors, which develop at a much slower rate. Nonetheless, both tumors can cause severe symptoms of brain cancer and should not be ignored, especially if they are persistent.

In many cases, the symptoms of brain cancer occur once the intracranial pressure, which is the pressure inside the skull, begins to increase. The pressure is often the result of the growing tumor as it presses against the surrounding tissues, causing fluids to build up. As a result, individuals commonly experience headaches, vomiting, and drowsiness, which are often worse in the morning and gradually decline as the day goes on. The increased intracranial pressure can also cause certain areas of the brain to herniate, which can potentially result in a stroke or brain damage.

The senses, such as smell, hearing, and vision can also be affected by a brain tumor. In some cases, it results in double or tunnel vision or a in loss of vision. Involuntary muscle movements, numbness, and seizures are common symptoms of brain cancer and can hinder the individual's ability to walk and maintain balance. Other symptoms of brain cancer include hemiparesis and hemiplegia. Hemiparesis is when the body becomes weak one side, and hemiplegia, a more serious condition, is when one side of the body becomes paralyzed.

The mind is often affected by a brain tumor as well, resulting in a poor memory or the inability to recognize people or things. The individual might also lose focus and become confused and unaware of his or her surroundings. These are some of the most devastating symptoms as they can reduce the quality of the relationships with loved ones. The symptoms of brain cancer are similar to many other health conditions and, therefore, should be brought to the attention of a health care professional as soon as possible in order to determine the cause.