Brain Tumour Symptoms & Signs

 

Here is a list of the most common signs and symptoms of a brain tumour in adults. It is important to note that symptoms will vary according to the tumour’s size, type, location and how fast the tumour is growing. Patients will often have more than one symptom at the time of diagnosis.

Common signs and symptoms of a brain tumour in adults:

While brain tumours are fairly rare, it is important to recognise the signs. If your symptoms are limited to changes in vision and/or headaches, get your eyes tested by an optician before seeing your GP. If your symptoms are sudden or severe, you should go to straight to the emergency department of your hospital or call 111.

Before seeing your GP, it helps to make a list of all the symptoms you have been experiencing: when they started; how often they occur; and if they’ve changed or got worse. You can ask your doctor if your symptoms could be caused by a brain tumour, and you may wish to show them this section of our website.

Headaches

Headaches are common in patients with brain tumours. They can be caused by the tumour itself or by a build up of pressure in the skull (raised intracranial pressure) due to swelling. When a tumour grows inside the fixed space of the skull, it can press on brain tissue or block the fluid within the brain. Headaches that are caused by pressure in the skull are typically worst in the morning (or during the night) and disappear soon after the person gets up. They are often mild at first, but over days to weeks become gradually more severe, frequent and last longer each time, and eventually become almost constant. They are worsened by bending over and can cause nausea and vomiting. 

Sometimes headaches are the main reason for doctors to order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to check whether the person could have a brain tumour. An MRI would normally be ordered if a person:

  • has had a history of headaches, but then the headaches change (for example, the type of headache changes, the pattern changes, or the person also develops symptoms and signs of abnormal brain function)

  • suddenly begins to experience headaches, particularly if other signs and symptoms are also present.

It is unusual for headache to be the first and only symptom of a brain tumour. Usually other symptoms have developed by the time the brain tumour is diagnosed.

Headaches caused by brain tumours are usually moderately severe or severe, but are mild in 10-20% of people. Some painkillers such as paracetamol are effective in providing some relief, but for headaches caused by swelling in the skull the corticosteroid dexamethasone is the most effective treatment because it reduces swelling and pressure. The dose of dexamethasone is increased until the pain is controlled, but kept as low as possible to minimise side effects.

Seizures

Seizures are fits or convulsions caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. About one third of all patients diagnosed with a brain tumour will experience seizures at some time. Almost half of these will be focal seizures (seizures that affect one part of the body while the person remains conscious) and half will have generalised seizures (seizures that cause a person to lose consciousness).

Common features of seizures include:

  • sudden onset

  • loss of consciousness (generalised seizure) followed by twitching and relaxing muscle contractions

  • loss of control of bodily functions

  • short periods of no breathing (30 seconds); skin may turn dusky blue

  • short duration (2-3 minutes)

  • After the seizure passes, the person may feel sleepy or confused, have a headache or sore muscles, or experience brief weakness or numbness.

  • If a person with a brain tumour does not have seizures at the time of diagnosis, there is only a small chance that they will develop seizures later on.

Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick) are common brain tumour symptoms but it’s rare for them to be the only symptoms of a brain tumour. Feeling or being sick is also common in healthy people and can be due to many everyday causes, such as:

  • food poisoning

  • drinking too much alcohol

  • dehydration

  • cold or flu

  • pregnancy.

However, brain tumours can make you feel sick either due to their location in the brain or due to the build up of pressure in your skull. Nausea or vomiting associated with a brain tumour may:

  • be worse in the mornings and get better during the day as the tumour may cause a build-up of pressure overnight which begins to drain during the day when you are in an upright position

  • get worse if you suddenly change position, e.g. from sitting or lying to standing

  • continue for more than a week, on most days, with no sign of getting better

  • be accompanied by hiccups

  • be accompanied by other symptoms such as a headache or a change in vision.

  • Your doctor may prescribe anti-sickness tablets (also called anti-emetics) to help relieve your nausea and vomiting. 

Fatigue

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of a brain tumour. It can affect you in a number of different ways, including:

  • a profound lack of energy

  • feeling suddenly tired

  • weakness

  • a heavy feeling in your limbs

  • difficulty concentrating

  • irritability

  • sleeplessness or changes in sleep patterns

  • Tumour-related fatigue can have a huge impact on quality and way of life because, unlike everyday tiredness, it isn't relieved by resting or sleep.

  • Cognitive function (problems with thinking)

  • Changes in cognitive function – the brain’s ability to reason, remember and learn – are common among brain tumour patients. In some cases, these changes are so subtle that the patients themselves are more aware of their difficulties than are those around them. In others, it is the carer rather than the patient who first recognises that something is different.

  • Cognitive changes commonly fall into a few broad categories:

  • Language and communication: difficulty speaking, reading or writing

  • Attention and concentration: confusion, easy distraction, difficulty multi-tasking and planning

  • Ability to reason: decreased reasoning ability, impaired judgment, inability to connect cause and effect

  • Also, the treatments you undergo for your brain tumour, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, can also cause problems with cognitive function. The psychological and emotional effects of brain tumours are important to consider as well.

  • Changes in cognitive function can be improved with therapy, including: cognitive rehabilitation therapy; psychotherapy; and medication. As a first step, it’s a good idea to undergo a complete neuropsychological evaluation to assess your current behavioural, cognitive and emotional status and help identify specific issues requiring treatment.

Memory Loss

Brain tumours can affect memory. Changes in a patient’s short-term memory are often more noticeable than effects on long-term memory. Treatment like surgery or radiation may also cause memory problems. Fatigue, which is common in patients with brain tumors, can make these issues even worse.

The more active your brain is, the more connections you’ll build within it. Any activity you enjoy that stimulates the brain has the potential to be helpful - reading, writing, and doing crossword puzzles are good examples.

Here are some tips to help improve your memory in general:

  • get plenty of sleep.

  • eat regular, well balanced meals and drink plenty of liquids.

  • adjust your surroundings to enhance your attention span - some people perform better in a quiet, distraction-free environment, while others need more stimulation.

Personality and behaviour changes

  • Behaviour changes often depend on the location of the tumour in the brain. Tumours in the frontal, temporal and parietal lobes can affect behaviour. 

  • Frontal lobe: movement, intelligence, reasoning, behaviour, memory, personality, planning, decision making, judgment, initiative, inhibition, mood.

  • Temporal lobe: speech, behaviour, memory, hearing, vision, emotions.

  • Parietal lobe: intelligence, reasoning, telling right from left, language, sensation, reading.

Depression

Clinical or major depression is not the same as feeling sad or having a case of “the blues”. Major depression is persistent (more than two weeks at a time) and can interfere with every aspect of daily life. Symptoms may include prolonged feelings of sadness that is often disproportionate to the situation, loss of interest or pleasure in things that used to be enjoyable, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, insomnia, decreased energy, and even thoughts of suicide.

Depression is common among people with brain tumours, but it is not always diagnosed by doctors treating the tumour. This may be partly because doctors assume that it is normal for people to experience these types of feelings when they are faced with a difficult situation. It is important to remember that depression is not a sign of weakness, but rather a common occurrence during the treatment for brain tumours. It is critical that you are able to identify the signs and symptoms associated with depression and get help. The Cancer Society offer free counselling services to help you cope in this situation. To find a counsellor talk to your local Cancer Society office or ring the Cancer Society Information Helpline on 0800 CANCER (226 237).

Mood Swings

Mood swings are sudden, unexplained changes in mood. You can be content one moment, and very angry the next without any reason why. A brain tumour can cause mood swings by disrupting brain function. It is important to tell your doctor if you or your carer notice mood swings. In some cases, medication can be prescribed to help prevent or lessen mood swing symptoms.

Vision Problems

Brain tumours can cause vision problems such as: blurred or double vision, abnormal eye movements or restricted field of view. You may find that it has become difficult to watch TV or read, or you may find that you have lost part of your field of vision. This can lead to you bumping into objects, or you could feel as if objects or people are suddenly appearing on one side of you. You may get a fleeting loss of vision lasting a few seconds ('greying out') related to changes in your posture, such as suddenly standing up.

Weakness, loss of Sensation or numbness

These symptoms are examples of focal (localised) symptoms that affect a particular area of the brain. They can often help identify the location of the tumour. Examples include:

  • hearing problems (such as ringing or buzzing sounds or hearing loss)

  • decreased muscle control

  • lack of coordination (feeling clumsy)

  • decreased sensation (feeling numb or tingly)

  • weakness or paralysis

  • difficulty walking or speaking

  • balance problems

  • double vision

  • changes in sense, including smell

  • Focal symptoms are caused by the tumour itself and its specific location in the brain.

How do I know if my symptoms are caused by a brain tumour?

It is important to note that brain tumours are relatively rare and that the symptoms described in this section are also found in more common diseases and illnesses. However, if no definite alternative cause for your symptoms can be found and if you suspect something is really wrong, and if you’re experiencing a combination of these symptoms together or in succession, then insist that you or your family member gets referred to a neurologist (a brain and nervous system specialist) and an MRI scan. Early detection and treatment may avoid acute complications later on.

Sources

Adult Gliomas: a guide for patients, their families and carers (Cancer Council Australia)

American Brain Tumor Association

Brainstrust

The Brain Tumour Charity