Brain cancer can have a wide variety of symptoms including seizures, sleepiness, confusion, and behavioral changes. Not all brain tumors are cancerous, and benign tumors can result in similar symptoms.
Symptoms
Not all brain tumors cause symptoms, and some (such as tumors of the pituitary gland) are often not found unless a CT scan or MRI is done for another reason. The symptoms of brain cancer are numerous and not specific to brain tumors, meaning they can be caused by many other illnesses. The only way to know for sure what is causing the symptoms is to undergo diagnostic testing. Symptoms can be caused by:
- A tumor pressing on or encroaching on other parts of the brain and keeping them from functioning normally.
- Swelling in the brain caused by the tumor or surrounding inflammation.
The symptoms of primary and metastatic brain cancers are similar.
The following symptoms are most common:
- Headache
- Weakness
- Clumsiness
- Difficulty walking
- Seizures
Other nonspecific symptoms and signs include the following:
- Altered mental status - changes in concentration, memory, attention, or alertness
- Nausea, vomiting
- Abnormalities in vision
- Difficulty with speech
- Gradual changes in intellectual capacity or emotional response