The symptoms of a brain tumor can vary depending on the area of the brain in which it is located, the size of the tumor, and how it is growing. However, there are certain general signs to be aware of. Here is a brief overview.
We define a brain tumor as a mass or growth of abnormal cells in brain tissue. A brain tumor can be a benign tumor (non-cancerous), or malignant. There can be symptoms in both cases, whether benign or malignant, since they can interfere with the proper functioning of the nervous system.
Also, there are primary brain tumors and secondary brain tumors. A primary brain tumor is one that begins in the brain, and secondary, or metastatic, brain tumors are those that originate in other parts of the body (breast, lung, kidney, colon, etc.) and spread to the brain.
As we said at the beginning, the location of the tumor in the brain and its growth rate are factors that can determine the type of symptoms the patient has. There are, however, some general signs and symptoms that can be related to brain tumors:
- Sudden, frequent and severe headaches.
- Loss of vision, blurred or double vision.
- Loss of hearing.
- Frequent nausea or vomiting that is not related to digestive problems.
- Seizures.
- Difficulty maintaining balance.
- Loss of mobility and/or feeling in the extremities.
- Difficulty speaking.
- Increased fatigue or tiredness
- Changes in personality or behavior.
- State of confusion.
As you can see, there are a great variety of symptoms, quite different from each other, and that can be noted in different parts of the body. This is because the brain and spinal cord together form the central nervous system, which is in charge of most of the functions of our body: speech, vision, mobility, etc.
If one or more of these symptoms appear suddenly or persistently, and are not related to other known health problems, it is best to see a specialist for a thorough evaluation and diagnosis.
To make an informed diagnosis, in addition to gathering information on the patient’s symptoms, the specialist will carry out a neurological examination and imaging tests such as a magnetic resonance (MRI). Once the diagnosis is made, if the tumor is accessible for surgical resection (removal), this will be done and a sample of the tumor will used for analysis later in the laboratory.
Tumor resection: when is it used, how is it done, and recovery
However, in some cases it may be necessary to do a brain biopsy first. Specifically, if the tumor is located in a delicate part of the brain affecting vital functions, if the diagnosis is not very clear, or if the area involved is very deep and not accessible for surgery.
A brain biopsy is used to find out what type of tumor it is in order to determine the most appropriate treatment, whether surgical or not. If the tumor is made up of cancer cells, it may require radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or targeted drug therapy to control the disease.
We hope you find this information from Instituto Clavel useful. Of course, if you need personal attention, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to help.
Categories: Brain treatments, Brain pathologies, Instituto Clavel