As patients, we play a vital role in our own health care. Recognizing symptoms early and discussing them with your physician can make a significant difference in diagnosis and treatment, especially for brain tumors. With over 100 types of brain tumors — ranging from benign to malignant — early detection is critical, as even noncancerous tumors can cause serious harm if untreated.
Key warning signs of a brain tumor
Brain tumor symptoms vary depending on the tumor’s type, size and location. Being aware of these signs can help you seek timely medical evaluation. Here are five common symptoms that warrant attention:
- Persistent or worsening headaches
Frequent headaches, especially those worse in the morning, at night or during physical activity, may signal a brain tumor. These headaches may be accompanied by nausea or vomiting, which can indicate increased pressure in the brain — a potentially dangerous condition requiring immediate attention. - Speech or language difficulties
Trouble speaking, forming words or understanding language can be a sign of a brain tumor affecting areas responsible for communication. This may include slurred speech, difficulty finding words or problems following conversations. - Weakness or numbness
Unexplained weakness, numbness or tingling in the arms, legs or face — often on one side of the body — can indicate a tumor affecting motor or sensory areas of the brain. - Balance and coordination problems
Difficulty walking, maintaining balance or performing coordinated movements (e.g., reaching or grasping objects) may suggest a tumor in areas like the cerebellum, which controls balance and coordination. - Vision or hearing changes
Visual disturbances, such as blurred vision, double vision, loss of peripheral vision or difficulty looking upward, may occur. Some patients experience hearing loss, ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or hoarseness due to tumors affecting cranial nerves.
Additional symptoms to watch for
Other concerning signs include cognitive or behavioral changes, such as memory loss, confusion, personality changes or difficulty concentrating. Seizures, particularly in adults with no prior history, are also a red flag. If you experience any of these symptoms — especially if they are new, persistent or worsening — seek medical attention promptly.
Understanding brain tumor types
A brain tumor diagnosis does not always mean cancer. Tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous), but both can damage healthy brain tissue or function and require treatment.
- Benign brain tumors: These include meningiomas (arising from the brain’s protective layers), pituitary tumors (affecting hormone regulation and/or vision) and acoustic neuromas (also called vestibular schwannomas, which impact hearing and balance). While noncancerous, these tumors may cause pressure on the brain and may involve nerves carrying sensory information to the brain and nerve impulses to muscles in the head and neck. Benign tumors may require surgery and/or radiation if they press on critical brain structures.
- Primary brain tumors: These originate in the brain, often in cells that support neurons (e.g., glial cells). Examples include gliomas, which can be benign or malignant. Treatment varies from observation for slow-growing tumors to surgery, radiation or chemotherapy for aggressive ones.
- Metastatic brain tumors: Also called secondary brain tumors, these spread to the brain from cancers in other organs, such as the lungs, breast or skin (e.g., melanoma). Metastatic tumors are more common than primary ones, affecting 10 to 30 percent of adults with cancer, with lung, breast and melanoma cancers accounting for 70 to 80 percent of cases.
Treatment options
There are better treatments for brain tumors now than ever before. Advancements in medical technology have improved brain tumor treatment outcomes significantly. Treatment plans are tailored to the tumor’s type, size, location and the patient’s overall health, with goals to cure the tumor, alleviate symptoms and enhance quality of life.
- Surgery: Often, the first step is to remove as much of the tumor as safely possible. The outcomes of surgery are more widely variable than the results of radiation and medical therapies. It is important to select a surgeon who specializes in brain tumor surgery and treatment and has a proven track record.
- Radiation therapy: Used to target remaining tumor cells or as a primary treatment for inoperable tumors. Treatment may be done in a single highly focused dose, optimally with Gamma Knife treatment. The Gamma Knife unit at Northside is the busiest in the state of Georgia. Similar to surgery, it is best to work with a radiation oncologist who specializes in or has extensive experience in brain tumor treatment.
- Medical oncology: Treatments include chemotherapy and targeted drugs that specifically target tumor cells only. We are currently studying how immunotherapy drugs may be used in treatment. Again, a brain tumor specialist or a highly experienced oncologist in brain tumor therapy is important.
- Observation: For slow-growing, asymptomatic benign tumors, regular monitoring with imaging may be sufficient.
As a neurosurgeon, I collaborate with a multidisciplinary team weekly — including neuro-oncologists, neuroradiologists, pathologists and radiation oncologists — to create individualized treatment plans. We review each case thoroughly to develop a thoughtful, individualized treatment plan for each patient.
Take action early
Don’t hesitate to discuss unusual or persistent symptoms with your health care provider and loved ones. Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve outcomes and quality of life. If you or someone you know experiences any of the symptoms above, contact a medical professional for a thorough evaluation, which may include imaging like MRI or CT scans.
Learn more about the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute Brain Tumor Program.
