Head tumor: general and specific symptoms

Symptoms of brain tumor depend on the size, speed of growth and location of the tumor, which, although it can appear at any age, usually appears after 60 years of age.

Usually benign brain tumors, such as meningioma or glioma, grow slowly and do not always need treatment, as the risk of surgery is often greater than the damage of the tumor. See what are the main types of brain tumor.

However, when tumors are malignant, cancer cells proliferate rapidly and can reach several regions of the brain. These cancer cells can also metastasize from other cancer outbreaks, such as lung or breast cancer. Sometimes these symptoms are similar to an aneurysm, but the doctor can differentiate them through imaging tests at the hospital. See the signs of cerebral aneurysm.

1. General symptoms for all types

Brain tumor, regardless of the affected brain region, causes general symptoms such as:

• Headache; Blurred and blurred vision; Seizures; Nausea and vomiting without apparent cause; Lack of balance; Changes in mood and behavior; Numbness, tingling or weakness in a part of the body; Excessive drowsiness.

However, it is important to remember that these symptoms can also be caused by other diseases, such as migraine, multiple sclerosis and stroke, and it is necessary to see a general practitioner or neurologist for tests to be carried out, so that the cause of the symptoms can be identified. symptoms.

2. Specific symptoms of the affected region

In addition to the general symptoms, the brain tumor can cause specific symptoms that vary according to the location and size of the tumor:

Brain region affected	Main symptoms
Frontal lobe	Difficulty moving legs or arms; Tingling sensation in the body; Difficulty in attention; Loss of ability to smell; Frequent change in mood and sometimes personality.
Parietal lobe	Changes in touch, with difficulty feeling hot or cold; Difficulty in naming an object; Difficulty in reading or writing; Difficulty in distinguishing the right side from the left side; Loss of motor coordination.
Temporal lobe	Gradual hearing loss; Difficulty understanding what you are told; Memory problems; Decreased sexual interest; Difficulty recognizing familiar faces; Aggressive behavior.
Occipital lobe	Changes in vision, such as blurred vision or black spots in vision, for example; Difficulty identifying colors; Difficulty reading or writing.
Cerebellum	Difficulty maintaining balance; Loss of ability to coordinate precise movements, such as pressing a button; Difficulty walking; Tremors; Nausea.

The intensity of the symptoms varies according to the size of the tumor and characteristics of the cells, whether malignant or benign. In addition, factors such as age and general health can influence the severity and evolution of symptoms.

How to confirm the diagnosis

In the presence of one or more symptoms, the neurologist should be consulted so that more specific diagnostic tests can be performed, such as magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography, because the sooner the tumor is identified, the easier and more efficient the treatment will be.

In addition, if a lump is detected in the examination, but it is not clear whether it is malignant or benign, the doctor may order a biopsy of the tumor so that the cells can be evaluated in the laboratory, thus being able to determine the best form of treatment. Find out how the treatment for brain tumor is done.

Who is most at risk for brain tumor

In most cases, the brain tumor appears without a specific cause, however, there are some factors that seem to increase the incidence of this type of tumor, such as:

• Being frequently exposed to radiation, as in radiation therapies to fight cancer; Having a family history of brain tumor, or having a family syndrome that increases the risk of tumors.

In addition, having cancer elsewhere in the body can also lead to the development of a brain tumor, as metastases can spread and cause cancer cells to develop in the brain.