The signs and symptoms of a brain tumor depend on its size, location and rate of growth. A brain tumor — primary or secondary — can cause a variety of symptoms because it can directly press on or invade brain tissue, damaging or destroying areas responsible for sight, movement, balance, speech, hearing, memory or behavior. Pressure from a brain tumor also can cause surrounding brain tissue to swell (edema), causing a further increase in pressure and symptoms.

Signs and symptoms can include the following:

New and aggressive headache — especially upon waking.
Unexplained nausea or vomiting
Vision problems such as blurred vision, double vision or loss of peripheral vision
Gradual loss of sensation or movement in an arm or leg
Loss of balance
Speech difficulties
Drowsiness
Confusion in everyday matters
Personality or behavioral changes
Seizures (in someone who doesn't have a history of seizures)
Hearing problems

Although brain tumors can occur at any age, they're most common in two age groups — children ages 3 to 12 and adults ages 40 to 70. Most brain tumors in children are primary.

Brain tumor signs and symptoms initially may be vague and come-and-go, making them difficult to diagnose. Other diseases can cause similar signs and symptoms.

Most headaches don't signal a serious medical condition. But headaches that progressively worsen or that are worse in the morning than in the afternoon, accompanied by nausea or vomiting or by blurred or double vision should be considered more worrisome and brought to the attention of your doctor.

Brain tumors are relatively rare. But the prognosis is often better the earlier they're diagnosed and treated.


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