Symptoms of Brain Cancer

The brain is composed of nerve cells that control all activities in the body, including breathing, activity like moving muscles to walk, and your senses like sight and our memory, emotions, thinking and personality. These activities are important for life; hence, cancer affecting this organ will cause a disruption of all these functions.   

Interestingly, a tumour in the brain isn’t like tumours in other parts of the body. Growth is limited because the skull is rigid unlike other body cavities. This means that a growing tumour places a pressure effect on the brain, squeezing vital parts of the brain and leading to serious health problems. The focus of this article is to elucidate the possible symptoms of brain cancers and help individuals know when to see a doctor.  

1. A new onset or change in pattern of headaches: Every individual experiences headaches at one point or the other. But a new onset headache or a deviation from normal pattern of headaches can be a pointer to brain cancer.   
2. Headaches in the morning: Morning headaches are usually due to changes in pressure when lying down and standing up. This follows redistribution of brain fluid and the pressure from the growing tumour.  
3. Headaches that gradually become more frequent and severe are also pointers to a brain tumour.   
4. Nausea and vomiting for no reason:   
5. Changes in speech, vision, or hearing: This is due to effect of the brain tumour on the parts of the brain controlling speech, vision or hearing.   
6. Problems balancing or walking: The parts of the brain responsible for balance and working are affected also resulting in unsteady gaits and even falls.   
7. Changes in mood, personality, or ability to concentrate are also pointers to a brain tumour.  
8. Problems with memory: Easy forgetfulness, trouble recalling recent or long time events, etc. are common problems in brain tumours and are noticeable because of the affectation of day to day activities due to memory problem.   

1. Muscle jerking or twitching (seizures or convulsions): In severe cases, abnormal muscle movements caused by abnormal brain discharges (seizures) are present. This, however, is often a late symptom of brain cancer.   
2. Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs: This is usually ignored in most cases with other things given as the explanation for this symptom.  
3. Gradual loss of sensation or movement in an arm or a leg: This is alarming and results in presentation at a health facility. It is a late sign of brain tumour  

While these symptoms can occur in a lot of other diseases, it’s important that such symptoms should be reported to a doctor, especially if they are prolonged, to ensure that it is properly investigated to exclude the possibility of a brain tumour.   

We shall discuss the various treatments for brain cancer in subsequent articles.