Brain tumors come in different shapes and sizes just like their symptoms. The key, however is the tumor’s location – different location means different symptoms. If it’s present in the part of your brain that controls arm movement and eyesight, the symptoms might come in the form of arm numbness or blurry vision. As every cell in the body may form a tumor and the brain controls information from every part of the body, there’s an unlimited set of symptoms. However, the following symptoms are more common than others:
Numbness
Losing a feeling in a part of your body is definitely a cause for concern. If a tumor forms in your brain stem, you can experience loss of feeling and clumsy movement. As we mentioned before, a tumor near the part that controls arm movement may cause numbness in your arms.
Clumsiness
If you often lose keys, misstep or have problems with your balance, it could be a sign of a brain tumor. Difficulty swallowing, problems speaking and controlling your facial expressions are just some of the ways clumsiness manifests through.
Seizures
Seizures are the first sign of tumors – irritation from the tumor makes the brain’s neurons fire without control, which affects your movements. Just like the tumors, seizures come in various sizes and shapes – you may experience jerk in your limbs or whole-body convulsions.
Nausea
Feeling nauseous without a cause is often a sign of brain tumor.
Memory and thinking changes
If you have been experiencing changes in behavior and memory, it may be an indication of brain tumor. Brain tumor patients have often reported confusion, difficulty remembering and other thinking problems as some of the symptoms they experienced.
Vision changes
Double and blurry vision as well as loss of vision are often associated with tumors, as is seeing the so-called “aura” (floating shapes).
Unusual headaches
If you get headaches all of a sudden, it is a cause for concern which may indicate a brain tumor. Headaches are usually caused by a bigger tumor, and often occur among the first signs.
The main cause for brain tumors are genetics, but the tumors often develop in people with no known risk or predisposing factors. Children and people over 60 are more exposed to the risk, but in general, brain tumors can affect anyone regardless of age.
Contrary to popular belief, cell phones are not to blame for brain tumor. This common misconception doesn’t have enough scientific evidence to be considered a fact. The treatments for larger brain tumors involve surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The good news is that not every type of brain tumor is malignant – many of them are benign and don’t require any treatment. These tumors are usually monitored for changes, and may never become a serious problem.