Cancer is a disease process characterized by the out-of-control growth of abnormal cells that can invade normal body cells and tissues. Cancer in the brain causes the growth of tumors that are classified by the type of cell they invade. Brain cancer can be either a primary tumor, which begins in the brain, or a secondary tumor that begins elsewhere in the body and spreads to the brain. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, more than 17,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with new brain tumors each year. Tumors classified as malignant tend to be aggressive and invasive, causing many neurological symptoms.
Headache
Typically, one of the first symptoms encountered by a brain cancer patient is the onset of a new headache. The National Institutes of Health reports that a typical description of this headache is one that is usually worse in the morning. Patients may also be woken from sleep by a headache. Headache associated with brain tumors generally get progressively worse as the tumor grows. According to the American Brain Tumor Association, these headaches usually do not respond well to typical headache remedies.
Seizures
The American Brain Tumor Association reports that about one third of people diagnosed with a brain tumor are unaware that they have a tumor until experiencing a seizure. Seizures are uncontrollable convulsions that are caused by the disruption of electrical flow in the brain. When seizures begin in someone who has not had a previous history of seizures, a brain tumor should be suspected.
Nausea/Vomiting
Any unexplained nausea and vomiting that does not resolve on its own or is reoccurring should be diagnosed by a doctor. As the tumor grows it causes increased intracranial pressure that is suspected to be the cause of the nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite commonly associated with brain tumors.
Motor/Sensory
Brain cancer can disrupt the flow of information from the brain to other parts of the body. Symptoms depend on where the tumor is located and what tissue it invades. If the tumor affects motor neurons in the brain, patients may experience weakness in the arms or legs on the opposite side of the body. If the tumor invades the sensory portion of the nerves, a loss in sensation, tingling or numbness may be noticed.
Neurological Defects
When a brain tumor grows or destroys tissue it can cause what are referred to as "focal" neurological symptoms. Which symptoms appear depends on what portion of the brain is affected by the tumor. According to the American Brain Tumor Association, these focal symptoms can help doctors identify the location of the tumor. Symptoms may include difficulty hearing, blurred or loss of vision, speech difficulties, lack of coordination, personality changes and trouble with mental functions.
