The Mayo Clinic states that the number of diagnosed brain tumors increase each year, though the reason for the increase is unknown. In 2009, doctors diagnosed 22,070 people in the United States with a brain tumor. Two categories of brain tumors exist: primary brain tumors and secondary brain tumors. With primary brain tumors, the abnormal cells start forming in the brain. Secondary brain tumors, on the other hand, start elsewhere in the brain, and the abnormal cells travel up to the brain.
Headaches
The National Institutes of Health states that brain tumor patients commonly have headaches as a symptom, due to the tumor putting pressure on the brain and skull. These headaches worsen when the patient exercises or coughs. They also occur when the patient is asleep. Symptoms that occur along with the headaches include numbness, vomiting, weakness, confusion and double vision. The Mayo Clinic adds that the headaches often become more severe over time, or the patient has a change in the type of headaches that she has.
Cognitive Changes
Depending on the location of the brain tumor, the patient can have problems with cognitive functions. For example, tumors on the temporal lobe can cause memory problems. The patient may experience confusion, impaired judgment, speech problems and difficulties with mathematics. Brain tumors can also affect the patient's ability to read and write. If the tumor damages the brain tissue, the cognitive problems can be permanent. The Mayo Clinic adds that personality or behavioral changes can occur with a brain tumor. For example, the patient may become agitated or depressed.
Sensation Changes
A brain tumor patient may experience sensation changes. The National Institutes of Health notes that a brain tumor can cause changes in hearing, smell, taste and touch. For example, the patient may not feel differences in temperature or pain. The sensation changes may result in numbness on one side of the body.
Movement Problems
Brain tumors on the motor regions of the brain result in movement problems. The Mayo Clinic states that the patient can ex[erience a gradual loss of movement in the limbs, or may may have problems with balance and coordination. These motor problems can result in trouble walking or hand tremors. The National Institutes of Health notes that the patient may fall easily.
Other Brain Tumor Symptoms
Some brain tumor patients may have seizures, especially older adults, according to the NIH. The brain tumor may cause the patient to feel ill, with symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Vision problems caused by brain tumors include double vision and decreased vision. The patient may also exhibit unequal pupil sizes and drooping eyelids.
