Brain cancer is a potentially dangerous disorder in which a malignant tumor is growing in the brain. It may be primary, meaning it originates in the brain, or it may be secondary, meaning it has spread elsewhere in the body. Women may develop brain cancer at any age. The symptoms vary according to the type of cancer and its exact location.
Balance Problems
The onset of balance problems may signal brain cancer. The woman may notice that she stumbles when she walks or feels uncoordinated when performing a task with her hands. Her muscles may twitch or jerk. An arm or leg may feel tingly or numb. Weakness may be present in one or more limbs. A part of the body may become paralyzed, explains the text, "Medical-Surgical Nursing."
Vomiting
Unexplained nausea and vomiting may signal undetected brain cancer, explains MedlinePlus, a website of the National Institutes of Health. The nausea may seem to occur irrespective of food intake. She may vomit if food is in her stomach or experience dry heaves if her stomach is empty.
Memory Loss
Memory can be affected by brain cancer. The woman may have difficulty concentrating on her daily tasks, the conversation of others or material she is attempting to read. She may have difficulty thinking through a problem and appear drowsy or distracted to others.
Unusual Eye Movement
A woman with brain cancer may have unusual eye movement, such as the uncontrollable back-and-forth movement of one eye. Vision may become impaired in one or both eyes.
Headache
Headache pain may be the first symptom of brain cancer. It is often worse upon awakening, explains the University of California at San Fransisco Medical Center. A woman may also have recurrent seizures despite no history of seizure disorder.
Inability to Speak
A woman with brain cancer may be unable to speak. This may begin with increasing difficulty finding the right words to say. Her speech may seem odd to others while she is unaware of any change. Similarly, she may be unable to understand what is being said to her. It is also possible to develop partial or total hearing loss.
Depressed Mood
Brain cancer may manifest as a depressed mood. It is also possible to become anxious or suddenly exhibit poor judgment. A woman who is generally conservative may engage in socially-inappropriate behavior as a malignant brain tumor grows.
References
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing"; Donna Ignatavicius, M.S., R.N. and Linda Workman, Ph.D., R.N.; 2002
- University of California at San Francisco Medical Center: Brain Tumor
- MedinePlus: Brain Cancer
- Merck Manuals: Brain Tumors
