The brain is the control center for all aspects and movement the body. Because of the unique centrally located control center, any tumor can have a wide range of effects on a teenager's thoughts, senses, learning, memory, feelings, movement and organ function. There are several different types of brain tumors that can affect a teenager and each requires treatment. Primary tumors occur when the cancer begins in the brain and secondary tumors occur when the cancer spreads from other parts of the body.
Headache
According to Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, headaches are probably the most common symptom that teenagers will experience when they have a brain tumor. These headaches are usually worse in the morning and often occur in the front of the head. They can awaken the teenager from sleep and may come and go. Some teenagers will find that the headache resolves spontaneously and quickly after vomiting. Although these are not migraine headaches, they can sometimes be accompanied by a visual disturbance that is common with a migraine.
Seizures
Neurological function in the brain controls the movements throughout the body. According to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, teenagers with a brain tumor may experience muscle jerking or twitching that can be associated with seizures or convulsions. The type of seizure or muscle twitching will be closely associated with the position of the brain tumor and how rapidly it is growing.
Muscles and Sensation
Teenagers who have a brain tumor will also have trouble with voluntary control of their muscles. This will significantly impact balance skills and the ability to perform everyday activities. According to Seattle Children's Hospital, the impact of this lack of muscle control will affect walking, running and fine motor control, such as handwriting. Brain tumors can also affect sensation, which can cause teenagers to lose feeling in a particular part of the body.
Behavior
Personality and cognition are both developed and controlled by the brain. According to Seattle Children's Hospital, teenagers with brain tumors can also exhibit changes in personality, mood or behavior, depending upon where the brain tumor is exerting pressure. Teens may also have difficulty keeping up with class work. A teenager may begin to feel sleepy for no reason, or have a change in her energy level.
Sensory
Each of the five senses is also controlled in the brain. If a brain tumor is creating pressure over the specific area of the brain that controls hearing, speech or vision, a teenager may find that these sensory skills have changed, diminished or been lost, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Initial loss of sensory input is scary for both the teenager and his family.
Hormonal
Brain tumors that are located near the pituitary gland can cause a problem with hormonal input, according to Massachusetts General Hospital for Children. Teenage girls may find that their menstrual cycles are suddenly and significantly different. A teenage boy may experience changes in his sexuality, as well.
Early Symptoms
In a research study published in "Pediatrics" in January 2010, researchers P. Ansell and T. Johnston compared the frequency of complaints commonly associated with brain tumors and children who were both diagnosed with brain tumor and those who were not. The study took place in the United Kingdom using 195 children who were newly diagnosed with brain tumors, and 285 controls who were matched by age, gender and region. Researchers found that the children who were diagnosed with brain tumors were seen more frequently by their pediatricians in the six months prior to the diagnosis and had two to three times the recorded suggestive symptoms in that time period. These symptoms included head tilt, odd head movements, odd posture, back and neck stiffness and an unsteadiness in the gate without any obvious cause. Researchers concluded that the key to identifying a child who may have a brain tumor is to recognize these unusual symptoms, or specific patterns of symptoms, and not discount the concerns of the teenager and parent.
