A brain tumor is caused by abnormal, unregulated cell growth within the tissue of the brain. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that approximately 22,000 people were diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009. Tumors that grow within the brain tissue can be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). If you develop any of the symptoms associated with a brain tumor, seek medical care from your doctor.
Headache
Tumor growth within the brain can cause headaches to develop in some patients. Headache pain can be mild to severe and is typically worse when you wake up. Exercise, normal body movement or coughing can exacerbate headache symptoms in patients with this condition, warns Medline Plus, an online health information resource provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Severe, recurrent headaches caused by a brain tumor can be accompanied by blurred vision, nausea or vomiting.
Seizure
Depending upon the size and specific location of the brain tumor, you can develop seizures. A seizure can cause abnormal, uncontrollable shaking of the body and may be accompanied by headache, dizziness, confusion or loss of consciousness.
Weakness
Abnormal cell growth within the brain due to a brain tumor can interfere with your brain's ability to send and receive nerve signals throughout the body. If this occurs, nerve impulse messages sent from your brain to your hands or feet can become faulty. This can cause symptoms of weakness or numbness to develop in your extremities. These symptoms typically occur on only one side of the body, depending upon the location of the brain tumor. Such symptoms can significantly interfere with your ability to stand or move about normally, causing you to appear clumsy or confused.
Decreased Cognitive Function
Patients with brain tumors often develop cognitive difficulties involving speech, hearing or vision. Some patients may experience blurred vision or blindness due to this condition. You may also notice that you begin to have trouble speaking or understanding other people during conversations. If you frequently forget new information or have recurrent problems with your memory, you may have a brain tumor. The severity of these symptoms is dependent upon the exact location and size of your brain tumor.
Behavioral Changes
If you have a brain tumor, you can experience significant changes in your behavior or personality. A typically introverted person may become extremely extroverted due to a tumor within the brain. You may also experience frequent changes in mood and can become abnormally aggressive, sad or depressed due to a brain tumor.
