Tumors in the brain are, essentially, abnormal cells forming or growing into a mass. Despite the dire sound of a brain tumor, not all of them are cancerous. These types are called benign, while the cancerous form is called malignant. The Mayo Clinic states that primary brain tumors are formed in your brain, while metastatic tumors are caused by cancer somewhere else in your body spreading to the brain.
Headaches
Headaches may be caused by many things, so they do not automatically mean a brain tumor is present. You probably are aware of the kinds of headaches you normally have, whether from stress or if you are a migraine sufferer. You may not regularly get headaches. Headaches caused by brain tumors typically are changes from whatever is normal for you. If you rarely get them, sudden headaches can be symptomatic. If you do get headaches, there may be a change in how they occur. As the brain tumor develops, headaches can increase in severity and frequency gradually.
Visual Symptoms
Tumors in your brain can cause sudden or gradual changes in how you see. For example, your vision may get blurry. You also may have bouts of diplopia, also known as seeing double images of people and objects. There also may be a loss of or decrease in your peripheral vision, meaning you have difficulty seeing things that are not in your direct line of sight.
Seizures
While many people tend to think of seizures in the classic sense of twitching and convulsing, not all seizures are like this. Some seizures may go unnoticed because they may be short and only appear as "blanking out." You may suddenly be still without even your eyes moving in a seizure. Of course, they can be the more traditional kinds of seizures, too, in which you do lose consciousness and your body moves without your control. Either type of seizure may be related to brain tumors, particularly if you never have had a seizure previously, the Mayo Clinic reports.
Numbness and Coordination Problems
Tumors in the brain also may be recognized through such symptoms as numbness in one leg or arm. This can be quite gradual and you may notice it only over time. This sensation loss can be accompanied by a loss of movement in the affected appendage. There also is the potential for problems maintaining your balance.
Mental Symptoms
You also may experience problems with your mental abilities. You may, for example, become confused even about normal things you do every day. People around you may notice significant changes in the way you behave and in your personality, too.
