Brain Cancer Symptoms: What to Know, According to Doctors
The possibility of developing brain cancer is a frightening prospect, though statistically rare. The American Cancer Society estimates a lifetime risk of less than 1%. Recognizing the primary sign of brain cancer can offer reassurance and prompt timely medical attention when necessary.
Alyx B. Porter, M.D., a neuro-oncologist and Professor of Neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, emphasizes the rarity of the disease and the limited number of known risk factors. “The only known risk factors are exposure to radiation and/or a family history with genetic predisposition to certain tumors or cancers,” Dr. Porter stated.
Seizures represent the most common initial symptom of brain cancer, occurring in as many as 50% of individuals with brain tumors, according to the American Cancer Society. However, it’s crucial to note that seizures have numerous potential causes, with brain tumors accounting for less than 10% of first-time seizures. Nevertheless, the onset of a new seizure warrants medical evaluation.
Following seizures, strange sensations or gradual loss of sensation or mobility in a limb is the next most frequent indicator. Weakness, often appearing on one side of the body, can signal a tumor in the brain’s outer regions.
Headaches are a common ailment, but a “progressive headache that doesn’t respond to medications or is new” should raise concern, Dr. Porter advises. Approximately half of those with brain tumors experience headaches, and any deviation from a person’s typical headache pattern merits attention.
Difficulty understanding speech or expressing thoughts can also be a symptom. Cognitive changes, including problems with reading, writing, short-term memory, planning, and organization, may also occur, according to the American Brain Tumor Association.
Changes in vision, such as blurred vision, double vision, sensitivity to light, or peripheral vision loss, are another common sign, potentially linked to tumors near the occipital lobe or optic nerve.
Although less common, other symptoms can arise. Changes in balance, causing difficulty walking or a feeling of being off-kilter, can occur, though these can also stem from inner ear disorders, migraines, heart disease, or nerve damage. “Fuzziness” or confusion, potentially indicative of brain fog, can have numerous causes, including stress, sleep deprivation, and menopause. Sudden personality changes, such as increased aggression or sluggishness, are rare but possible.
Dr. Porter recommends consulting a physician when experiencing symptoms outside of one’s usual health experience. “At the remarkably least, a baseline assessment can provide significant value should changes occur in the future,” she said. She stresses that these symptoms are often attributable to other conditions and do not automatically indicate brain cancer, but taking new signals from the body seriously is important. Experiencing multiple symptoms simultaneously warrants a prompt medical appointment.
Dr. Porter is actively involved in research aimed at improving the quality of life for brain cancer patients. She is the primary investigator in a study examining the use of psychostimulants to enhance quality of life, thinking, and memory in individuals with glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. She is also co-author of the book, Navigating Life with a Brain Tumor, a resource for patients and families. Dr. Porter serves on the executive board of the American Brain Foundation and holds memberships in several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Neurology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. She received her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and completed her training at the Mayo Clinic.