10 Symptoms of a Brain Tumor
How do you know if you have a brain tumor? There are some symptoms that, while easily caused by another condition, could signal a brain tumor. If you experience any of these symptoms, speak with your physician about whether you need additional testing to rule out or identify a tumor.
- Headache: If you experience more frequent and severe headaches, especially those that occur early in the morning hours or after any type of activity, tell your physician.
- Sensory changes: If you have a tumor, you may experience unexpected issues with your vision, sense of smell, hearing or physical sensations. These changes may be the result of a certain type of seizure linked to brain tumors.
- Seizures: Brain tumors can cause seizures. Due to the serious and troubling nature of this particular symptom, most people seek medical intervention right away. Your doctor will do a series of tests to determine the root cause of your seizures, either ruling out a brain tumor or confirming it.
- Memory loss or personality changes: A brain tumor can wreak havoc on so many aspects of mental function. It is possible that someone with a brain tumor will act differently, experiencing a sudden and bizarre shift in personality. Memory loss is sometimes linked to a brain tumor, although there are other causes for this symptom.
- Loss of balance or compromised fine motor skills: If the tumor is located in the cerebellum, this symptom may present itself. If you feel you’ve been unable to use your fine motor skills fully to complete normal daily tasks or have problems with balance, seek advice from your physician.