What are the real warning signs of a brain tumour?

• Most headaches are not caused by brain tumours. To mark International Brain Tumour Day on 8 June, Cleveland Clinic experts share information on what are and aren’t signs of brain tumours.

Santo Domingo, June 2022.- The lifetime odds of developing a cancerous brain tumour are less than 1%. Symptoms such as headaches or confusion are usually just your body’s way of telling you to drink more water or get more sleep. But on rare occasions, these symptoms can point to a bigger problem.

Unfortunately, “There is no specific sign of a brain tumour,” says neurosurgeon Gene Barnett, M.D., a specialist at Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical centre that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. “A brain tumour can present with many different signs and symptoms, depending on where it is,” he adds.

Signs to watch for

With more than 120 types of brain tumours, symptoms can vary depending on:

• Where the tumour forms.
• Which part of your body the affected area of your brain controls.
• How big the tumour is.

But to know when a symptom really signals a problem, you need to know your own body. Even so, if you experience one or more of the following signs, Dr. Barnett recommends seeing a medical professional:

1. Seizures: a tumour can cause the neurons in your brain to fire erratically, leading to seizures.
2. Changes in your mental state: be alert to constant confusion or more trouble than usual working out a restaurant bill. Mental abilities are personal, as is any change in them, so it’s important to pay attention.
3. Personality or behaviour changes: “Frontal lobe tumours, in particular, can cause cheerful people to develop a flat affect or some normally quiet people to become more talkative,” explains Dr. Barnett. “They can also cause a loss of inhibition.”
4. Clumsiness: brainstem tumours can cause loss of balance or clumsy movements.
5. Vision problems: a tumour in the area of your brain that controls sight can affect your vision. Blurred or double vision, or even loss of sight, can be signs of a brain tumour.
6. Weakness in the limbs: loss of strength or weakness in an arm or leg can be a symptom of a brain tumour.
7. Headaches: “But most headaches are not the result of a brain tumour,” says Dr. Barnett. “Brain tumour headaches tend to persist for more than a few days, are associated with nausea or vomiting, or occur early in the morning.”

Finally, according to Dr. Barnett, a Cleveland Clinic specialist, if you are diagnosed with a brain tumour, you will get better care at a brain tumour centre of excellence. “These centres specialise in the multidisciplinary treatment of brain tumours,” he explains. “They also often offer opportunities to take part in clinical trials. So if a tumour has limited treatment options, a brain tumour centre can give you access to promising new drugs or immunotherapies that may treat it effectively.”

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical centre that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based on the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 72,500 employees worldwide are more than 5,050 salaried physicians and researchers, and 17,800 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,500-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 21 hospitals, more than 220 outpatient facilities, and locations in northeast Ohio; southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2021, there were 10.2 million outpatient visits, 304,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 259,000 surgical cases throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries.

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