Brain tumour signs that aren’t ‘in your head’, according to experts

Headaches are a frequent everyday complaint with various triggers, from lack of hydration to stress. Yet certain headaches can be attributed to pressure within the skull caused by a brain tumour.

Early diagnosis of a brain tumour opens up more treatment possibilities, but the non-specific symptoms can easily be confused with other more commonplace ailments. Specialists at the Brain Tumour Charity have highlighted the distinctions between routine problems and early warning signs of a brain tumour, including some that appear unrelated to the brain.

Headaches

Brain tumour symptoms often emerge slowly and worsen progressively. The charity’s specialists point out: “These may feel different from usual headaches.”

Headaches linked to brain tumours typically don’t respond to painkillers and may intensify in the morning or when straining, coughing or bending forward.

Nausea or vomiting

Feeling queasy, especially during morning hours, without any obvious explanation could indicate raised pressure within the brain. This might also be accompanied by dizziness.

Physical issues

Brain tumours can begin to impact your mobility. This might manifest as weakness, numbness or pins and needles on one side of the body, or difficulties with balance and coordination.

In young children or toddlers, this may cause them to stop walking gradually and revert to crawling.

Speech and vision problems

Difficulty finding the right words, slurred speech or trouble understanding language can be connected to a brain tumour, according to the charity.

Vision problems can also indicate a brain tumour, including blurred or double vision, a greying sensation when standing up, or loss of sight in part of your visual field.

Additional common symptoms of a brain tumour include fatigue and changes in cognitive function or personality, such as memory difficulties. Seizures may also signal a neurological condition.

The charity stresses: “If you’re experiencing symptoms that concern you, it’s important not to panic. Many of these symptoms can be caused by less serious conditions.

“But, if they carry on, change, or get worse, make an appointment with your doctor. Diagnosing a brain tumour early might make a difference in treatment options and outcomes.”

If you have specific concerns about a brain tumour, it may be worthwhile raising this directly with your GP. Research from the Improving Brain Tumour Care survey revealed that 41% of respondents had to visit their doctor three or more times before receiving a diagnosis, due to the non-specific nature of brain tumour symptoms.

Meanwhile, if you’re awaiting a GP appointment, you could arrange an eye test, as opticians can sometimes detect signs of brain tumours by observing pressure on the optic nerve or swelling of the optic disc. However, this isn’t a standard diagnostic pathway.