Headache Symptoms From Brain Tumors

When new headache symptoms develop, it's worrisome. Patients don't know if they have cause for concern, if they should talk to their doctor or if they should just take a painkiller and wait until the pain goes away. Any neurological change can be significant. No matter the symptoms, the patient should raise concerns to his doctor in order to receive a confirmed diagnosis or rule out a potentially deadly condition.

Changing Patterns

• Patients should take note of any differences in the patterns of their headaches and discuss these changes with their doctors (see Resources below).

Identification

• Headaches that happen along with general confusion, lethargy, weakness, nausea and vomiting can be an indication of a mass in the brain. The location of a potential tumor can cause different symptoms (see Resources below).

Seizures

• Headaches may be accompanied by seizures.

Treatment

• Patients who receive a diagnosis of a brain tumor will find their lives completely changed. They will undergo surgery, if possible, to remove the mass; radiation and chemotherapy can follow if the mass is found to be cancerous.

Warning

• If the patient experiences sudden symptoms such as a fixed gaze, blindness, pupil dilation or a paralysis on one or both sides of the body, this is an emergency situation.