Symptoms of Brain Tumors
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There are three types of symptoms from brain tumors:
- Sudden events—seizures and strokes
- Slowly decreasing brain function
- Generalized brain dysfunction
Sudden Events—Seizures and Strokes
- Generalized or major motor seizures cause you to pass out and shake violently all over. You may lose control of your urine or bowels and bite your tongue.
- Focal seizures cause one part of your body, like an arm, to shake uncontrollably. Seizures may start out localized and progress to generalized, known as Jacksonian seizures.
- Without any shaking, part of your body may just stop working. This is similar to what happens during a stroke.
- Some seizures are very quick and may be as simple as an episode of blinking.
Slowly Decreasing Brain Function
Just about anything your brain does may slowly fail. As a tumor grows, changes can occur in:
- Vision
- Memory
- Comprehension
- Coordination
- Speech
- Intellect
- Sensation
- Personality
Generalized Brain Dysfunction
Symptoms of generalized brain dysfunction may include:
- Headache
- Dementia
- Trouble walking
- Difficulty controlling bowels and bladder
- Personality changes
These changes happen because pressure is building or blood supply is decreasing.
References:
American Brain Tumor Association website. Available at: http://hope.abta.org/site/PageServer .
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine . 14th ed. McGraw-Hill; 1998.
Textbook of Clinical Neurology . WB Saunders; 1999.
Last reviewed April 2007 by Jondavid Pollock, MD, PhD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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