Brain tumors can cause symptoms that range from mild to severe and can become progressively worse over time. Knowing the signs and symptoms of a possible brain tumor is important information in deciding to seek medical attention and treatment. As with all medical conditions, only a physician can diagnose the presence of a brain tumor and prescribe a course of treatment that can improve your life dramatically.
Mild symptoms
Mild symptoms are those symptoms that most people overlook or attribute to other causes. They include headaches, weakness and lethargy, vomiting, inability to remain alert or concentrate, and a general feeling of illness. According to the National Institutes of Health, other odd-seeming symptoms may include uncontrollable hiccups, obesity and the absence of menstruation.
Severe symptoms
Some severe symptoms can include seizures, loss of hearing and/or sight, numbness or decreased sensitivity, and loss of balance or "clumsiness." If you or someone close to you is experiencing these symptoms, especially if they appear in combination with some of the milder or severe symptoms, then you should consult an oncologist, neurosurgeon or other specialist physician.
End-stage symptoms
End-stage symptoms usually occur when there has been extensive brain damage due to a tumor that has spread or propagated, thus taking over room inside your skull that would normally be devoted to the brain. They include rigid body spasms, also called "decerebrate posture," which is characterized by rigid legs, arms, hands and feet, and a head and neck that are pulled backward. The opposite posture is also possible, with the body curved in toward the abdomen, and is called "decorticate posture." In this case, the arms, fists, legs and head are uncontrollably curved inward.
