Though it may be what your mind runs to when you experience a weird neurological symptom, brain tumors are incredibly rare, affecting less than 1% of Americans. Knowing the possible symptoms of a brain tumor can help you stay on top of any health changes that may signal the presence of one, but there are a lot to keep track of. That’s why we asked neurosurgeons for the number-one brain tumor symptom that should prompt an immediate call to your doctor.
Meet the experts: Walavan Sivakumar, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Torrance, CA; Rohan Ramakrishna, M.D., the chief of neurological surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine.
“The most common brain tumors fall into two broad categories: primary brain tumors, which start in the brain itself, and metastatic tumors, which spread to the brain from cancers elsewhere in the body,” explains Walavan Sivakumar, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Torrance, CA. Metastatic tumors, or brain metastases, are about 50% more common than primary brain tumors, says Rohan Ramakrishna, M.D., the chief of neurological surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine.
Regardless of where they start, Dr. Sivakumar and Dr. Ramakrishna agree that the number-one sign of a brain tumor is a headache that is unusual for you. The unusual part is the critical differentiator, they say. “A headache that is clearly different from prior headaches and continues to worsen over time should never be ignored,” says Dr. Sivakumar. If it feels different in severity or location, or does not respond to the treatments that typically work for you, it would qualify as an unusual headache.
“If the headache is associated with any other neurologic symptom like confusion, speech changes, walking difficulty, visual dysfunction, sensory changes, weakness on one side of your body, or anything else unusual, definitely seek medical attention,” Dr. Ramakrishna adds.
The experts we spoke to both said that a first-ever seizure, especially as an adult, should also prompt immediate evaluation for a possible brain tumor (and for your health in general). Dr. Ramakrishna says that an MRI scan of your brain would likely be the first step if your physician suspects a tumor or other neurological issue, and then the appropriate treatment would follow from there.
If you feel like anything is off or you’re concerned for your health, always reach out to your healthcare provider for next steps.
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