The brain tumor refers to a growth or mass of irregular cells in one’s brain. Brain tumors are of various types; some are malignant or cancerous while some are benign or non-cancerous. The benign tumors are also called primary cancer of a brain. They originate into the brain by itself or the nearby tissues such as cranial nerves, pineal gland or pituitary gland, and meninges (membranes that covered brain). The malignant tumors are also called secondary cancer of a brain. These metastatic tumors spread from other parts of a body towards the brain or these usually occur in people who have a history of tumors in other parts of the body. Secondary tumors of a brain are more common in adults than primary tumors.
Brain tumors provide several warning signs but it’s unlikely to appear all in one person. The warning signs of brain tumors are also categorized according to its types which are specific or general.
The general warning sign occurred by a pressure of tumor or involvement of the spinal cord or brain. The specific warning signs happened when a particular portion of a brain does not work properly due to the tumor. Most of the people who suffered from brain tumor went to doctor when they experienced some problem like a headache, seizures or some other changes. The brain tumors occur in all sizes and shapes and the same is with their signs.
A neurosurgeon in Weil Cornell Spine and Brain center named Theodore Schwartz told that a basic key regarding warning sign of brain tumor depends upon its location. For instance, if an individual has a tumor close to the portion of a brain which controls the eyesight or arm, then his/her symptoms or signs include blurry vision or limb weakness. Thus, the warning signs can vary depending upon the tumor of where it is growing and how big the size it has.
Brain Tumors Warning Signs
As described above, the warning signs of the brain tumors differ according to their size, type, and location within a brain. Some of the most common warning signs are described in following:
Seizures
The motor seizures, commonly known as convulsions are involuntary, sudden movements in the muscles of a person. Seizures are one of the most important warning signs of a brain tumor. It is particularly important for people who do not have any earlier history of it.
Motor seizures are usually regarded as the first sign of a brain tumor yet it may occur at any phase of cancer. The brain tumors push forward nerve cells within the brain and interfere with the electric signals that result in a seizure. Nearly fifty percent of people who suffer from a brain tumor experience a minimum of one seizure. People can experience different kinds of seizures which include tonic-clonic and myoclonic. Differences between different kinds of seizures are as follows:
a) Tonic-clonic
- Loss of body tone and consciousness, followed by relaxing and twitching muscles.
- Loose control over functions of a body
- Hypoxia; a short-term period (not more than 30 seconds) without breathing, which turns the color of an individual into a blue shade
- When experience this kind of seizures, an individual may feel sleepy or get a headache, weakness, confusion, sore muscles and numbness.
b) Myoclonic
- One or more than one muscle twitches, spasms, and jerks
c) Complex partial seizure
- It is linked with unintentional, repetitive movements like twitching
- May happen in the form of awareness’ loss or total or partial consciousness’ loss
d) Sensory seizure
- Changes in vision, smell, hearing and sensation without losing control of consciousness.
Irrespective of tumor type, seizures are often found to be the first warning sign of trouble. A patient of brain tumor feels convulsions and get unusual or abnormal movements because tumor causes irritations of the brain coverings and neurons of the brain fire uncontrollably. One may experience convulsions of the whole body or flexing jerking may confine to only one portion of a face or one limb.
