Complications and seizures are frequent mind tumor signs. However they may also be brought on by different medical circumstances.
So, how will you inform when a symptom is because of a mind tumor? And when must you see a physician?
For extra perception, we spoke with neuro-oncologist Shiao-Pei Weathers, M.D., and 4 survivors, who shared their first mind tumor signs and what led them to see a physician.
Headache
Shelby Espinosa had had complications up to now; docs mentioned they had been associated to again ache. However at age 22, she obtained a headache so extreme that it brought about her to cease mid-conversation.
“I needed to cease speaking and simply maintain my head,” she recollects. “It was so intense that I couldn’t assume or reply. The ache would come and go, however the headache lingered for 3 days.”
Her again ache was gone, so she knew this was completely different. On the urging of her mother and then-fiancé, Shelby went to the emergency room, the place she had a CT scan of her mind. Outcomes revealed a tumor the dimensions of a kiwi urgent in opposition to her brainstem. She had surgical procedure to take away it, and a biopsy confirmed it was a kind of mind tumor referred to as medulloblastoma.
“Complications which will point out a mind tumor sometimes really feel distinctly completely different from complications you’ve had earlier than,” says Weathers. “For instance, individuals with continual migraines are used to having complications, however their headache normally feels the identical every time.”
See a physician when you’ve got a historical past of complications and all of the sudden have a brand new kind of headache. Warning indicators might be a headache that:
- wakes you up from sleep
- is worse within the morning
- feels worse whenever you’re mendacity flat
- causes nausea and vomiting that received’t go away
“Different doubtlessly regarding indicators might be a headache that lingers for days or perhaps weeks (particularly should you hardly ever get complications), or a headache that’s accompanied by different signs, reminiscent of weak point, numbness, tingling or imaginative and prescient adjustments,” provides Weathers.
This was the case for Sean O’Brien. He was recognized with a mind tumor referred to as juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma at age 20. He’d been affected by a headache for years however didn’t discover it too regarding as a result of his household has a historical past of migraines and allergic reactions. That was till the headache worsened throughout his sophomore 12 months of faculty.
“At one level, the headache obtained so dangerous I sought out medical providers on campus,” recollects Sean. “They informed me I used to be overtired and wanted to relaxation. Finally, I did begin to really feel a bit higher.”
However then extra signs arose.
He couldn’t sleep at evening. And he started having blind spells the place his imaginative and prescient would all of the sudden exit and return after a number of moments. This began occurring a number of instances a day.
“I lastly informed my dad and mom what was occurring, they usually obtained me to a physician whereas I used to be dwelling on Thanksgiving break,” says Sean. “The physician found fluid buildup in my mind, and scans revealed a mind tumor.”
Seizure
Colin Clarke was enjoying soccer when he felt numbness on the left aspect of his face below his eye. Moments later, it occurred once more. Then he handed out.
“The following factor I do know, I used to be on a gurney and put in an ambulance,” says Colin, who was 45 on the time. “I didn’t notice I’d had a seizure. I’d simply headed the soccer ball! However I used to be informed I had a number of seizures within the ambulance.”
He was later recognized with a grade II oligodendroglioma.
“A seizure is your physique’s means of telling you one thing is happening medically. Generally it might be the hallmark of a brand new mind tumor that has but to be found,” says Weathers. “Nevertheless it doesn’t at all times imply a mind tumor. Any of us can seize below sure circumstances; for instance, in case your sodium drops low sufficient. Each individual’s threshold to have a seizure is completely different.”
On two separate events, 39-year-old Chris Prepare dinner skilled a metallic style in his mouth. It was delicate and sudden, and he assumed it was on account of outdated cavities. Two weeks later, he observed the metallic style once more whereas working along with his canine. He started to really feel faint. Then he blacked out.
“I woke as much as my canine defending me, first responders and the nice Samaritans who referred to as them to assist me,” Chris recollects. “It was exhausting for me to grasp what was occurring, and I couldn’t converse coherently. After a couple of minutes, I might assume clearly, however I used to be unable to verbally categorical my ideas till I used to be loaded into the ambulance.”
A neurologist recognized him with glioblastoma, essentially the most aggressive kind of mind tumor.
“A variety of sufferers assume seizures are when your physique stiffens throughout, and also you’re jerking on the bottom dropping consciousness as a result of that’s what they present on TV,” says Weathers. “However seizures come in numerous varieties. It might be a flash of coloured lights, stiffening and/or jerking of the face, arm and/or leg, or a interval the place you’re all of the sudden confused or unable to talk. It may also be an irregular and sometimes foul odor or style. Seizures normally current the identical means every time.”
If it’s your first time having a seizure, see a physician.
“It might not imply you’ve gotten a mind tumor, nevertheless it might be indicating one thing else is happening in your physique,” says Weathers. “The seizure is a warning signal to hunt medical consideration.”
Signs differ relying on the mind tumor’s location
The kind of symptom and its severity rely on the place the tumor is within the mind.
Weathers classifies mind tumor signs into two buckets: world and focal. A worldwide symptom is a extra common symptom indicating one thing is rising within the mind and inflicting a buildup of stress. A focal symptom tells you the place the tumor seemingly is within the mind.
“You probably have a relentless headache for weeks that makes you nauseous or vomit, that’s a world symptom,” explains Weathers. “You probably have something rising in your mind, it offers you a headache if it grows massive sufficient and begins pushing. However that doesn’t inform me precisely the place it may be.”
Generally a mind tumor may cause a sure symptom primarily based on the place it’s rising within the mind. Relying on the situation, you could have:
- problem talking or understanding
- adjustments in imaginative and prescient, like a visible discipline reduce or double imaginative and prescient
- weak point within the face, arm and/or leg
- numbness or tingling within the face, arm and/or leg
- listening to loss
- bother swallowing
- slurred speech
Information suggests some signs are extra frequent with sure sorts of mind tumors.
“It’s not an ideal correlation, however we are likely to see seizures extra usually in sufferers with oligodendrogliomas than in sufferers with astrocytomas,” says Weathers.
Backside line: See a physician for brand new or completely different mind tumor signs
Mind tumor signs may be delicate, like a imaginative and prescient change. Or they are often extra pressing, like a first-time seizure.
“Whether or not you go to an emergency room or make an appointment along with your main physician might rely on the severity of your signs and the way sick you are feeling,” notes Weathers. “You probably have a brand new or completely different symptom that’s regarding you or a member of the family, err on the aspect of warning. Mind tumor signs can mimic these of different medical circumstances, so it’s vital to see a physician to get checked out.”
Request an appointment at MD Anderson on-line or name 1-877-632-6789.
