Brain tumors can’t be seen, so doctors rely on symptoms to present themselves. Sometimes doctors miss the symptoms of a brain tumor because they are similar to symptoms of other diseases.
Here are 12 often-missed symptoms of a brain tumor.
1. Often, the first symptom of a
brain tumor is a headache, according to WebMD. It can be very difficult to tell what is causing the headache, however. Headaches can be caused by sinus problems, allergies, dehydration, hormone fluctuations, and a number of other reasons.
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When the headache is from a brain tumor, it may not respond to typical headache remedies. Doctors will typically try to rule out other causes before testing for a brain tumor, and may be reluctant to do so if there are no other symptoms.
Personality and behavior changes are experienced by the majority of patients with brain tumors,
according to the American Brain Tumor Association. These changes can take many forms, including the following.
2. Depression and anxiety.
3. Mood swings.
4. Socially inappropriate behavior.
5. Short-term memory loss.
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6. Difficulty processing information.
7. Confusion.
8. Being easily distracted in the absence of ADHD or other impairments.
9. Impaired judgment may cause unpredictable and out of character behavior, which might be mistaken for a midlife crisis.
Some other physical symptoms can also be missed by doctors.
10. Muscle weakness can be attributed to a stroke or arthritis.
11. Balance problems could come from vertigo or an inner ear infection.
12. Numbness or tingling might be caused by arthritis or nerve damage.
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When doctors see a cluster of these symptoms, they can do an MRI or CT scan to look for a
brain tumor, according to WebMD. When doctors miss the symptoms of a brain tumor, it can continue to grow for months, with symptoms getting progressively worse until the tumor is finally discovered. Some brain tumors are benign while others are cancerous. A biopsy can determine the type.
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