Symptoms

Main symptoms of a malignant brain tumour (brain cancer)

The symptoms of a malignant brain tumour (brain cancer) can vary depending on the type of tumour, where it is in the brain, what's causing it and how quickly it's growing.

Common symptoms may include:

new headaches, or headaches that are getting worse - these usually happen with other symptoms
feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting) when moving suddenly - this usually happens with other symptoms
fits (seizures)
eye problems that are getting worse, such as blurred vision, seeing dots and lines or flashes of light, or not being able to see out of the corners of your eyes
being very sleepy or fainting (losing consciousness)
changes to behaviour or personality, such as problems with thinking and concentration

See a GP if:

you have headaches that keep coming back, make you feel sick, or do not go away when you take painkillers
you feel sick often or it does not get better after a few days

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you have changes in your vision, such as seeing dots, flashing lights or blurred vision
you've been vomiting for more than 2 days
you're worried about new or unusual symptoms, but are not sure where to get help

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Call 999 or go to A&E if someone:

has a headache that came on suddenly and is extremely painful
has a fit (seizure) for the first time, it lasts longer than usual for them, or it lasts longer than 5 minutes if you do not know how long their seizures usually last
is seriously injured during a fit (seizure)
faints (loses consciousness) and does not wake up or they're finding it difficult to breathe

Find your nearest A&E

Important

Some of these symptoms are very common and can be caused by other conditions.

Having the symptoms does not definitely mean you have a brain tumour, but it's important to get checked.

If your symptoms are caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it's easier to treat.

What happens at your GP appointment

The doctor will ask you more about your symptoms, such as when they happen and if anything makes them better or worse.

They'll also ask about your general health and medical history.

Depending on your symptoms, they may want to examine you or offer some tests to see if your symptoms could be caused by another condition.

Referral to a specialist

You may get an urgent referral for more tests or to see a specialist in hospital if the GP thinks you have symptoms which could be cancer.

This does not definitely mean you have cancer.

Find out more

Cancer Research UK: seeing your GP if you have brain tumour symptoms

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