| Brain tumors and their symptoms are afflicting more | | | | Additional common symptoms include personality |
| people every year. Since most brain tumors exhibit | | | | changes; vision or speech problems; behavioral issues; |
| indicators like seemingly innocent headaches that are | | | | tiredness, numbness or paralysis or trouble walking or |
| generally caused by less severe disorders, they're | | | | balancing; seizures that are similar to epileptic seizures, |
| often discounted or brushed aside as insignificant. | | | | and sensory problems, like hearing or smelling |
| Consequently, an accurate diagnosis isn't attained until | | | | something that's not there. |
| the tumor grows to a size that may make successful | | | | Too often, symptoms such as changes in behavior |
| treatment impossible. | | | | are ascribed to a mental disorder or to the aging |
| If detected early, many brain tumors can be treated | | | | process and are not addressed until it's too late to |
| and possibly cured. New treatments, such as | | | | cure. |
| immunotherapy, chemotherapy, gene treatment | | | | Why You Should Be Aware of Possible Indicators |
| therapy and radioactive treatments, are being used | | | | Brain tumors are on the rise, being the second most |
| more often as they develop and become increasingly | | | | common type of cancer in young children and |
| effective. | | | | occurring as often as ovarian cancer in adult women. |
| Therefore, doctors and patients alike are being | | | | Roughly half of primary brain tumors are diagnosed |
| recommended to become alert to brain tumor | | | | as benign. This means they grow and spread slowly |
| symptoms and follow up with a proper medical | | | | and can typically be cured or removed. The other |
| examination when these signs occur. Though brain | | | | half are diagnosed as malignant - they are |
| scans are expensive, they're safe, easy to obtain and | | | | fast-growing and intrusive. Many of these can be |
| may save your life if they detect a tumor early | | | | treated, but are not always curable. |
| enough that it can be cured. For an overview of | | | | Where to Get Additional Facts |
| symptoms associated with brain tumors and why it's | | | | If you would like more information on brain tumor |
| so important to watch out for them, keep reading. | | | | symptoms, try contacting the American Brain Tumor |
| Symptoms of Brain Tumors | | | | Association. Their website can be found online at |
| If a brain tumor is still small and fairly young, it can | | | | abta.org. Click through to research more information |
| often be treated. However, most symptoms depend | | | | on brain tumors, diagnosing tumors, developing |
| on the size of the tumor and where it's found in the | | | | treatments and where patients can go for support. |
| brain. For example, a benign tumor may take years | | | | In the meantime, if you or a loved one spots any of |
| to grow and even longer to cause an identifiable sign. | | | | the identifying signs of a possible tumor, do not |
| Among the primary precursors are persistent or | | | | hesitate to schedule an appointment with a specialist |
| relentless headaches, particularly those that happen | | | | in the field. A timely diagnosis can potentially spell the |
| at night or upon awakening. With children, headaches | | | | difference between ongoing health or a life cut short |
| that occur in conjunction with nausea or vomiting can | | | | by cancer. |
| be a harbinger of trouble. | | | | |