Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisHow Serious Is One?TreatmentOutlookNext in Brain Tumor GuideBrain Tumor Symptoms

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Types

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

How Serious Is One?

Treatment

Outlook

Next in Brain Tumor Guide

Abrain tumoris a group of abnormal cells that form in or near your brain. Unlike healthy brain cells, the cells that comprise a brain tumor are damaged. They multiply out of control without the normal cell functions that control their growth.

Brain tumors may start in your brain (primary tumors), or they can form from cells that move to your brain from cancer in another part of your body (secondary, metastatic tumors). Not all brain tumors are cancerous.Benign(noncancerous) tumors tend to grow slower and pose less risk than cancerous brain tumors.

This article describes brain tumor types, symptoms, causes, and treatments.

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Person at home on the couch holding head

Types of Brain Tumors

Benign Brain Tumors

Benign brain tumors account for about 71% of all brain tumors.They develop as a mass of noncancerous cells that grow inside your brain. Benign brain tumors tend to grow slowly and rarely spread outside your brain.

Malignant Brain Tumors

Malignant(cancerous) brain tumors originate from cancer cells. They often grow rapidly and can crowd surrounding tissue. Malignant brain tumors can extend “roots” that invade surrounding tissue and healthy brain tissue. They can also remain contained (encapsulated).

When malignant brain tumors develop or extend to areas of your brain that control important bodily functions, they can interfere with normal behavior and become life-threatening. These aggressive tumors can become dangerous quickly because they multiply and spread so fast.

Primary Tumors vs. Secondary Tumors

Primary brain tumors develop in the brain or its immediate surroundings. Abnormal growth of brain cells causes them. Primary brain tumors can be malignant or benign.

Primary brain tumors are classified based on the portion of the brain in which they originated. Categories of primary brain tumors include the following:

Ifbreast cancerspreads to the brain, the disease is called metastatic breast cancer because the cells in the secondary brain tumor are more like cancerous breast cells than abnormal brain cells.

Differences Between a Primary Cancer and a Secondary Cancer

Brain Tumor Symptoms

Brain tumor symptomswill vary based on your tumor’s size, type, and location. Symptoms can occur as sudden changes or develop so slowly over months or years that they remain unnoticed. You may not have symptoms of a brain tumor until the tumor starts to affect healthy tissue in your brain.

While symptoms of a brain tumor can vary widely, the following problems commonly occur with many types of brain tumors:

What Does a Brain Tumor Feel Like?

A brain tumor can feel different for everyone. While all brain tumors don’t feel the same, they can produce the following sensations:

This can produce the following feelings:

Headache:You may experience a headache that feels different from others you’ve had. The pain of this type of headache may feel like a dull, persistent pressure. It may happen with nausea or vomiting. Your pain may worsen when you bend over, have a bowel movement, or lie down.

What Causes Brain Tumors?

While secondary brain tumors can be traced to the organ where the cancer started, most primary brain tumors can’t be linked to a specific cause.

Research indicates that brain tumors occur when a brain cell’s chromosomes become damaged and can’t function normally. This damage may also affect the cell’s ability to manage its growth. This can allow the damaged brain cells to divide rapidly and unchecked, eventually forming a tumor.

While the causes are unknown, certain factors can increase your chances of developing a brain tumor. These include the following known risk factors:

A family history of the following genetic conditions is also a risk factor:

Who Gets Brain Tumors?Malignant and nonmalignant primary brain tumors affect 23 to 24 out of every 100,000 people in the United States.While brain tumors can affect anyone at any age, research shows that they are most common in children 3 to 12 years old and adults 40 to 70 years old.Brain tumors occur more often in females (58%) than males (about 42%).Note the when research or health authorities are cited, the terms for gender or sex from the source are used.

Who Gets Brain Tumors?

Malignant and nonmalignant primary brain tumors affect 23 to 24 out of every 100,000 people in the United States.While brain tumors can affect anyone at any age, research shows that they are most common in children 3 to 12 years old and adults 40 to 70 years old.Brain tumors occur more often in females (58%) than males (about 42%).Note the when research or health authorities are cited, the terms for gender or sex from the source are used.

Malignant and nonmalignant primary brain tumors affect 23 to 24 out of every 100,000 people in the United States.While brain tumors can affect anyone at any age, research shows that they are most common in children 3 to 12 years old and adults 40 to 70 years old.

Brain tumors occur more often in females (58%) than males (about 42%).

Note the when research or health authorities are cited, the terms for gender or sex from the source are used.

How Are Brain Tumors Diagnosed?

You will have to consult a healthcare provider for an accuratebrain tumor diagnosis. Your healthcare provider will likely start with a physical exam and health history. This involves examining your body to check for general signs of disease. A history of your own health and your family’s health, as well as your past illnesses, are also taken.

Based on the results of your physical exam, your healthcare provider will diagnose a brain tumor using several tools, including a neurological exam, imaging tests, and abiopsy.

Neurological Exam

Aneurological examis a noninvasive and painless exam. It includes a series of tests and questions to check for the normal function of your brain, spinal cord, and nerves. The exam assesses many aspects of your neurological health and cognitive abilities, including the following:

Imaging Tests

Imaging tests are used to determine the location and size of a brain tumor. It can also identify its characteristics and differentiate it from other types of tumors. This can help in determining the appropriate treatment and expected outcomes.

The following imaging tests are used in the diagnosis of brain tumors:

Biopsy

A biopsy is usually performed when imaging tests confirm the presence of a brain tumor or mass. This procedure is used to identify the type of tumor.

The type of biopsy performed depends on the location of the brain tumor. The following techniques are used:

How Serious Is a Brain Tumor?

Treatment for Brain Tumor

The type oftreatment recommended for your brain tumordepends on the type of brain tumor and where it is located in your brain. Treatment of brain tumors usually includes radiation,chemotherapy, and/or surgery.

Some slow-growing, low-grade brain tumors can sometimes be left alone and watched closely. Or they may be removed with surgery before they grow and cause problems. Brain tumors that are more aggressive and higher grade may require another form of treatment after surgery.

Surgery

Surgery is usually the first treatment advised for brain tumors. In most cases, it is in your best interest to have complete or nearly complete surgical removal of a brain tumor.

Even if complete removal of the brain tumor is not possible to perform safely, surgery can often provide the following benefits:

The following techniques may be used to remove a brain tumor surgically:

Other Therapies

Radiation therapytargets high-energy particles toward your brain tumor. It kills or shrinks brain tumor cells. Radiation therapy can be used as the first-line treatment for your brain tumor or it can be used to treat tumors that return after initial treatment.

The size, location, and type of your brain tumor determine which type of radiation therapy you receive. The following types of radiation therapy are used to treat brain tumors:

Chemotherapyis a systemic therapy that circulates throughout your bloodstream. It blocks or interferes with tumor cell growth. The following chemotherapy drugs are some of those used to treat brain tumors:

Outlook for Brain Tumors

The average five-year survival rate for all people with a primary brain tumor is 75.7%.A 2020 study found the average five-year survival rate for people with a nonmalignant tumor was 82.4%. The average five-year relative survival rate for people with a malignant primary brain tumor diagnosis in the study was 23.5%.

Survival rates cannot predict an individual’s prognosis. As well, they don’t reflect the outcomes of newer therapies.

Brain Tumor vs. Brain CancerIf you or a loved one is diagnosed with a brain tumor, make sure the resources you consult are targeted to your condition. While all types of brain cancer are brain tumors, not all brain tumors are brain cancer.Noncancerous (benign) brain tumors can have different treatment protocols and prognoses than cancerous brain tumors. In contrast to a cancerous brain tumor, a benign brain tumor usually grows slowly and is less likely to spread to other areas of your brain.

Brain Tumor vs. Brain Cancer

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with a brain tumor, make sure the resources you consult are targeted to your condition. While all types of brain cancer are brain tumors, not all brain tumors are brain cancer.Noncancerous (benign) brain tumors can have different treatment protocols and prognoses than cancerous brain tumors. In contrast to a cancerous brain tumor, a benign brain tumor usually grows slowly and is less likely to spread to other areas of your brain.

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with a brain tumor, make sure the resources you consult are targeted to your condition. While all types of brain cancer are brain tumors, not all brain tumors are brain cancer.

Noncancerous (benign) brain tumors can have different treatment protocols and prognoses than cancerous brain tumors. In contrast to a cancerous brain tumor, a benign brain tumor usually grows slowly and is less likely to spread to other areas of your brain.

Summary

A brain tumor forms in or near your brain when damaged brain cells multiply and grow out of control. A brain tumor can occur without brain cancer. It can be malignant or benign.

Brain tumors that start in your brain are called primary tumors. They may or may not be cancerous. Brain tumors that form from cancer cells in another part of your body are called secondary brain tumors. These tumors are likely to be cancerous because they carry cells from the source to the brain.

Getting an early and accurate brain tumor diagnosis can help you get the right treatment. Early treatment of a brain tumor can help you avoid having the tumor damage brain function, cognitive/motor skills, or general health.

16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Association of Neurological Surgeries.Brain tumors.National Brain Tumor Society.Brain tumor facts.MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumors.American Brain Tumor Association.Brain tumor education.American Association of Neurological Surgeries.Metastatic brain tumors.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Brain tumors and brain cancer.Moffitt Cancer Center.Brain tumor symptoms.MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumor symptoms.University of Pittsburgh.Brain tumors.Ostrom QT, Patil N, Cioffi G, Waite K, Kruchko C, Barnholtz-Sloan JS.CBTRUS statistical report: primary brain and other central nervous system tumors diagnosed in the United States in 2013-2017.Neuro Oncol. 2020;22(12 Suppl 2):iv1-iv96. doi:10.1093/neuonc/noaa200Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Brain tumors.Cedars Sinai.Brain tumors and brain cancer.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Primary brain tumor diagnosis biopsy, and surgery.MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumor treatment.National Cancer Institute.Drugs approved for brain tumors.Ostrom QT, Cioffi G, Waite K, Kruchko C, Barnholtz-Sloan JS.CBTRUS statistical report: primary brain and other central nervous system tumors diagnosed in the United States in 2014–2018.Neuro-Oncology. 2021;23(Supplement_3):iii1-iii105. doi:10.1093/neuonc/noab200

16 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Association of Neurological Surgeries.Brain tumors.National Brain Tumor Society.Brain tumor facts.MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumors.American Brain Tumor Association.Brain tumor education.American Association of Neurological Surgeries.Metastatic brain tumors.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Brain tumors and brain cancer.Moffitt Cancer Center.Brain tumor symptoms.MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumor symptoms.University of Pittsburgh.Brain tumors.Ostrom QT, Patil N, Cioffi G, Waite K, Kruchko C, Barnholtz-Sloan JS.CBTRUS statistical report: primary brain and other central nervous system tumors diagnosed in the United States in 2013-2017.Neuro Oncol. 2020;22(12 Suppl 2):iv1-iv96. doi:10.1093/neuonc/noaa200Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Brain tumors.Cedars Sinai.Brain tumors and brain cancer.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Primary brain tumor diagnosis biopsy, and surgery.MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumor treatment.National Cancer Institute.Drugs approved for brain tumors.Ostrom QT, Cioffi G, Waite K, Kruchko C, Barnholtz-Sloan JS.CBTRUS statistical report: primary brain and other central nervous system tumors diagnosed in the United States in 2014–2018.Neuro-Oncology. 2021;23(Supplement_3):iii1-iii105. doi:10.1093/neuonc/noab200

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Association of Neurological Surgeries.Brain tumors.National Brain Tumor Society.Brain tumor facts.MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumors.American Brain Tumor Association.Brain tumor education.American Association of Neurological Surgeries.Metastatic brain tumors.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Brain tumors and brain cancer.Moffitt Cancer Center.Brain tumor symptoms.MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumor symptoms.University of Pittsburgh.Brain tumors.Ostrom QT, Patil N, Cioffi G, Waite K, Kruchko C, Barnholtz-Sloan JS.CBTRUS statistical report: primary brain and other central nervous system tumors diagnosed in the United States in 2013-2017.Neuro Oncol. 2020;22(12 Suppl 2):iv1-iv96. doi:10.1093/neuonc/noaa200Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Brain tumors.Cedars Sinai.Brain tumors and brain cancer.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Primary brain tumor diagnosis biopsy, and surgery.MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumor treatment.National Cancer Institute.Drugs approved for brain tumors.Ostrom QT, Cioffi G, Waite K, Kruchko C, Barnholtz-Sloan JS.CBTRUS statistical report: primary brain and other central nervous system tumors diagnosed in the United States in 2014–2018.Neuro-Oncology. 2021;23(Supplement_3):iii1-iii105. doi:10.1093/neuonc/noab200

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National Brain Tumor Society.Brain tumor facts.

MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumors.

American Brain Tumor Association.Brain tumor education.

American Association of Neurological Surgeries.Metastatic brain tumors.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Brain tumors and brain cancer.

Moffitt Cancer Center.Brain tumor symptoms.

MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumor symptoms.

University of Pittsburgh.Brain tumors.

Ostrom QT, Patil N, Cioffi G, Waite K, Kruchko C, Barnholtz-Sloan JS.CBTRUS statistical report: primary brain and other central nervous system tumors diagnosed in the United States in 2013-2017.Neuro Oncol. 2020;22(12 Suppl 2):iv1-iv96. doi:10.1093/neuonc/noaa200

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Brain tumors.

Cedars Sinai.Brain tumors and brain cancer.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Primary brain tumor diagnosis biopsy, and surgery.

MD Anderson Cancer Center.Brain tumor treatment.

National Cancer Institute.Drugs approved for brain tumors.

Ostrom QT, Cioffi G, Waite K, Kruchko C, Barnholtz-Sloan JS.CBTRUS statistical report: primary brain and other central nervous system tumors diagnosed in the United States in 2014–2018.Neuro-Oncology. 2021;23(Supplement_3):iii1-iii105. doi:10.1093/neuonc/noab200

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