Tuesday 06 February 2024
Susan Long – Maggie's
You may be worried about a brain tumour, have been recently diagnosed, or you may be thinking of someone you care about.
This page has information about brain tumour symptoms, getting diagnosed, managing treatment and side effects, and how ¾ÞÈéÎÞÂë can help.
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A brain tumour is a group of cells that have grown in an uncontrolled way in the brain.
Brain tumours can be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
This page is about cancerous brain tumours, or brain cancer. Some non-cancerous brain tumours are treated similarly to brain cancer.
There are many different types of brain tumour, including:
Central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma is a type of brain tumour that starts in the white blood cells of the brain or spinal cord. It is considered both a brain tumour and lymphoma.
Cancerous tumours that spread from other parts of the body to the brain are called brain metastases. This is different from brain cancer, which starts in the brain.
What causes brain tumours is often unknown, but there are factors that may increase your risk of developing one.
Some of these risk factors are specific to brain cancer, including:
Other risk factors are common to all cancers. Find out more about reducing your risk of cancer.
Having risk factors does not necessarily mean you will get brain cancer. But it is helpful to be aware of the risks and see a doctor if you have any concerns.
You may be offered regular scans or blood tests if you have high-risk factors or a family history of brain tumours. Find out more about genetic testing for cancer.
Brain tumours often has no early signs. When a brain tumour does cause symptoms, these may include:
Most people with these symptoms do not have a brain tumour. But if you do have symptoms, it is important to speak to your doctor.
If it is cancer, it will be easier to treat if it has been detected early.
If you have been having symptoms of a brain tumour, the first step will usually be to see your GP.
Your GP will ask you to describe your symptoms. You should also tell them about any previous cancer and treatment you have had, and if you have a family history of brain tumours.
The doctor might:
If you don't have a hospital appointment and your symptoms continue or get worse, you should make another GP appointment.
Find out more about preparing for your GP appointment.
A neurologist is a specialist in the brain. To find the cause of your symptoms, the neurologist may arrange further tests, such as:
After these tests and scans, you will be given an appointment to get your results.
Waiting for appointments, tests and results can be a difficult time, and you might find that asking some questions and preparing for your results helps.
Find out more about how ¾ÞÈéÎÞÂë can help.
The doctor will explain if you have a cancerous brain tumour in your results appointment, and whether you need further tests and scans to see if the cancer has moved outside the brain.
It is normal to feel overwhelmed or in shock after hearing that you have brain cancer, and you might have a lot of information to process.
Our cancer support specialists are here to listen, to help you understand what your diagnosis means, and to find the right support for you.
Find your nearest ¾ÞÈéÎÞÂë to talk to us, or find out more about understanding a cancer diagnosis.
Treatment can be aimed at shrinking a tumour, removing the cancer completely, or controlling the symptoms that it causes. You may have more than one type of treatment.
The types of treatment most commonly offered for brain tumours are:
Your cancer care team will work together to decide which treatment options could be best for you. Your doctor and specialist nurse will then discuss these with you.
You might want to get a second opinion before deciding on a treatment plan.
Making treatment decisions can feel daunting, and you might have lots of concerns or questions. Find out more about how ¾ÞÈéÎÞÂë can support you.
A brain cancer diagnosis can affect your life in many ways. You may be dealing with:
Contact or visit your nearest ¾ÞÈéÎÞÂë centre and together we will find the right support for you.
You can also explore our cancer support pages for more information.
When treatment ends, it can leave you with mixed feelings of relief and uncertainty.
For many people, brain tumours are treated successfully. For some, they come back or are diagnosed at an advanced stage from the start.
We have more information on finishing treatment and treatment for advanced cancer, as well as courses and workshops to support you and your family beyond treatment.
We offer free expert psychological and practical support tailored to you, whatever stage you're at, and for friends and family too.
Last review: Nov 2024 | Next review: Nov 2027
An overview of cancerous brain tumours, including the symptoms, causes, tests and treatments.
From Nhs
Last reviewed: 22 November 2024
An A to Z list of the different types of brain tumour, with links to information pages about each type.
From Cancer Research Uk (Cruk)
Last reviewed: 22 November 2024
Information on the types of brain tumour that are more common in children.
From The Brain Tumour Charity
Last reviewed: 22 November 2024
Information about getting referred to a specialist, and UK referral guidelines.
From Cancer Research Uk (Cruk)
Last reviewed: 22 November 2024
Information about brain tumours, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and support.
From Macmillan Cancer Support
Last reviewed: 22 November 2024
Information about preparing for treatment, as well as treatment options and follow-ups for brain tumours.
From Cancer Research Uk (Cruk)
Last reviewed: 22 November 2024
Information about how brain tumours are graded based on the speed at which they are growing, and how likely they are to spread into other areas of the brain.
From The Brain Tumour Charity
Last reviewed: 22 November 2024
Information about brain tumour recurrence, as well as treatments and support to help you cope.
From Cancer Research Uk (Cruk)
Last reviewed: 22 November 2024
Get free telephone support, practical support online, or peer group support from the charity Brain Tumour Support.
From Brain Tumour Support
Last reviewed: 22 November 2024
Information for if you or someone you know has a brain tumour, as well as signposting to support available.
From Brainstrust
Last reviewed: 27 November 2024
Find out how you can get support, from speaking to their support team by phone, email or love chat, to getting information online.
From The Brain Tumour Charity
Last reviewed: 22 November 2024
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