Prevent By Brain Tumors

How can I prevent brain tumors?

Currently, there are no proven strategies to prevent the development of primary brain tumors. Studies of diets rich in anti-oxidants have not shown any benefits in terms of lowering the risk of developing primary brain tumors.

What screening tests are available?

Primary brain tumors are rare enough that they are not screened for with any specific tests. The best way to pick up a diagnosis of a brain tumor early is to see your doctor regularly for a thorough physical examination and to report any new, worrisome symptoms promptly. People with genetic disorders that predispose them for the development of primary brain tumors will often get periodic imaging studies of their brains to look for any evidence of abnormalities.

What are the signs of brain tumors?

Unfortunately, the very early stages of brain tumors may not cause any symptoms. As the tumor grows in size, it can produce a variety of symptoms, depending on its location and what areas of the brain it is putting pressure on, including:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Seizures
• Memory loss
• Weakness
• Difficulty walking / balance problems
• Visual changes
• Problems with speech and language
• Personality changes
• Thought processing problems

Many of these symptoms are non-specific, and could represent a variety of different conditions; however, your doctor needs to see you if you have any of these problems. Because the brain controls so many different functions, the symptoms caused by brain tumors can be extremely variable. Headache is the most common symptom for patients with brain tumors, occurring in about 50% of cases.