4 Unexpectected Brain Tumor Symptoms

Getting diagnosed with a brain tumor is as concerning as you may expect. Whether it’s benign or malignant, brain tumors are serious and require immediate medical attention. 

Some common symptoms of a brain tumor include blinding headaches, seizures, or sudden vision problems. However, in some cases, you may only experience subtle signs that don’t immediately point to a brain tumor until the condition is fatal.

Symptoms, like mood swings or constant nausea, are often easily overlooked or linked to stress. However, when it comes to brain tumors, every second counts, which is why Dr. Phillip Henkin, an experienced neurosurgeon at the NeuroSpine Center in Tampa, Florida, encourages all his patients to come in for medical evaluation at the faintest sign of a brain tumor.

Read on to learn about four unexpected ways brain tumors can present.

1. Unexplained personality changes

When you experience sudden mood swings or personality changes, you are likely to assume you’re stressed or are just naturally evolving with age. While both factors can cause shifts in your personality, the culprit could also be a brain tumor. 

Your frontal lobe is responsible for your personality, mood, and behavior. If there’s a tumor on your frontal lobe, it can significantly affect how you feel and interact with the world.

You may notice you’ve become more irritable, quicker to anger, depressed, or have lost interest in activities you once enjoyed. Some people may also become unusually quiet and withdrawn.

While these symptoms are more typical with mental health conditions, when they are sudden and unexplained, you should see Dr. Henkin to ensure it’s not a brain tumor. 

2. Persistent nausea or vomiting with no apparent cause

It’s normal to experience nausea occasionally. It could be something you ate, a bug, or even anxiety. However, if you are experiencing persistent nausea or vomiting with no apparent cause, it could be an unexpected sign of a brain tumor.

Increased pressure inside your skull as a result of a brain tumor could cause nausea and vomiting. The tumor blocks the normal flow of the fluid surrounding your brain, causing pressure to build up.

You’ll notice that taking over-the-counter medications for nausea or trying home remedies, like eating ginger or drinking peppermint tea, won’t relieve your nausea in this case.

Get medical attention immediately if you experience these symptoms, particularly headaches, dizziness, or vision changes. 

3. Sudden hearing loss or ringing in your ears 

Hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in your ears) are typically caused by ear problems, such as ear infections. However, if they occur suddenly without any injury or trauma to your ears, it could also be a sign of a brain tumor.

Tumors that grow near your auditory nerves or in the areas of your brain that process sound could lead to hearing loss or tinnitus. You’re also likely to notice these symptoms worsen over time if they start mildly.

At NeuroSpine Center, Dr. Henkin can determine if a brain tumor is affecting your hearing and treat it accordingly. 

Unusual sensations or numbness in your arms and legs

If you sit in one position for too long, you get pins and needles when you try to move. You don’t worry about the numbness and tingling because you know it’ll pass soon. However, if you experience these sensations regularly, or if they’re accompanied by weakness or clumsy movements, it could be an early sign of a brain tumor.

Brain tumors can affect parts of the brain that control motor function and sensation. For example, a tumor pressing against your parietal lobe can cause numbness, tingling, or weakness on one side of your body. These symptoms may begin subtly and can slowly progress over time.

Brain tumors are serious, and recognizing even the most subtle signs can make a critical difference in your treatment outcome. While symptoms like headaches and vision changes are more common, unexpected signs such as personality changes and sudden hearing loss should concern you.

If you or someone you love is experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t wait. Schedule a consultation online with Dr. Henkin at NeuroSpine Center or call 813-651-3300 today.