Non-cancerous (benign) brain tumours
Overview
A brain tumour is where cells in the brain grow in an uncontrolled way. Non-cancerous tumours (also called low-grade or benign tumours) usually grow slowly and are less likely to spread than cancerous tumours.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a brain tumour depend on which part of the brain is affected. As non-cancerous tumours tend to grow slowly, the symptoms usually come on gradually and may get worse slowly over months or years. Symptoms of a brain tumour can include: headaches that get worse over time or do not go away – although it's unusual for a headache to be the only symptomseizures (fits)feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting)feeling sleepy or dizzychanges in your eyesight, such as blurred or double visionchanges in behaviour or personality, such as confusion or problems with memory and concentrationproblems with speech, movement and balance Brain tumours can affect people of any age. They're more common in older adults, but some types can affect young adults or children.
Causes
It's not known what causes most non-cancerous brain tumours. But there are some things that can increase your risk, including: your age – brain tumours are most common in older adults (but they can affect young adults and children too)having close relatives who've had brain tumourshaving hadradiotherapyto your head before (for example, if you had ahead or neck canceras a child)having a rare genetic condition that causes tumours, such asneurofibromatosisor tuberous sclerosis
Treatment
Non-cancerous brain tumours are usually treatable. Your treatment depends on the type of tumour it is, where it is in your brain and any symptoms you have. You may not need treatment straight away because non-cancerous tumours tend to grow slowly. You might just have regular check-ups and scans to monitor it. If treatment is needed, the main treatment is surgery to remove the tumour. This usually involves cutting out a small piece of skull so the surgeon can remove the tumour. The piece is then fixed back in place and the cut in your skin is closed with stitches. Some people may need other treatments, such as: radiotherapy(where radiation is used to kill the tumour cells)chemotherapy(where medicines are used to kill the tumour cells)treatment for any symptoms caused by the tumour (for example, medicines for nausea, seizures or pain)