Overview
A brain tumour is an abnormal growth of cells in or around the brain. Tumours can be primary (starting in brain tissue) or secondary (spreading from cancer elsewhere in the body). They can be benign (slow-growing, non-cancerous) or malignant (fast-growing, cancerous). Location and type determine symptoms and outcomes more than size alone.
How common is it?
Brain tumours affect about 16,000 people in the UK each year. They are the leading cause of cancer death in children and in adults under 40.
Causes and risk factors
Most brain tumours have no identifiable cause. In secondary (metastatic) tumours, cancer cells from lung, breast, kidney, or skin melanoma travel through the bloodstream and form deposits in the brain.
Common risk factors
- Previous radiation to the head (strongest known risk factor)
- Rare inherited conditions such as neurofibromatosis or Li-Fraumeni syndrome
- Age: risk increases with age for most types
- Immunosuppression
- Secondary tumours from breast, lung, kidney, melanoma
Symptoms
- Persistent or progressive headaches, often worse in the morning
- Seizures with no prior history
- Gradual weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- Personality or mood changes
- Memory problems or confusion
- Vision or speech difficulties
- Nausea and vomiting not explained by other causes
When to see a doctor
See a doctor promptly for new or changed headaches, especially with early-morning vomiting, new seizures, or any progressive neurological change. These are not typical migraine patterns.
Diagnosis
MRI scan with contrast is the primary diagnostic tool. Biopsy of tumour tissue obtained during or before surgery gives the definitive diagnosis. Blood tests and CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis look for a primary cancer site if metastasis is suspected.
Treatments
Surgery
Surgical removal (resection) is the primary treatment where possible. Maximising how much tumour is safely removed improves outcomes while preserving brain function.
Radiotherapy
High-energy radiation targeted at tumour cells. Used after surgery for malignant tumours or alone for tumours that cannot be surgically removed safely.
Chemotherapy and targeted therapy
Temozolomide is the standard chemotherapy for glioblastoma. Targeted drugs and immunotherapy are advancing rapidly, particularly for specific tumour genetic profiles.
Self-care and lifestyle
- Rehabilitation therapy addresses specific deficits in speech, movement, or cognition after surgery
- Corticosteroids reduce brain swelling and can dramatically improve symptoms
- Anti-epileptic medication is needed for anyone who has had seizures
- Palliative care improves quality of life at all stages of treatment
Prevention
There are no proven lifestyle modifications that reliably prevent brain tumours. Regular monitoring is advised for people with known inherited risk conditions.