Just as you are a unique individual, each brain tumor is unique also. General statements about symptoms can be made, but it might not be possible to predict exactly what your tumor will do. In this chapter, we hope to help you understand why symptoms occur by explaining the functions of the different parts of the brain. Because symptoms are often vague and confusing, a brain tumor might be difficult to diagnose.
Symptoms produced by a brain tumor often mimic the symptoms of other diseases and vice versa.
Because symptoms can develop gradually, and because they can be subtle, it might be a long time between their onset and diagnosis. Some symptoms are due to increased pressure caused by the growing tumor. Other, more specific, symptoms are related to the tumor's location, type and size. Headaches Headaches are a common initial symptom and the majority of patients experience headaches sometime during the course of their illness. Typical brain tumor headaches come and go and usually do not throb.