How to detect the early signs of brain tumor by yourself

Tumors that occur in the skull are called brain tumors. Brain tumors are divided into two types: benign and malignant, each accounting for about half of the tumors, and can be divided into two categories: primary and secondary according to the origin of the tumors. Among primary brain tumors, glioma is the most common, accounting for more than 40%; secondary brain tumors are mostly metastasized from primary cancers of nasopharynx, lung, breast, liver, kidney, etc. Brain tumors can occur at any age. Brain tumors can occur at any age, with two peak incidences around 10 years old and 30-40 years old, with little gender difference. In adults, approximately 70% of brain tumors occur in the cerebral hemispheres, lateral ventricles and pituitary gland. In pediatric patients, 70% of tumors occur in the cerebellum, quadrigeminal ventricles, and brainstem. The signs and symptoms of brain tumors vary depending on the location of the tumor. Since the cranial shell is not elastic, the occupancy caused by the growth and expansion of intracranial tumor will definitely compress the adjacent normal tissues and disrupt their functions to produce corresponding symptoms. Therefore, whether benign or malignant, primary or secondary, if left untreated, they can be a serious threat to life. Brain tumor can be clinically divided into five periods according to the symptoms it exhibits: (1) asymptomatic; (2) local symptoms only; (3) increased intracranial pressure; (4) impaired consciousness; (5) lethargy symptoms. Within these five periods, the asymptomatic period and the period with only local symptoms are easy to ignore, and only when there is an increase of intracranial pressure, it is easy to think of the occurrence of brain tumor. Brain tumor often has the following clinical manifestations: (1) symptoms of increased intracranial pressure because the growth of brain tumor increases intracranial pressure, three main symptoms appear: one, headache, which is the most common symptom of brain tumor, is often intermittent in early stage, and further develops into persistent and progressive pain, the nature of which can be pulsating dull pain, distension or pressure pain, cracking-like pain. The site of headache is mostly in the forehead, both temporal areas or posterior occipital area, and the site of pain does not coincide with the site of tumor. Secondly, vomiting, caused by intracranial pressure increase due to occupying lesion or stimulation of vagus nerve. Vomiting often occurs in the morning, or when the headache is severe. Vomiting is jet-like, without nausea and not related to diet. Third, visual disturbance, caused by optic papillary edema due to increased intracranial pressure. Optic papillary edema can be detected with fundoscopy. Patients may exhibit decreased visual acuity, blurred vision, and may have diplopia, hemianopia or blindness. (2) Psychiatric symptoms patients have significant memory loss. The patient’s memory is significantly impaired, and he or her family members find that he or she often “loses things”, or is slow to react, and his or her thinking ability, comprehension, and orientation ability are reduced. In severe cases, dementia, drowsiness or even coma may occur. (3) Convulsions and epilepsy are mostly caused by chronic growth of brain tumor. Patients may appear sudden fainting, twitching of mouth, eyes, face and limbs, foaming at mouth and urinary incontinence, and may gradually wake up after a few minutes. Some patients may show twitching of one limb or one side of the upper and lower limbs. (4) Other manifestations of the disease include dizziness, unstable walking, tinnitus, hearing loss, facial numbness, aphasia, menstrual disorders, limb paralysis, hemiplegia, and endocrine disorders. When a patient self-identifies signs of brain tumor, he or she should immediately go to a hospital to see a cranial surgeon or neurologist for an examination. Neurological examination includes cranial nerves, motor function, sensory, reflexes and pathological reflexes. X-ray examination, various imaging examinations, ultrasonic examination, EEG examination, radioisotope examination, CT examination, MRI examination, etc. can also be performed selectively. We will strive for early and clear diagnosis and early treatment.