Brain Tumour Treatment: Recognising Signs and Exploring Options
Discover the early signs of a brain tumour, how it is diagnosed, and the latest treatment options available, from surgery to advanced targeted therapies. Stay informed and empowered.
Written by Dr. M L Ezhilarasan
Reviewed by Dr. Rohinipriyanka Pondugula MBBS
Last updated on 18th Sep, 2025
Introduction
A diagnosis of a brain tumour can feel overwhelming, bringing with it a whirlwind of questions and concerns. But knowledge is power. Understanding the potential signs of a brain tumour and the advanced treatment options available today is the first step towards navigating this challenging journey with confidence. Brain tumours are complex, and their symptoms can be subtle and easily mistaken for other, less serious conditions. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the warning signs you shouldn't ignore, demystify the diagnostic process, and detail the modern, multifaceted treatment strategies used by specialists. Whether you're seeking information for yourself or a loved one, our goal is to provide clarity and hope, emphasising that a proactive approach and early intervention are your greatest allies.
The Critical First Step: Recognising the Warning Signs
The symptoms of a brain tumour are as varied as the tumours themselves, largely depending on the tumour's size, type, and location. Some early symptoms of a brain tumour in adults can be vague, like a persistent headache, which is why they are often overlooked. However, recognising a pattern or a combination of symptoms is crucial.
Most Common Symptoms of a Brain Tumour
The most frequent signs include:
New-Onset or Changing Headaches: Often worse in the morning or when lying down and may be accompanied by nausea.
Seizures: Especially in someone with no history of them, a seizure can be a primary indicator.
Cognitive or Personality Changes: Unexplained confusion, memory problems, and shifts in behaviour or personality.
Nausea and Vomiting: Unrelated to other illnesses and persistent.
Vision or Hearing Problems: Blurred vision, double vision, or gradual loss of peripheral vision; ringing in the ears or hearing loss.
Weakness or Numbness: Gradual loss of sensation or movement in an arm or leg, often on one side of the body.
Symptoms Based on Tumour Location
Where the tumour is located directly affects the symptoms:
Frontal Lobe: Changes in personality, judgement, and reasoning; loss of movement on one side of the body.
Temporal Lobe: Difficulty with speech, memory, and sometimes seizures accompanied by strange smells or feelings.
Parietal Lobe: Problems with spatial perception, reading, and writing; numbness.
Occipital Lobe: Vision loss in one or both eyes.
Cerebellum: Loss of coordination, balance, and fine motor skills.
Brain Stem: Can cause double vision, difficulty swallowing, and walking problems.
When to See a Doctor Immediately
If you experience any new, persistent, or worsening neurological symptom, it is essential to seek medical advice. If symptoms like severe headaches, seizures, or sudden weakness persist beyond two weeks, consult a doctor online with Apollo24|7 for further evaluation. Early consultation can make a significant difference in outcomes.
Consult a Specialist for Personalised Advice
How Are Brain Tumours Diagnosed?
If a brain tumour is suspected, a neurologist will conduct a thorough evaluation to confirm its presence and identify its characteristics.
The Neurological Examination
This first step tests your vision, hearing, balance, coordination, strength, and reflexes. Difficulties in one or more areas can provide clues about the part of your brain that might be affected.
Imaging Tests: MRI and CT Scans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This is the gold standard for diagnosing brain tumours. It provides detailed cross-sectional images of the brain, often using a contrast dye to highlight abnormalities. Advanced techniques like functional MRI (fMRI) can even map brain activity.
Computerised Tomography (CT) Scan: While not as detailed as an MRI for brain tissue, a CT scan is faster and often used in emergency settings to identify bleeding and large tumours.
The Role of Biopsy in Confirming Diagnosis
Imaging can show a mass, but a biopsy is often needed to determine if it's benign or malignant. How a brain biopsy is performed involves surgically removing a small sample of tissue, which is then analysed by a neuropathologist. This analysis reveals the tumour grade and specific genetic markers, which are critical for planning targeted therapy.
Surgical Interventions: The Primary Treatment
For many brain tumours, surgery is the first and most effective treatment line. The goal is to remove as much of the tumour as possible without damaging surrounding healthy brain tissue.
Craniotomy and Tumour Resection
In a standard craniotomy, a neurosurgeon removes a section of the skull (a bone flap) to access the brain and excise the tumour. The bone flap is typically replaced after the procedure. The extent of removal (resection) depends on the tumour's location and its connection to critical brain areas.
Advanced Techniques: Awake Craniotomy and Neuroendoscopy
Awake Craniotomy: Used when a tumour is near regions controlling speech or movement. The patient is awakened during surgery to communicate with the surgical team, ensuring critical functions are preserved while the tumour is removed.
Neuroendoscopy: A minimally invasive technique where a thin, lighted tube (endoscope) is inserted through small holes in the skull or through the nose (endoscopic endonasal surgery) to remove tumours, leading to faster recovery times.
Radiation Therapy: Targeting Cancer Cells Precisely
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, like X-rays or protons, to kill tumour cells. It's often used after surgery to eliminate remaining cells or for inoperable tumours.
External Beam Radiation
This common approach focuses radiation from a machine outside your body onto the tumour site. Techniques like Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) allow doctors to shape the beams and adjust their intensity to match the tumour's exact shape, sparing healthy tissue.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
Despite its name, SRS isn't surgery. It's a non-invasive procedure that delivers a highly focused, intense dose of radiation to a small, precise area. Gamma Knife surgery success rates are very high for treating small tumours, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), and trigeminal neuralgia, often in a single session.
Cutting-Edge and Targeted Therapies
Modern oncology has moved beyond traditional methods to include highly specific treatments.
Targeted Drug Therapy
These drugs specifically target abnormalities present within cancer cells. For example, in certain aggressive brain tumours like glioblastoma, drugs can target the blood vessels that feed tumours (angiogenesis inhibitors) or specific genetic mutations, causing the cancer cells to die while minimising damage to normal cells.
Immunotherapy for Brain Tumours
This innovative approach harnesses the body's immune system to fight cancer. It includes checkpoint inhibitors, which help the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells, and cancer vaccines, which are being actively researched in clinical trials for brain tumours.
Tumour Treating Fields (TTFields)
This novel treatment for glioblastoma involves wearing a device on the scalp that delivers low-intensity, alternating electric fields to disrupt cancer cell division. It's used in combination with chemotherapy and has been shown to improve survival rates.
Conclusion: Empowerment Through Knowledge and Action
Navigating the world of brain tumour diagnosis and treatment is undoubtedly challenging, but it is a path you do not have to walk alone. Modern medicine has made incredible strides, offering a robust arsenal of options from precision surgery to innovative targeted therapies. Recognising the signs early and seeking expert medical guidance is the most powerful step you can take. This journey requires a partnership between you, your loved ones, and a dedicated team of healthcare professionals. Remember, every case is unique, and treatment plans are highly personalised. Stay informed, ask questions, and advocate for your health. If your condition does not improve after trying initial management methods, or if you have received a diagnosis, booking a physical visit to a specialist with Apollo24|7 can provide you with a clear, personalised path forward. There is always hope, and with continued research and advanced care, outcomes are continually improving.
Consult a Specialist for Personalised Advice
Consult a Specialist for Personalised Advice
Dr. Mainak Baksi
General Practitioner
13 Years • MBBS , MD (MPH)
Howrah
Mainak Baksi Clinic, Howrah
(50+ Patients)
Dr. Shesham Srinidhi
General Practitioner
5 Years • MD(physician)
Hyderabad
Apollo 24|7 Clinic, Hyderabad
(125+ Patients)
Dr. Jawwad Mohammed Kaleem
General Practitioner
4 Years • MBBS
Hyderabad
Apollo 24|7 Clinic, Hyderabad
Dr. Rohinipriyanka Reddy
General Practitioner
9 Years • MBBS
Hyderabad
Apollo 24|7 Clinic, Hyderabad
Dr. Dhankecha Mayank
General Practitioner
6 Years • MBBS
Gujarat
Apollo 24|7 Virtual Clinic - Gujarat, Gujarat
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between a malignant and a benign brain tumour?
A benign brain tumour is non-cancerous. It grows slowly, has clear borders, and rarely spreads. However, it can still be serious if it presses on critical areas of the brain. A malignant brain tumour is cancerous, grows rapidly, has irregular borders, and can invade nearby brain tissue.
2. Can you fully recover from a brain tumour?
Recovery depends on the tumour's type, grade, location, and how early it was treated. Many benign brain tumour treatment plans lead to a full recovery after complete surgical removal. For malignant tumours, while a cure can be more challenging, treatment often focuses on controlling growth, managing symptoms, and maintaining quality of life for as long as possible.
3. What are the common side effects of brain radiation therapy?
Common side effects of brain radiation therapy include fatigue, hair loss in the treated area, scalp irritation, memory or cognitive difficulties, and headaches. These are often temporary, but some long-term effects can occur, which your oncology team will manage.
4. Are all brain tumours hereditary?
No, the vast majority of brain tumours are not hereditary. They occur sporadically due to unknown causes or acquired genetic mutations. Only a very small percentage (5-10%) are linked to inherited genetic syndromes like Neurofibromatosis or Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
5. What is the success rate for brain tumour surgery?
The 'success rate' is measured by the extent of tumour removal and preservation of neurological function. For many benign tumours, complete resection is curative. For malignant tumours, success is about maximising safe removal to improve the effectiveness of subsequent treatments like radiation and chemotherapy, thereby extending and improving quality of life.