As a tumour grows inside the skull it presses on the surrounding brain tissues creating pressure. Both benign and malignant tumours may also cause the brain around them to swell.

The symptoms vary widely and depend on what part of the brain the tumour is pressing on. Sometimes when a tumour develops slowly the symptoms develop so gradually that they are hardly noticed.

A headache is often the first symptom. Most headaches are not due to brain tumours – however, you should see your doctor straight away if you have headaches that are severe, persistent or recurrent.

Other symptoms can include: 

• nausea and vomiting;
• difficulty speaking or thinking of words;
• disturbed vision, hearing, smell or taste;
• weakness or paralysis in part of the body;
• loss of balance; and
• general irritability, drowsiness, or a change in personality.

These symptoms may be also be caused by other conditions, however, they should still be checked by your doctor.

A brain tumour may also cause seizures (also known as fits or convulsions) by affecting the nerve cells in the brain. Seizures may simply be a loss of consciousness for a few seconds, or they may involve muscle spasms or abnormal movements for half a minute or more.

For more information on symptoms, please click here for more detailed information  about what to look for as provided by the American Brain Tumour Association.