Brain tumours
Who is affected
Brain tumours can affect people of any age, including children, although they tend to be more common in older adults.
More than 9,000 people are diagnosed with primarybrain tumours in the UK each year, ofwhich about halfare benign and half are malignant. Many othersare diagnosedwith secondary brain tumours.
The exact reason why some people develop primary brain tumours is unknown,but it's thought that certain genetic conditions such as neurofibromatosis type 1 and tuberous sclerosis and previous radiotherapy to the head increaseyour risk.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Brain tumours are growths of cells in the brain that multiply in an abnormal, uncontrollable way. They can either be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign).
Symptoms of a brain tumour
The symptoms of a brain tumour vary depending on the exact part of the brain that's affected. Common symptoms include: severe, persistent headaches seizures (fits) persistent nausea, vomiting and
When to see your GP
See your GP if youhave persistent symptoms of a brain tumour. While it's unlikely to be a tumour, it's best to be sure by getting a proper diagnosis. If your GP is unable to identify a more likely ca
Who is affected
Brain tumours can affect people of any age, including children, although they tend to be more common in older adults. More than 9,000 people are diagnosed with primarybrain tumours in the UK each yea
Treatment and outlook
The main treatment for most brain tumours is surgery, which aims to remove as much of the abnormal tissue as possible. It's not always possible to remove the entire tumour, so further treatment with
Support and further information
As well as reading the separate pages on benign brain tumours and malignant brain tumours , you may find the following websites useful sources of information and support: The Brain Tumour Charity
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