The location of the tumour determines the symptoms resulting from a brain metastasis. For example, vision issues could result from a tumour in the part of the brain responsible for visual processing.
While each patient experiences brain metastases differently, typical symptoms include:
- Seizures
- Headaches (sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomit) especially in the morning)
- Hemiparesis is the inability to utilise one arm or leg due to weakness on that side of the body
- Cognitive issues, such as mood swings and short-term memory loss
- Inability to speak or comprehend speech
- Issues with vision, especially one side at a time
Brain metastases can also cause severe symptoms by:
- Increasing pressure on the surrounding tissue
- Occupying space and raising the intracranial pressure (the pressure inside the skull)
- Causing the brain’s fluid to accumulate
- Preventing the natural flow of cerebrospinal fluid through the brain’s cavities
- Resulting in cerebral haemorrhage
