Decoding Glioblastoma: Recognizing the 10 Key Indicators

It might seem obvious that a headache would be a symptom of brain cancer. However, please keep in mind that just because you have a headache does not mean you have glioblastoma. People get headaches for all types of reasons. From tension headaches to migraines, you might have a sore noggin because the muscles in you strained your neck muscles. Lack of sleep to a missed meal can lead to uncomfortable head pressure as well as anxiety or depression.

However, if you continue to have headaches day after day (with no clear connection as to why), then you should visit your doctor. Sometimes, a headache can be your body’s method of alerting you to another problem that you cannot feel any other way.

Just like headaches, there are multiple types of seizures and people might experience them for different reasons. There are two broad types of seizures that vary depending on the location in the brain, consciousness, and other motor factors. People might only experience a seizure after a brain injury, stroke, or certain infections. However, brain tumors can also cause seizures to occur.

Both short-term and long-term memory loss comes from different things like the other items on this list. For example, a traumatic accident, drug or alcohol abuse, and blood vessel disease can all lead to memory issues. Alzheimer’s disease occurs when irregularities of the brain occur including a progressive loss of cells. Glioblastoma can also lead to memory problems. If you cannot remember things very well, or a loved one points out subtle changes in your memory habits, you should consult with your physician.

Although disorders such as premenstrual syndrome, bipolar, or depression can cause a major change in your mood, so can a brain tumor. It is okay to have minor changes in your emotions throughout the day, but if you notice rapid switches, then you should try to monitor your behavior. If you realize you are having mood swings and going from happy to sad to mad back to happy all within a short period, especially with no apparent trigger, then you should seek professional medical advice.

Similar to mood swings, personality changes deal with your mental health and, thus, are involve the brain. Glioblastoma invading your normal tissue can cause changes in your personality or behavior including confusion, delusions, or even hallucinations. Besides mood extremes and personality changes, do your close friends and family notice something different about you? If things around you just don’t seem the same for no apparent reason (like you just moved to a new neighborhood or got a new job) then maybe you should talk to your family doctor about personality changes.

When you have a mood swing or deal with personality changes, then you can also experience thinking problems. These are all linked to glioblastoma, because, after all, the brain affects all of these things. You might not only feel delirium, but you may just have trouble processing your thoughts or formulating them to make sense when vocalized. You should not feel embarrassed or ashamed by these signs and symptoms of glioblastoma. Mental health needs to be addressed, diagnosed and treated for the betterment of your life.

Your ability to talk might be affected by a brain tumor. This sign or symptom of glioblastoma is intertwined with the other items on this list. If you have a seizure, you may experience trouble speaking afterward. With mood swings and personality changes, your speech is obviously affected as well. The brain controls speech patterns, so if you are not able to speak clearly like usual, you need to visit your doctor immediately.

It is common for people to need reading glasses as they get older. However, if you have a growing brain tumor on a particular side of your head, you may experience this particular sign and symptom of glioblastoma for another reason. Besides blurred vision, double vision can also occur. This sign may appear in just one eye or both and can be associated with muscle

You have probably dealt with these flu-like symptoms on multiple occasions throughout your life. Whether you only feel like you have to puke, or you actually throw up, it is not a pleasant feeling. Luckily, there are several ways to suppress these unwanted symptoms. However, if they persist for days or more at a time, then you need to visit your doctors to not only get some better treatment but to explore the idea of it being an underlying symptom of another disease such as glioblastoma. Like with headaches, please remember that when you are nauseous or vomit, it is not necessarily caused by a brain tumor.

Similar to headaches, nausea, and vomiting, drowsiness is another broad symptom. Nevertheless, feeling overly tired is a sign of cancer. If you do not get a full eight hours of sleep at night for whatever reason, it is natural to feel a little restless the next morning. However, unless you were up tossing and turning then you should not need a long nap every single afternoon. If you have one or more of these signs and symptoms of glioblastoma, please make an appointment to speak with your doctor.