Experts are urging people to know the "red-flag" signs of a brain tumour.
According to the Brain Tumour Charity UK, around 11,700 people in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year. But while relatively rare, people are being urged to know the tell-tale signs and visit their GP.
The ECHO has reported on many cases this year of families receiving the devastating diagnosis after noticing something wasn't quite right. Ellie Musgrove was experiencing headaches and impaired vision shortly after her birthday, but after a trip to the optician, she was instantly rushed to hospital.
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Back in May, doctors told a young boy he had a viral infection after vomiting and struggling to walk straight, but he was eventually diagnosed with a brain tumour. Similarly, a mum began experiencing "weird smells" such as "burning".
Karen Rigby, from St Helens, was diagnosed with glioblastoma stage four, a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumour in November 2020. However, the 60-year-old's journey began back in 2015 when she started experiencing symptoms.
Philip Boal, 44, knew something was wrong when he started to feel "spaced out and sick" while at work and was "getting bouts of dizziness". He'd said: "Sometimes the floor felt spongy when I walked. It’s all a blur."
The 'red flag' signs of a brain tumour include:
- Headaches
- Changes in vision
- Seizures
- Nausea and dizziness
- Tiredness
- Loss of taste and smell
According to the NHS, brain tumours are graded according to how fast they grow and how likely they are to grow back after treatment. There are non-cancerous brain tumours and cancerous brain tumours. Other symptoms can include mental or behavioural changes such as memory problems or personality changes as well as progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.
People are being urged to see a GP if they have these types of symptoms, particularly a headache that feels different from the type of headache you usually get, or if headaches are getting worse. Brain tumours can affect people of any age, including children, although they tend to be more common in older adults.
According to the Brain Tumour Charity, symptoms can differ in children and young people, with symptoms including seizures, balance problems, abnormal head positions, delayed puberty, abnormal growth, excessive thirst and reduced consciousness.
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