Life

Brain tumours: Possible symptoms that you shouldn't ignore

Pop star Zayn Malik's young cousin is one of thousands who die each year from brain tumours. Lisa Salmon reports on the cruel condition, which strikes indiscriminately

Headaches are generally not a sign of anything sinister but their type and persistence, in combination with specific other symptoms, can indicate the possibility of a tumour
Headaches are generally not a sign of anything sinister but their type and persistence, in combination with specific other symptoms, can indicate the possibility of a tumour Headaches are generally not a sign of anything sinister but their type and persistence, in combination with specific other symptoms, can indicate the possibility of a tumour

BRAIN tumours can be extremely cruel and indiscriminate, as former One Direction star Zayn Malik is painfully aware, following the recent tragic loss of his five-year-old cousin, Arshiya. The youngster, described as a "beautiful princess" by the Malik family, last month became one of the 5,000-plus people in the UK who lose their lives every year to the condition.

In fact, of the 10,500 or so diagnosed with a primary brain tumour every year in the UK, around 500 will be children and young people. Research has not yet found what causes brain tumours, but, as ever, an early diagnosis is usually the best defence.

The most common symptoms are headaches and seizures, particularly headaches that are worse in the morning and when lying down. However, headaches are extremely common and, most of the time, not a sign of anything sinister, and it's highly unlikely you'd be diagnosed with a brain tumour if headaches were your only symptom.

Sarah Lindsell, chief executive of The Brain Tumour Charity, which is running the HeadSmart campaign to raise awareness of childhood brain tumour symptoms, explains that brain tumours aren't just about having a headache – it's the persistence and variety of a combination of symptoms which indicate the possibility of a tumour.

If headaches feel different from 'normal' headaches, or if they're severe and throbbing (because of the increasing pressure from the tumour), it's a good idea to get them checked.

Seizures, or fits, are another common symptom, and around a quarter of people with a brain tumour first visit their doctor because they've had a seizure. Although seizures can lead to loss of consciousness, they can also be far more subtle and include hand, arm or leg twitching, a change in sensation such as an odd taste or smell, periods of 'absence', or even adopting an unusual posture.

More subtle seizures may be noticed first by others, as the affected person may not remember or be aware of it.

Increased pressure in the head can lead to nausea and vomiting too, which may be worse in the morning. There may also be progressive neurological problems as the tumour affects the surrounding brain, including clumsiness, visual disturbance, or weakness on one side of the body, often similar to stroke symptoms.

Other indications may be changes in senses, including smell and impaired hearing, problems with speech, writing or drawing, and difficulty with averting the eyes upwards.

Often parents will notice that young children start showing co-ordination and/or balance problems, a stiff 'wry' neck, or regularly vomit in the morning.

Many possible brain tumour symptoms can be caused by other conditions, but although brain tumours are rare, it's vital to get symptoms checked quickly. For adults and children, Lindsell advises seeking medical advice when two or more symptoms are experienced together, "and you just know something's not right".

There are around 130 types of brain tumour, but the terms 'malignant' or 'benign' tend not to be used to describe them as, unlike tumours in other parts of the body, a brain tumour can be life-threatening whether it's cancerous or not, simply because of where it is and how its growth affects brain function.

"What would be termed benign in another part of your body could still kill you because it's in your brain," explains Lindsell.

Instead, brain tumours are classed as either low-grade or high-grade. Low-grade tumours grow more slowly, but can still have a significant impact on the brain, potentially changing personality and even stopping people swallowing or breathing.

A high-grade tumour progresses extremely quickly, and the prognosis is usually very poor.

Different tumours have different biomarkers in them, from which experts can work out which treatments will be effective. One treatment option is radiotherapy, but this can cause its own set of damaging side-effects for children, whose brains are still growing.

Proton beam therapy, a targeted form of radiotherapy, is often heralded as a miracle treatment for brain tumours, with some parents fundraising to take children abroad for it, as it's not yet widely available in the UK (highlighted when the parents of then five-year-old Ashya King took their son out of a Southampton hospital to get proton beam therapy abroad, sparking an international manhunt).

More UK centres offering the treatment are currently under construction. Lindsell notes that while the NHS will fund some brain tumour patients to go abroad for proton beam therapy, some are declined because there's no evidence the treatment will be beneficial for that tumour type.

While some cancers are known to be related to lifestyle factors, such as smoking, alcohol intake and obesity, no such factors have been identified when it comes to brain tumours.

"We have no idea – there's no link between any of those factors and people with a brain tumour. We just don't know much about this disease yet," admits Lindsell.

However, a great deal of research is under way, in the hope of unlocking their secrets, and hopefully furthering the prevention and treatment of brain tumours.

:: For more information, visit thebraintumourcharity.org and headsmart.org.uk