Doctor reveals persistent headaches could be a symptom of brain tumour

A neurosurgeon at Columbia Asia Hospital Pulomas in East Jakarta, Dr. Dhira, has revealed that persistent and worsening headaches can be a symptom of a brain tumour. “If asked about the most standard symptom, it is a headache. But the characteristic feature is that the pain becomes increasingly severe over time, because the lump inside the brain is also getting larger,” Dr. Dhira said on Monday. He explained that headaches caused by brain tumours typically have a different pattern compared to migraines or tension headaches. With migraines, the pain usually appears intermittently and subsides after a while before recurring. Meanwhile, tension headaches are generally triggered by fatigue or stress and can improve after the sufferer rests. “Conversely, a headache caused by a brain tumour is continuous. Logically, the mass inside the head grows larger over time, so the pressure on the brain also increases. Thus, the pain becomes more severe and does not disappear; it can intensify,” Dr. Dhira explained. Besides headaches, the symptoms of a brain tumour are also influenced by the location of the tumour’s growth. If the tumour is located in the front part of the brain, or the frontal lobe, the sufferer will experience impaired intellectual function. This can lead to difficulty concentrating, slow thinking, frequent miscalculations, and personality changes. “So, a person who was previously calm can suddenly become emotional, easily angered, or frequently pick fights. That can also be a symptom,” Dr. Dhira said. Meanwhile, if the tumour presses on the area of the brain that regulates body movement, the patient may experience tingling, weakness, or even paralysis on one side of the body. According to Dr. Dhira, the tumour’s position determines which part of the body is affected because the nerve pathways in the brain cross over. If the tumour grows at the back of the brain, which functions as the visual centre, the sufferer may experience visual disturbances. “The sufferer might see black shadows, partial darkness, or have parts of their vision missing. They may also experience eye problems, difficulty communicating, or incoherent, rambling speech,” Dr. Dhira said. Furthermore, Dr. Dhira stated that the most dangerous location for tumour growth is the brain stem. This is because the brain stem is the centre for regulating vital bodily functions, including breathing and heart rate. “The brain stem controls the heart and lungs. If a tumour is located there, there might be no obvious symptoms, but sudden respiratory arrest can occur,” Dr. Dhira said. This condition is similar to small brain tumours that can develop without causing complaints. As a result, patients often only seek treatment when the tumour is already quite large and begins to press on brain tissue. “The larger the tumour when it is discovered, the more complex the surgical procedure will be,” Dr. Dhira added. He reminded the public not to ignore prolonged headaches, especially if the complaints appear more frequently with increasing intensity.