Persistent Headaches Could Signal Brain Tumour, Neurosurgeon Warns

Headaches are often dismissed as a minor health complaint. However, the public should be vigilant if the pain appears continuously and its intensity becomes increasingly severe, as this condition could be an indication of a brain tumour. Neurosurgeon Dr. Dhira Atman from Columbia Asia Hospital Pulomas in East Jakarta explained that headaches are the most standard symptom for brain tumour sufferers. The main difference lies in the pattern of pain experienced by the patient. “The characteristic feature is that the pain will become progressively worse over time, because the lump inside the brain is also getting larger,” Dhira said in Jakarta on Monday (29/6/2026). Dhira elaborated that headaches caused by brain tumours have different characteristics compared to migraines or tension headaches. In migraines, the pain usually appears occasionally and can subside before recurring. Meanwhile, tension headaches are generally triggered by stress or fatigue and improve after rest. “Conversely, headaches due to brain tumours are continuous. The mass inside the head grows larger over time, so the pressure on the brain also increases,” he explained. He added that small brain tumours often develop without causing significant complaints, which leads many patients to seek medical help only when the tumour has grown large and is significantly compressing brain tissue. “The larger the tumour when it is found, the more complex the surgical procedure will be,” Dhira stated. He urged the public to undergo immediate medical examination if they experience persistent headaches, especially if the frequency and intensity of the pain continue to increase over time.