Malignant brain tumour (cancerous)

A malignant brain tumour is a fast-growing cancer that spreads to other areas of the brain and spine.

Generally, brain tumours are graded from 1 to 4, according to their behaviour, such as how fast they grow and how likely they are to grow back after treatment. A malignant brain tumour is either grade 3 or 4, whereas grade 1 or 2 tumours are usually classed as benign or non-cancerous. 

Most malignant tumours are secondary cancers, which means they started in another part of the body and spread to the brain. Primary brain tumours are those that started in the brain.

These pages focus on high-grade brain tumours. For information about grade 1 or 2 tumours, read our pages on low-grade (benign) brain tumours.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a malignant brain tumour depend on how big it is and where it is in the brain.

Common symptoms include:

severe, persistent headaches seizures (fits) persistent nausea, vomiting and drowsiness mental or behavioural changes, such as memory problems or changes in personality progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, vision problems, or speech problems

Speak to your GP if you have persistent symptoms of a brain tumour. While it’s unlikely to be a tumour, it’s best to be sure by getting a proper diagnosis.

Read more about the symptoms of malignant brain tumours and diagnosing malignant brain tumours.


The symptoms of a malignant brain tumour depend on how big it is and where it is in the brain.

When symptoms do occur, it is because the brain tumour is either putting pressure on the brain or preventing an area of the brain from functioning properly.


Different areas of the brain control different functions, so the symptoms caused by a brain tumour will depend on where the tumour is located. For example, a tumour affecting:

the frontal lobe may cause changes in personality, weakness in one side of the body and loss of smell the temporal lobe may cause forgetfulness, language problems (aphasia) and seizures the parietal lobe may cause aphasia and numbness or weakness in one side of the body the occipital lobe may cause loss of vision on one side the cerebellum may cause a loss of co-ordination, flickering of the eyes, vomiting and a stiff neck the brain stem may cause unsteadiness and difficulty walking, facial weakness, double vision, and difficulty speaking (dysarthria) and swallowing (dysphagia)


You may also be given medication to relieve some of the symptoms you may have as a result of your brain tumour.

These may include:

anticonvulsants to prevent seizures (fits) corticosteroids to reduce swelling and pressure in the brain painkillers to treat headaches anti-emetics to prevent vomiting

Depending on your circumstances, these medications may be given before, after, or instead of surgery.