Brain Tumors and Brain Cancer

Summary: A brain tumor is a growth of abnormal cells in your brain. There are many different types, and they can be either benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Even benign tumors can be dangerous because your skull is a tight space. If a tumor grows, it can press on healthy parts of your brain and cause serious problems like headaches, vision changes, or trouble with your balance.

Doctors grade brain tumors on a scale from 1 to 4. A Grade 1 tumor grows very slowly, while a Grade 4 tumor grows fast and is much more aggressive. Sometimes, cancer from another part of the body can spread to the brain, which is called a metastatic brain tumor. Treatment usually starts with surgery to remove the tumor, but it can also include radiation or chemotherapy depending on the type and size of the growth.

For more details, see Hopkins Medicine at hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/brain-tumor (opens in new tab)