Six little known brain tumour warning signs after Benjamin Zephaniah died just eight weeks after diagnosis

Benjamin Zefanja's family announced his death on December 7 at the age of 65, just eight weeks after the poet and actor was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

The Birmingham-born Peaky Blinders star originally rose to fame for his works about refugees and healthy eating.

The statement from his family read: 'It is with great sadness and regret that in the early hours of this morning, December 7, 2023, we have announced the death of our beloved husband, son and brother.

“We have shared it with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this news.”

With the much-loved writer and orator diagnosed so close to his death, and around 16,000 brain tumor diagnoses made in Britain every year Brain tumor researchWhat are the warning signs of a brain tumor that could go unnoticed?

Communication problems

Struggling to speak, forgetting words and losing the thread of a conversation are all signs of communication problems.

This symptom is experienced by as many as one in five people with a brain tumor, although it depends on where the tumor is located, the Brain Tumor Charity say.

The frontal lobe – specifically Broca's area – is involved in language production and the temporal lobe – Wernicke's area – is involved in understanding language. If a tumor is in one of these locations, pressure from the tumor is likely to cause problems.

If it is located in the left hemisphere of the brain, it can cause language and speech problems, according to the charity, as this is where the language areas are typically located.

Fatigue

Brain tumors can also cause extreme fatigue even after smaller tasks, and can also lead to muscle pain and excessive sleeping.

Fatigue can make it harder to think clearly, including when making decisions, and can cause anxiety or depression.

This is because growing a tumor and the body's response to it involves the destruction of tumor cells and tissue repair, which takes a lot of energy, says the Brain Tumor Charity.

Your body therefore works harder and puts the energy normally needed for menial tasks into fighting the tumor.

But this fatigue can also be caused by trying to overcome the difficulties of remembering and solving problems, which can feel exhausting.

Personality changes

In some cases, changes in the brain caused by illness or injury can have a material impact on the patient's character.

As a brain tumor swells and grows, it puts pressure on the healthy brain cells around it, which can affect brain function.

This can cause personality changes, especially if the tumor is in the frontal lobe of the brain, where personality and emotions are regulated.

Common changes in temperament include increased irritability, aggression, confusion and forgetfulness, as well as mood swings and a lack of interest and motivation.

If the tumor grows close to the pituitary gland, it can cause changes in hormone levels. According to the Brain Tumor Charity, this can have a major impact on emotions and sex drive.

Memory problems

Problems remembering things, both long-term and short-term, can be caused by a brain tumor or its treatment.

The symptoms can also be caused by treatment if a surgeon has to remove cells responsible for memory.

The Brain Tumor Charity estimates that half of patients will experience these symptoms.

Tumors and their treatment can affect memories that have been formed beforehand or memories that would otherwise be formed later.

Tumors in the frontal or temporal lobe make it more likely that a person will experience memory loss.

To attack

The Brain Tumor Charity says that two in three people with a brain tumor will experience epilepsy or a brain tumor seizure.

It is the most common first symptom leading to the diagnosis of a brain tumor in adults.

A seizure happens when there is a burst of abnormal electrical activity that disrupts the way the brain normally works.

Recurrent seizures can be diagnosed as brain tumor-related epilepsy.

When most people think of a seizure, they imagine a convulsive seizure, in which a person loses consciousness, their limbs jerk, and the body becomes stiff.

But there are many types of attacks. They can cause a feeling of deja vu, strange tastes or smells, a sense of alienation, and strange visions such as seeing flashing lights.

Vision problems

Finally, brain tumors can cause several vision problems, such as vision loss, dry eyes, double vision, and light sensitivity.

According to the Brain Tumor Charity, one in three people with a brain tumor report problems with their vision.

This may be due to the position of the tumor. For example, if the tumor causes swelling on the optic disc at the back of the eye, it can cause vision problems.

A growing tumor can also compress healthy brain tissue, including the main cranial nerves in the brain, which can put pressure on the optic nerve, affecting your vision.