I’m a top neurologist. This is a common sign of brain cancer that people often ignore
Doctors warn that Americans are ‘masking’ potential signs of brain cancer with painkillers.
When a headache occurs, your first instinct may be to reach for a bottle of medicine or lie down in a dark, quiet room.
However, if you find yourself constantly popping pills or having to stop your daily activities, it could be a sign of something more sinister.
Dr. Mina Lobbous, a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute, said brain cancer, which kills 18,000 Americans every year, can manifest as persistent headaches that require some form of painkiller to relieve.
She also warned that the condition can be difficult to diagnose early due to a lack of preventive screening.
Experts warned that regular headaches that require painkillers could be a sign of brain cancer
Former Senator John McCain (left) and Beau Biden (right) both died of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer with a survival rate of just seven percent
‘It is very important to consider symptoms that require more urgent evaluation, as early detection and intervention can have a significant impact on outcomes such as survival or neurological function in some types of tumors,’ Dr Lobbous told us. Procession.
The warning comes at a time when cancer rates are increasing among young, otherwise healthy Americans.
Dr. Lobbous warned to pay attention if you find yourself regularly opening a bottle of aspirin for a headache.
“Persistent headaches, especially early onset severe headaches, with or without nausea, vomiting, or blurred vision, should be discussed with a healthcare provider right away rather than relying on over-the-counter headache medications,” she said.
This is especially true for patients who have no history of chronic headaches or migraines.
Dr. Jose Carrillo, a neurologist and neuro-oncologist at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in California, told Parade: ‘Headache accompanied by nausea in someone who has no history of migraines should be immediately investigated for a brain tumor.’
Pain and nausea may occur because a tumor leads to increased pressure in the skull, especially as it grows in size.
According to the Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida, tumor-related nausea can last for at least a week, feel worse in the morning or while lying down, and worsen after a sudden change in position.
Dr. George Al Shamy of Memorial Hermann in Texas noted that tumor headaches “are typically persistent” and “worsen in the morning and on bending over.”
In addition, a 2021 review in the magazine Cephalalgia suggested that headache is the most common symptom of brain cancer.
The American Cancer Society estimates that this will cause approximately 25,000 brain and spinal cord tumors to be diagnosed and more than 18,700 adults and children to die.
There are more than 125 types of brain cancer. The most common cancers are gliomas, which arise from the glial cells of the brain. These help keep nerve cells in place.
About 33 percent of brain tumors are gliomas, including a wide range of cancers, including the ultra-aggressive glioblastoma that killed John McCain and Beau Biden.
Only one in three brain cancer patients are expected to survive after five years.
However, brain cancer is still rare. According to the American Cancer Society, the overall lifetime risk of developing the disease is less than one percent.
Dr. Lobbous noted that other signs of brain cancer include seizures, vision changes, weakness, numbness, double vision, hearing changes, facial pain or numbness, and difficulty swallowing or speaking.