A benign (non-cancerous) brain tumour is a mass of cells that grows slowly in the brain. It usually stays in one place and does not spread.

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 spread. Grade 1 tumours are the least aggressive and grade 4 are the most harmful and cancerous. Cancerous tumours are described as malignant. 

Low-grade brain tumours – grades 1 or 2 – tend to be slow growing and unlikely to spread, so they're usually classed as benign.

Read about high-grade (malignant) tumours.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of a low-grade or benign brain tumour depend on how big it is and where it is in the brain. Some slow-growing tumours may not cause any symptoms at first.

Eventually, the tumour can put pressure on the brain and may cause headaches and seizures (fits). The tumour can also prevent an area of the brain from functioning properly. For example, a tumour in the occipital lobe (at the back of the brain) may cause loss of vision on one side. See Benign brain tumour - symptoms for more information.

Who is affected?

Brain tumours can affect people of any age, including children.

There are about 4,500 new cases of primary brain tumours in the UK each year (tumours that start in the brain). About 20% of these are low-grade gliomas, a type of tumour that starts in the supportive tissue of the brain. Doctors don't know what causes these.

See Benign brain tumour - causes for information about the possible causes of other types of benign brain tumour.

Treatment and outlook

Benign brain tumours can be serious if they are not diagnosed and treated early. Although they remain in one place and do not usually spread, they can cause harm by pressing on and damaging nearby areas of the brain. 

Many benign brain tumours can be surgically removed and don't come back once they have been removed, causing no further problems. However, grade 2 gliomas will often grow back after treatment and have the potential to change into high-grade or malignant (cancerous) tumours, which are fast-growing and likely to spread. This change is called mutation.

See Benign brain tumour - treatment for more information on your treatment options.

In summary, your treatment will depend on the type and location of the tumour, and your outlook will depend on whether the tumour grows back and whether it mutates (changes).

The symptoms of a low-grade or benign brain tumour depend on its size and where it is in the brain. Some slow-growing tumours may not cause symptoms at first.

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.

Increased pressure on the brain

If the tumour causes an increase in pressure inside the skull, it can lead to the following symptoms:

• epilepsy or fits, which can be either major seizures or twitching in one area of the body
• severe, persistent headache
• irritability, drowsiness, apathy or forgetfulness
• vomiting, which is sometimes sudden and for no apparent reason
• dizziness 
• partial loss of vision or hearing
• hallucinations
• personality changes, including abnormal and uncharacteristic behaviour

It is important to see a doctor if you develop a persistent and severe headache that does not have any obvious cause, especially if you also have unexpected vomiting.

Loss of brain function

Different areas of the brain control different functions, so any loss of brain function 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.
• A tumour affecting the parietal lobe may cause difficulty in speaking, understanding words, writing, reading and co-ordinating certain movements. There may also be numbness in one side of the body.
• A tumour affecting the occipital lobe may cause loss of vision on one side.
• A tumour affecting the temporal lobe may cause fits or blackouts, a sensation of strange smells and problems with speech and memory.
• A tumour affecting the cerebellum may cause a loss of co-ordination, difficulty walking and speaking, flickering of the eyes, vomiting and a stiff neck.
• A tumour affecting the brain stem may cause unsteadiness and difficulty walking, facial weakness, double vision and difficulty speaking and swallowing.

Benign brain tumours that are congenital (present at birth) are caused by abnormal development of the baby in the womb. It is not fully understood what causes non-congenital tumours.

Some genetic conditions can increase your risk of a benign brain tumour. These conditions include:

• neurofibromatosis 
• tuberous sclerosis 
• Turcot syndrome
• Li-Fraumeni cancer syndrome
• von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
• Gorlin syndrome

These conditions tend to cause gliomas (see Benign brain tumour - introduction) that appear in childhood or early adulthood, whereas most gliomas start later in adulthood.

Other possible causes

Radiotherapy to the brain increases your risk of a brain tumour, although this is still uncommon.

It is also thought that family history of brain tumours and exposure to chemicals (such as formaldehyde) may be risk factors.

If you develop any of the symptoms of a benign brain tumour, such as a persistent and severe headache, see your GP.

Your GP will examine you and refer you to a specialist if necessary.

Your GP will examine the back of your eye and look for changes to the optic disc (the inside of the back of the eye) caused by an increase in pressure inside the skull. Raised pressure in the skull may indicate the presence of a tumour.

If a growth is suspected, you will be referred to a neurologist (brain and nerve specialist).

Referral to a specialist

The specialist will ask you about your medical history and symptoms. They will examine your nervous system, which may include tests of your:

• reflexes, such as your swallow reflex and knee-jerk reflex
• facial muscles (testing whether you can smile or grimace, for example)
• hearing and vision
• limb strength
• balance and co-ordination
• skin sensitivity to pinpricks, heat and cold
• mental agility (simple questions or arithmetic)

Diagnosis of brain tumour is made based on your symptoms, the examinations above and the results of certain tests (see below).

Tests

You may have some of the following tests to help diagnose a brain tumour:

• Computerised tomography (CT) scan. This produces a detailed picture of your brain using a series of X-rays.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. This produces a detailed picture of your brain using a strong magnetic field and radio waves.
• X-ray of the skull.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan. This produces an image of your brain by detecting radiation inside your head (after radiation is introduced into your body).
• Electroencephalogram (EEG). Electrodes record your brain activity.

If a tumour is suspected, a biopsy (surgical removal of a small piece of tissue) may be taken to establish the type of tumour and the most effective treatment.

A biopsy involves making a small hole in the skull and using a fine needle to obtain a sample of tumour tissue. It involves a few days in hospital.

Most benign tumours are removed with surgery and do not normally come back.

However, some slow-growing tumours (mainly gliomas) will grow back after treatment and have the potential to change into high-grade or malignant (cancerous) tumours. High-grade tumours are fast-growing and likely to spread. Therefore, it's essential to have follow-up appointments to monitor your condition.

Surgically removing a brain tumour

The aim of surgery is to remove as much of the tumour as possible without damaging the surrounding tissue. You will be given a general anaesthetic (this will put you to sleep) and an area of your scalp will be shaved. A section of the skull is cut out as a flap to reveal the brain and tumour underneath. This is known as a craniotomy. The surgeon can then remove the tumour.

Radiosurgery

Some tumours are situated deep inside the brain and are difficult to remove without damaging surrounding tissue. In such cases, radiosurgery may be used to treat the tumour.

During radiosurgery, a dose of high-energy radiation is focused on the tumour to kill it. The treatment is completed in one session, recovery is quick and an overnight stay in hospital is not usually required. Radiosurgery is only available in a few specialised centres in the UK. 

For some tumours in the base of the skull, the patient may be referred abroad for specialised proton radiotherapy.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Occasionally, chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be used to shrink a benign tumour.

Chemotherapy uses medication to kill tumour cells and can be given as a tablet, an injection or a drip. Radiotherapy involves controlled doses of high-energy radiation, usually X-rays, to kill the tumour cells.

After being treated for a brain tumour, you may be offered physiotherapy, speech therapy or occupational therapy.

These therapies aim to speed up your recovery and help you cope with any problems caused by the tumour.

• An occupational therapist will recommend any equipment or alterations to your home that may help you carry out daily activities.
• A speech therapist will help you with any speech or swallowing problems.
• A physiotherapist will help you to use parts of the body that have been affected by the tumour.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has made recommendations on the standards of care that brain tumour patients should receive. For more information, read the Improving Outcomes guidelines. 

Epilepsy may affect some patients for up to six months after surgery. On rare occasions epilepsy lasts longer than six months.

Sports and activities

After you have been treated for a brain tumour, you must permanently avoid contact sports, such as rugby and boxing. You can start other activities again, with the agreement of your doctor, once you have recovered.

Swimming unsupervised is not recommended for around one year after treatment, as there is a risk that you could have an epileptic fit while in the water.

Sex

It is safe to have sex after treatment for a benign brain tumour. Women should avoid becoming pregnant for six months and should discuss the implications of any medication needed with their specialist.

Going back to work

You will become tired more easily following treatment for a brain tumour. You may wish to return to work and normal life as soon as possible, but it is a good idea to return part-time to begin with and only to go back full-time when you feel able to.

If you have experienced seizures, do not work with machinery or at heights.

Help and support

A brain tumour is often life changing. You may feel angry, frightened and emotionally drained. Your doctor or specialist should be able to refer you to a social worker and counsellor for help with the practical and emotional aspects of your diagnosis.

There are many organisations and helplines, such as Brain Tumour UK, that provide information and support.

Joanne Glazier Reitano is 43. In September 2003 she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. She talks about how living with a brain tumour has affected her.

"The first sign I had that things weren’t right was when I kept ‘zoning out’. At first I wasn’t really aware that it was happening – but it was like I was just switching off from the real world. The incidents probably only lasted a minute, and I wouldn’t lose consciousness, but I’d ‘come back’ to the real world and would have completely lost track of what I was saying and doing. 

“I put it down to stress. There had been lots of redundancies at work and it had generally been an incredibly stressful year. But I began to be quite concerned when I 'zoned out' in the middle of a presentation I was giving. It was obvious to everyone who was there that something was wrong.  

“I went to my GP about it and he diagnosed stress, so I didn’t worry too much and got on with my normal life. 

“By the following Easter I wasn’t feeling well at all. I’d started a new job and had no energy and was taking lots of antidepressants. I was putting on weight rapidly and wasn’t feeling at all good.

“I was also having a number of mysterious accidents. I banged my head badly when I was at work and am not sure exactly how I did it. Once I took the dog for a walk and when I came back I was covered in mud. I still don't know how that happened. I was having memory problems too.

“My doctor referred me for an MRI scan and I was also sent to London for an ECG. While I was waiting for the results, I went away on holiday. But I was grumpy, didn’t want to join in with anything and just didn’t behave like I usually did.

"On my return, there was a letter waiting for me that told me I had epilepsy. It was such a shock. I was devastated. I made an appointment with my consultant and had a huge list of questions to ask him, but when I got there, he said, ‘Jo, epilepsy is the least of your problems. You have a brain tumour.’ 

"I didn’t know what to think. It was such a shock to hear those words. There was just this whole mess of thoughts in my head. The consultant couldn’t tell me much as he didn’t know if the tumour was benign or malignant. Two weeks later, I was sent for a biopsy.

"I was in hospital for a week and was a complete wreck. They discovered that I had a slow-growing grade 2 oligodendroglioma tumour. But because the tumour was deep-set in the left temporal lobe, it was too dangerous to operate on. 

"It was a very delicate period. I hadn’t been told where to go for support and I was very down and angry. Although it was good news that it was slow growing, I just didn’t want to deal with it. I didn’t want it in my head and I didn’t want to be in this situation. Eventually, I was put in touch with a support group and that did help. It made me realise that I wasn’t the only one in this situation and that did give me some comfort.

"I started having radiotherapy three months after my diagnosis. I had it five days a week for six weeks. I was warned that I’d lose all my hair, which I did, and I was left with a circle of hair at the top of my head. But the radiotherapy helped. After I’d finished the course, I got the news that the tumour was lying dormant. 

"In September 2006 a scan showed that the tumour was growing again. I went into shock when I heard the news. 

"I started chemotherapy in October 2006 and had six cycles. I had 11 days of chemo with a four- to five-week gap in between. I felt so ill while it was going on. But while I was in the middle of chemotherapy, I got married to my boyfriend Salvo. Afterwards, my scan showed that the tumour was dormant again.

"My life will definitely be shortened by this tumour but I’m living it to the best of my ability. I have bad pains that move around my body and my balance is quite badly affected. I fall over really easily.

"My writing and spelling is appalling these days and my memory is ruined because the tumour is pressing against that part of my brain. My reading is also affected. I get stuck on certain words, just like a child. 

"But I have to be positive. It’s hard but I’ve had to learn to live with it. I didn’t, and still don’t, want to be defeated by it. I have a very loving and supportive husband and family. I also discovered that keeping my mind occupied has really helped and I’ve developed a strong interest in gardening, which I find very therapeutic.

"Practical help has been invaluable. A friend filled in all my benefit forms for me and I’ve nominated her to have power of attorney, so she always deals with that side of things. When you have something wrong with your brain, you really need that kind of help."

This case history was provided by Brain Tumour UK.