Left side of head painful to touch

Around 50% of people who are diagnosed with a brain tumour said headaches were one of the complaints they went to the doctor with.

Up to 60% of people living with a brain tumour will develop headaches at some point.

Learn more about about coping with brain tumour-related headaches.

Do brain tumours cause head pain?

Headaches are one of the most common symptoms of a brain tumour, but they are also common in healthy people, and can be due to many everyday causes.

The headaches are not caused directly by the tumour itself, as the brain has no pain receptors, but by a build-up of pressure on pain-sensitive blood vessels and nerves within the brain.

The build-up of pressure can be due to the tumour pressing on these vessels/nerves or by the tumour blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the brain.

Headaches are rarely the only symptom of a brain tumour.

Doctors do NOT generally worry if your headache is:

• occasional
• mild
• doesn’t last long
• has an identifiable cause, such as a hangover, lack of sleep, flu-like illness, sinus infection or if you have been ‘fasting’ (not eating) or overusing medication.

However, people often worry whether their headache is due to something more serious, such as a brain tumour, particularly if they have frequent or severe headaches causing a lot of pain.

If you’re worried, you should speak to your doctor, who can undertake a neurological examination. This involves testing your vision, hearing, balance, reflexes, arm and leg strength, and coordination. If this examination does not show anything outside the normal range and you have no other symptoms, you are unlikely to have a brain tumour.

• Track your headaches through BRIAN’s quality of life tracker, noting when they are worse or better, any patterns that you see or any changes
• People often experience more than one symptom before a diagnosis, so make sure you understand what other symptoms a brain tumour can cause

• Book an appointment with your GP for a check up, and keep a note of any questions that you want to ask

• Take a look at our page about talking to your doctor for some ideas of what to ask and what to expect.

What kind of headache do brain tumours cause?

Headaches associated with brain tumours (tumors) are usually:

• worse in the morning (you may wake with one)
• aggravated by straining, coughing, shouting or bending over – their intensity and pain may reduce when you are stood upright and the build-up of CSF begins to drain
• not managed by pain killers

What does a brain tumour headache feel like?

Headaches associated with brain tumours:

• can be throbbing or a dull ache, depending on where they are in the brain
• occur intermittently starting gradually, but fading over a few hours
• tend to get worse over time
• can resemble common migraine or tension-type headaches.

Other types of headache

Other types of headaches include:

• tension headaches
• migraine headaches
• rebound headaches
• cluster headaches
• sinus headaches
• headaches due to flu/fever/PMS
• temporal arteritis

For more information about these and other headache types, see the National Headache Foundation’s Complete Headache Chart.

Other signs and symptoms of a brain tumour

Other features of headaches have been identified as “red flags,” which may suggest a brain tumour. These include:

• a change in previous headache pattern
• if your headaches are associated with:
  • prolonged / repeated vomiting
  • any new muscle weakness / sensory symptoms (e.g. numbness or speech difficulties), or visual symptoms, especially on one side of the body
  • a change in memory, personality, or thinking
  • seizures (fits) – this does not have to be a full convulsive seizure, but could be a twitching of the hand, arm or leg, or an ‘absence’

It is important to remember that all these symptoms can frequently occur in harmless headaches.

More information

I think I have a brain tumour, what should I do?

Brain tumours are rare, however, if you’re worried, if a symptom persists or if you have more than one of these symptoms then you may want to speak to a healthcare profession.

Talk to your GP

GP appointments are usually quite short, find out how to best prepare for your appointment with our guide to talking to your doctor.

Talking to your doctor

Get an eye test

If your symptoms are limited to changes in vision and/or headaches, get your eyes tested by an optician before seeing your GP.

Find out more

Should I go to A&E?

Call 999 or go to A&E at your hospital if:

• The headache is accompanied by a fever or stiff neck.
• The headache is the highest degree of pain on the pain scale.

This does not mean it is a brain tumour, but it could be another serious complaint that needs immediate treatment.

Call your doctor, NHS 111 or Out-of-Hours Service if you are not sure what to do.

For signs and symptoms to be aware of in children of different ages, including persistent or recurring headaches, visit our HeadSmart website.

Should I speak to a doctor during the coronavirus pandemic?

We understand you may feel worried about seeking help from your GP during the coronavirus pandemic – but please don’t delay speaking to a healthcare professional.

The NHS and your GP are still here for you and have made changes that make it easier to safely speak to a healthcare professional and get medical help if you need it.

It’s more important than ever for you to prepare for your appointments by understanding what might happen during the appointment and what questions you want to ask.

How do I cope with a brain tumour headache?

Below are some suggestions to help manage and treat headache pain that people with brain tumours can experience:

• take the medication prescribed by your doctor (your doctor may have prescribed steroids – these can help by reducing swelling in the brain, so lowering the pressure and relieving the headache)
• tell your doctor straight away if the medication stops working or becomes less effective
• keep a headache diary

Symptoms can change over time. Be sure to tell any your doctor or nurse as soon as possible about any new symptoms or changes in existing symptoms.

Know the Signs and Symptoms

Although brain tumours are rare, if you or a loved one are experiencing two or more of the signs and symptoms it’s important that you speak to your doctor to rule out a brain tumour.

Share your experiences and help create change

By taking part in our Improving Brain Tumour Care surveys and sharing your experiences, you can help us improve treatment and care for everyone affected by a brain tumour.