In women, the most common origination point for a metastasis (spread of cancer) to the brain originates with breast cancer. Often, symptoms related to brain metastasis do not appear immediately but when they do, they tend to be related to functions affecting the central nervous system.
Headaches
The invading malignant cells grow and the tumor exerts pressure within the brain, causing headaches, which begin to occur more frequently and last longer. Headaches are the most common symptom reported by patients with brain metastasis.
Vision Problems
As the tumor grows it can affect the optical nerves and result in vision problems such as blurred sight.
Seizures and Movement Problems
Brain involvement causes epileptic-type seizures in about a third of patients with brain tumors. Other problems related to movement can cause weakness, difficulties walking, balance and reflex problems or tingling sensations.
Speech Problems
The patient with a brain tumor may develop difficulty in talking, speech impediments and memory lapses.
Nausea
Nausea, sometimes to the point of vomiting, can result from a brain tumor. This symptom tends to occur more often with young people.
Changes in Personality
The brain's functioning can be impaired, resulting in a change of personality, lowered consciousness, or, in severe cases, coma.
Neurological Confirmation
Brain metastasis can be confirmed by means of neurogical examinations and diagnostic tests such as MRI, PET or CT scans. Defining the cancer with a biopsy could show the breast tumor cells as having spread to the brain.
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