As brain cancer progresses, there may be many different kinds of symptoms that present themselves. Depending on the location of the tumour in the brain, it will affect a region controlling a certain body function. For example, a tumour in the speech area will impede the person’s ability to talk. These symptoms can often lead to diagnosis, but as the tumour grows they will become more obvious. There will also likely be a decline of the body as a whole as the brain swells.
Symptoms of advanced brain cancer include: [1]
- Increased sleepiness
- Decreased mobility
- Trouble speaking or understanding language
- Loss of memory, inability to form new memories
- Impaired judgment
- Weakness, which may only affect one side of the body
- Seizures
- Headaches
- Extreme mood changes
Palliative care can be an important resource from diagnosis until after treatment. It can relieve the friends and family of a lot of stress, as well as making the patient much more comfortable and improving their quality of life. Palliative care will address serious symptoms, as well as the side effects of treatments, such as nausea, pain, anxiety, insomnia, lack of appetite, and fatigue. Palliative care can include services and treatments such as acupuncture, massage, yoga, counselling, and nutritional supplements. These services can be offered in many settings, and may be covered by insurance. [2]
[1] Canadian Virtual Hospice, “What can be expected as brain cancer progresses?”, http://www.virtualhospice.ca/en_US/Main+Site+Navigation/Home/Support/Support/Asked+and+Answered/
What+to+Expect+with+Various+Illnesses/Cancer/What+can+be+expected+as+brain+cancer+progresses_.aspx
[2] National Brain Tumor Society, “Palliative Care”, https://braintumor.org/brain-tumor-information/palliativecare/