When to worry about persistent headache with brain tumour

A brain tumour can irritate nearby tissue or affect pressure within the skull. Headache may also arise from swelling, bleeding, infection, dehydration, medication effects, eyesight strain, or a separate headache condition. Morning pain, pain with coughing or straining, vomiting, and increasing drowsiness are details clinicians need to know. Headache alone does not establish the cause.

Keep a headache diary showing onset, location, severity, duration, morning or positional pattern, triggers, and response to approved medicine. Note vomiting, altered alertness, weakness, numbness, speech, vision, walking, or seizure symptoms. Contact your specialist team promptly for a changed pattern. Follow the agreed medicine plan and check before taking non-prescription pain relief.

Call emergency services for sudden severe headache, a seizure, collapse, new weakness or numbness, difficulty speaking, sudden vision loss, severe confusion, unusual drowsiness, or repeated vomiting. If symptoms are progressing but not sudden, obtain urgent advice from your treatment team.

Does this headache need examination or imaging sooner? Could swelling, bleeding, or treatment explain the change? Which pain medicines are safe for me? What should my family do if I become confused or have a seizure?