Brain Cancer, Cancer - Anxiety Like Medical Condition
Brain cancer: Each year, more than 17,000 people in the USA are diagnosed with a brain tumor. Tumors can be either benign or malignant. Benign or non-cancerous tumors can usually be surgically removed and are not likely to occur again. Malignant or cancerous tumors crowd and invade healthy brain cells and interfere with vital functions. They are usually rapid in growth and present a threat to life.
Brain tumors are identified as primary or secondary, terms that refer to their origin. Brain tumors that are cancerous and whose origin is in the brain, affecting the central nervous system, are referred to as Primary Brain Tumors. Brain tumors that are cancerous and whose origin is outside of the brain, but have metastasized or spread to the brain, are referred to as Secondary Brain Tumors. Secondary Brain Tumors are ten times more common than Primary Brain Tumors.
Signs and Symptoms
- Abnormal eye movements or changes in vision
- Changes in personality or memory
- Changes in speech
- Drowsiness
- Headaches that often are worse in the morning
- Nausea or vomiting
- Seizures (convulsions)
- Stumbling or lack of coordination when walking
- Weakness or loss of feeling in the arms or legs
NOTE: We highly recommend that you have a complete medical evaluation done anytime you have a medical concern. Medical professionals are well trained to identify serious medical conditions. It's recommended that you fully describe your symptoms to your doctor, then work with her/him through to the correct diagnosis.
While there are many anxiety-like medical conditions, most conditions have uniquely identifiable symptoms UNCOMMON to anxiety. If you have seen your doctor and he/she has ruled out this anxiety-like medical condition, you can feel confident that their diagnosis is correct. If, however, you feel he/she has missed something, you should persist with your doctor until you are satisfied. You may also want to get second and even third opinions if you are still unsatisfied.
Because it is common for anxiety sufferers to 'over worry' about their symptoms (since so many conditions produce anxiety-like symptoms we often scare ourselves when we look at all of the conditions we COULD have), having a thorough medical evaluation completed will most often alleviate these fears.
For a more detailed explanation about all anxiety symptoms, why symptoms can persist long after the stress response has ended, common barriers to recovery and symptom elimination, and more recovery strategies and tips, we have many chapters that address this information in the Recovery Support area of our website.
The combination of good self-help information and working with an experienced anxiety disorder coach, counselor, or therapist is the most effective way to address anxiety disorder and its many symptoms. Until the core causes of anxiety are addressed - the underlying factors that motivate apprehensive behavior - a struggle with anxiety disorder can return again and again. Identifying and successfully addressing anxiety's underlying factors is the best way to overcome problematic anxiety.
For more information about our Anxiety Counseling option; our Available Anxiety Therapists; to Book An Appointment with one of our anxiety therapists; common Anxiety Signs and Symptoms; common Anxiety Attack Symptoms; the symptoms of panic attack disorder; anxiety Recovery Support area; information about Anxiety; and our Anxiety 101 section; or click on the appropriate link or graphic below:
Return to our anxiety symptoms page.
Authors: Jim Folk, Marilyn Folk, BScN. Last updated September 3, 2018.
