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Managing Your Symptoms

Learn about common symptoms people with brain and spine tumors experience. Find strategies so you or your caregiver can manage your symptoms. Learn when to report your symptoms to your doctor to improve your health and day-to-day life.

Symptoms
  • Person holding back and head in pain

    Body Pain

    Pain is an unpleasant feeling in your body that causes physical discomfort. Everyone experiences and expresses pain differently. Learn more about body pain.

  • Cancer patient talking with their doctor

    Cognitive Symptoms

    Cognition is the mental process of learning, understanding, and communicating. Learn more about cognitive symptoms.

  • Person walking with canes

    Difficulty Walking

    Difficulty walking may include problems standing or moving. Learn more about difficulty walking.

  • Man rubbing eyes because sleepy

    Fatigue

    Fatigue is an extreme sense of tiredness and lack of energy. It is distressing, and can be debilitating and interfere with usual daily activities. Learn more about fatigue.

  • Man lying in bed with a stomach ache

    Gastrointestinal Symptoms

    Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms affect areas from your mouth to your rectum, such as your stomach or intestines. Learn more about GI symptoms.

  • Lady holding head in pain crying

    Headache

    Headaches are a pain or pressure in the head that does not seem to go away or that goes away and comes back. Learn more about headaches.

  • Girl looking sad out a window

    Mood Disturbance

    Mood disturbance can be feelings of distress, sadness or symptoms of depression, and anxiety. Learn more about mood disturbance.

  • Woman with seizure lying on the floor.

    Seizure

    Seizures are sudden, uncontrolled body movements and changes in behavior that are caused by abnormal activity in the brain. Learn more about seizures.

  • Girl with cancer on treatment lying in bed

    Sleep Disturbance

    Sleep allows your body to rest, recover, and reset for the next day. When sleep is interrupted or you are not getting enough sleep, it can impact your health and life. Learn more about sleep disturbance.

  • A man in a wheelchair is getting assistance from a nurse

    Weakness

    Weakness is a loss of muscle strength that affects your movement or activity. Learn more about weakness.

  • Book with a brain in the middle

    Symptom Management App

    Learn how the My STORI mobile app can help you track and manage your symptoms and self-care activities.

We would like to acknowledge the following authors who have contributed to writing and reviewing content included on the symptoms section of the NCI-CONNECT website: Terri Armstrong, PhD; Alvina Acquaye; Orieta Celiku, PhD; Youngjun Cho; Anna Choi; Alexa Christ; Julianie De La Cruz Minyety; Varna Jammula; Yeonju Kim; Amanda King, PhD; Heather Leeper, MD; Molly Maher; Hope Miller; Kristin Odom; Kayla Roche; James Rogers; and Michael Timmer.

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