Some brain tumors do not cause symptoms for a long time or cause very mild complaints. Particularly, benign slow-growing masses and congenital tumors may remain undiagnosed for years and are sometimes discovered incidentally. General symptoms of brain tumors are well-defined: headaches, vomiting, visual impairment, double vision, seizures, weakness and numbness in the arms and legs, memory loss, speech difficulties, imbalance, walking disturbances, hormonal imbalances, and others.

Sudden, severe, and persistent explosive headaches are significant and may indicate sudden bleeding inside the skull, requiring immediate examination. Some headaches, even if not severe, may be prolonged and dull in nature, suggesting the presence of a tumor inside the skull. However, most headaches are due to migraines, high blood pressure, or stress.

With advanced MRI techniques, benign and malignant tumors can now be distinguished with high accuracy. Additionally, auxiliary methods such as PET CT/MRI can be used. However, the exact nature of a tumor can only be definitively identified by pathological examination of its tissue.

Yes, it is possible to live with a brain tumor for years without experiencing any symptoms. Especially with slow-growing types of brain tumors, symptoms may not appear in the early stages.

In most cases, a specific cause cannot be identified. However, epilepsy can result from conditions such as head trauma, stroke, lack of oxygen to the brain, or brain infections.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) test is performed to detect abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which is typical in epilepsy. In this test, small sensors are attached to the scalp to capture the electrical signals generated when brain cells communicate with each other, allowing for the detection of abnormalities.

Approximately 70% of epilepsy patients respond to medication. In the remaining cases, seizure frequency is reduced. However, about 25% of patients do not respond adequately to medication, which is referred to as drug-resistant epilepsy.

For drug-resistant and suitable patients, surgical treatment is an option. However, surgery is not applicable for all patients and requires thorough testing to determine eligibility. Surgical treatment does not always completely eliminate seizures and may not benefit some patients or could potentially worsen their condition. Surgical options include removing the group of cells causing seizures or preventing the spread of electrical signals to other areas. Additional techniques include placing electrodes in specific areas of the brain (deep brain stimulation) or vagus nerve stimulation.

Spinal tumors are often metastatic tumors originating from another type of cancer. Treatment responses can vary depending on the patient's condition. While brain tumors with rapid progression may lead to fatal outcomes, spinal cord tumors differ in this respect. If a spinal cord tumor is located near critical areas such as the brain, heart, or respiratory center, there may be a risk of death. Otherwise, spinal cord tumors may not cause death but can lead to paralysis over time if left untreated. A patient with a spinal cord tumor can continue living, but without proper treatment, they face risks such as losing the ability to use their limbs or paralysis below the tumor's location.

Tumors developing within the spinal cord typically do not metastasize. However, certain childhood brain tumors located along the circulation pathway of cerebrospinal fluid may migrate toward the spinal cord. Primary spinal cord tumors themselves generally do not metastasize.

Spinal and spinal cord tumors can indeed cause paralysis. Untreated or late-treated tumors may lead to paralysis over time or suddenly. Paralysis caused by these tumors depends on their location and can affect the body below the neck or waist.

Recovery after spinal and spinal cord tumor surgeries varies depending on the type of tumor, its location, and the patient's response to treatment. Generally, patients can return to their social lives about three weeks after surgery.