Metastatic Brain Tumors

Metastatic brain tumors, also called secondary brain cancers, happen when cancer spreads to the brain from another part of the body. The cancer cells break away from where they first started, travel through the body, and form new tumors in the brain.

Many types of cancer can spread to the brain. The most common include lung, breast, melanoma (skin), colon, kidney, and thyroid cancers. Some people have a single tumor, while others have several tumors in different parts of the brain.

Types & Stages

Doctors often describe a metastatic brain tumor by the type of cancer it started from. Common examples include:

• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer
• Melanoma
• Less often, kidney, colon or thyroid cancer

To plan treatment, doctors also look at:

• How many tumors are in the brain
• Where the tumors are located
• Whether they are causing swelling or pressure
• Whether the cancer is still active in other parts of the body

This helps your care team plan the best treatment.

Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms depend on the size and location of the tumors and how much pressure they place on the brain.

Visit a doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

• Headaches
• Seizures
• Weakness in an arm or leg
• Balance problems
• Memory problems
• Trouble speaking
• Behavior or personality changes
• Vision changes
• Numbness
• Hearing loss

Many of these symptoms can be caused by conditions that are not a tumor. Still, if a symptom is new, lasting, or worries you, talk with a healthcare provider.

Diagnosis

Metastatic brain tumors are often found after symptoms appear. Tests and procedures used to diagnose them may include:

• Physical and neurological exam. Your doctor reviews your symptoms and health history and checks your vision, hearing, balance, coordination, strength and reflexes. Problems in these areas can point to the part of the brain that may be affected.
   
• MRI. This is the main imaging test. It creates detailed pictures of the brain to show the size and location of any tumors.
   
• Other imaging tests. In some cases, specialized scans may be used to learn more about the tumor.
   
• Biopsy. A small sample of tissue may be removed and examined under a microscope when needed to confirm the diagnosis. This is often done during surgery to remove the tumor.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the number, size and location of the tumors, your symptoms, the type of original cancer, and your overall health. Your care team can help explain the benefits and risks of each option.

Treatment may include:

• Surgery. Surgery may be used to remove a tumor or reduce its size, especially when a tumor is causing pressure inside the skull. This can ease symptoms, sometimes quickly.
   
• Radiation therapy. Radiation uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells. Options include whole-brain radiation, which treats the entire brain, and focused stereotactic radiosurgery, which delivers a precise dose to a specific tumor while sparing nearby healthy tissue.
   
• Targeted therapy and immunotherapy. For some cancers, these medicines can help control tumors. Targeted therapy attacks specific features of cancer cells, while immunotherapy helps the immune system fight the cancer.
   
• Chemotherapy or other systemic treatments. Depending on the type of original cancer, these treatments may also be used.

Clinical trials may also be an option. These studies test new treatments or new ways to use current ones.

Ask your care team whether a clinical trial may be right for you.

Causes & Risk Factors

The main risk factor for a metastatic brain tumor is already having a cancer that can spread to the brain.

Cancers more likely to do this include:

• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer
• Melanoma
• Colon cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Thyroid cancer

The risk also rises with age, especially after midlife.

Having a risk factor does not mean you will develop a metastatic brain tumor. Talk with your healthcare provider about your personal risk.

Screening

There is no routine brain cancer screening for everyone.

However, people with certain cancers that have a higher chance of spreading to the brain may sometimes have brain imaging. This depends on the type of cancer, any symptoms, and your doctor's recommendation.

If you have symptoms that are new, lasting, or unusual for you, talk with a healthcare provider about whether further evaluation is needed.

This information is for general education only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and guidance based on your personal health history.