Mercy Neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Park Discusses Brain Tumor Symptoms

Brain tumors come in all shapes and sizes, and so do their symptoms. Some signs and symptoms are more common than others.

An image that Patricia Royall still can't get over is a tumor about the size of a golf ball above her eye.

"I'm like, 'Wow.' How long has it been there?" Royall said. "You got something growing in your head like that and you don't know it."

What she also didn't know are there were warning signs.

"I had headaches, a lot of headaches," Royall said. "The clumsiness -- tripping over my feet when nothing was there. It was like, 'OK, am I clumsy? What's going on?'"

According to neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Park, Director, The Minimally Invasive Brain & Spine Center at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD, said those are signs often associated with a brain tumor.

"The headache is the most common symptom when patient come to see doctors, especially if you're seeing increasing frequency and intensity that cannot be controlled. I think you definitely need to see a doctor," Dr. Park said.

Dr. Park noted that the clumsiness Royall experienced is also a warning sign, along with vision changes, nausea, numbness, changes in memory and seizures.

"Usually it depends on location and size," Dr. Park said.

Park was able to remove Royall's tumor. Images taken after her surgery show her brain with no tumor.

Royall said she's fortunate, and encourages anyone with persistent symptoms to get it checked out, which is something Dr. Park stressed as well.

To view Mercy neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Park’s interview regarding signs of a brain tumor, click here.