What is brain cancer?
Brain cancer also known as a malignant brain tumour, refers to cancers that start in the brain tissue itself. These are different from other brain tumours that may be non‑cancerous.
Brain cancers are relatively rare, but understanding reliable information can be reassuring.
Brain cancer usually develops because of a combination of factors over time.
Factors that can play a role include:
- Age
- Family history or genetics
- Exposure to high levels of radiation to the head (for example, radiotherapy in childhood)
- Certain rare genetic conditions
- Some medical conditions or treatments
Having one or more risk factors does not mean someone will develop brain cancer.
Things to look out for:
- Headaches that are new, or feel different
- Feeling sick or being sick often, especially in the morning
- Changes in eyesight, like blurry or double vision
- Feeling unsteady, dizzy, or off balance
- Problems talking, such as slurred words or finding the right words
- Feeling confused, forgetful, or not quite yourself
- Seizures (fits), even if you have never had one before
- Feeling very tired most of the time
When to get advice
Speak to your GP practice if you have headaches that don’t go away or get worse, seizures, vision changes, being sick, or new problems with balance, speech, or memory.
Tests and next steps for a malignant brain tumour (brain cancer) - NHS
For more information you can visit any of the links below.
Last reviewed: January 2026