Brain Metastasis

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 6, 2025.

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What is brain metastasis?

Brain metastasis is cancer that has spread within your brain or spreads from your body to your brain. Some examples are lung, breast, skin, and colon cancer.

What are the signs and symptoms of brain metastasis?

• Headaches that get worse or keep coming back
• Seizures
• Problems walking, speaking, seeing, or thinking
• Changes in behavior or personality
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weakness or tiredness
• Swelling in your body

How is brain metastasis diagnosed?

Brain metastasis can look like other health conditions, such as a stroke. Your healthcare provider will ask how long you have had symptoms. Tell your provider if you are being treated for cancer or if you have had cancer before.

• A neurologic exam can show healthcare providers how your brain is working. Other names for this test include neuro signs, neuro checks, or neuro status. Healthcare providers will check how your pupils react to light. They may check your memory and how easily you wake up. Your hand grasp and balance may also be tested.
• A CT or MRI may show the size and location of any tumors. You may be given contrast liquid help to help the tumors show up better. Tell the healthcare provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to contrast liquid. Do not enter the MRI room with any metal. Metal can cause serious injury. Tell the healthcare provider if you have any metal in or on your body.
• A PET scan uses a substance called tracer to help show injuries or diseases inside the brain, such as tumors.

How is brain metastasis treated?

You may choose treatments that help you maintain your normal activities for as long as possible. Other choices provide palliative (comfort) care to ease your symptoms. Ask your healthcare provider for more information about palliative care. Radiation and surgery may continue if you are receiving chemotherapy, radiation, or other treatment for cancer in another part of your body. You may also need any of the following:

• Steroid medicine helps reduce swelling in the head and body.
• Anticonvulsant medicine helps decrease or stop seizures.
• Blood thinners help prevent blood clots. Blood thinners make it more likely for you to bleed or bruise.
• Inhibitor medicines may be given to help destroy the cancer cells. One medicine helps your immune system kill the cancer cells. Another medicine makes cancer cells die by preventing them from being repaired. This helps keep cancer from progressing as quickly.
• Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is used to help treat brain tumors and to prevent new tumors from forming. WBRT can help you maintain your normal daily activities during treatment.
• Surgery may be used if you have a single tumor. During surgery such as craniotomy, healthcare providers open your skull and remove the tumor. Surgery can quickly relieve vision loss or other problems if a tumor is affecting an area of the brain that controls vision, hearing, or movement.
• Radiosurgery targets cancer cells without harming healthy brain tissue. You may need radiosurgery if you have more than one tumor or if you cannot have open surgery, such as craniotomy.

Treatment options

The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

• lomustine
• Gleostine
• Gliadel
• CeeNU
• BiCNU

View more treatment options

Drugs used to treat this and similar conditions

What can I do to manage the effects of a brain metastasis?

• Prevent infections. Cancer treatments make it easier to get infections. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Carry germ-killing gel with you in case you do not have access to soap and water. Try to avoid people who have a cold or the flu.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you are in pain. If you need pain medicine, learn how, when, and how often to take it. Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine. Tell healthcare providers if your pain does not decrease.
• Stay safe. Cancer treatments can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling someone when you get out of bed or if you need help. Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe for you to drive.
• Seek support from healthcare providers. The disease can change the way you act, think, and feel. Your memory, concentration, and ability to learn may decline. You may act without thinking or become more emotional. Talk with your healthcare provider about these changes and about continuing care, treatments, and home services. Go to all follow-up appointments.
• Follow up with your healthcare providers. He or she may suggest tests such as an MRI or PET scan every 3 months. These tests help check for new or returning tumors. Work with your providers to create a follow-up care plan that is right for you.

Where can I find support and more information?

• American Brain Tumor Association
  8550 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 550
  Chicago , IL 60631
  Phone: 1- 800 - 886-2282
  Web Address: http://www.abta.org
  

Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) for any of the following:

• You feel lightheaded, short of breath, and have chest pain.
• You cough up blood.

When should I seek immediate care?

• Your leg or arm feels warm, tender, and painful. It may be swollen and red.
• You have new problems walking or moving one side of your body.
• You have new or worsening headaches or body swelling.
• You have a seizure.

When should I call my doctor?

• You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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