When It’s More Than a Headache – Subtle Signs of Brain Tumors in Women

Many women are quick to brush off new symptoms—blurry vision, brain fog, or even morning headaches—as stress, fatigue, or hormonal changes. But according to Dr. Miguel Melgar, a renowned neurosurgeon at Memorial, these subtle signs could point to something more serious, like a brain tumor.

Brain tumors happen about the same in both men and women. That’s because the most common kind, metastatic, starts in another part of the body and spreads to the brain. “However, meningioma (or a benign tumor), is sometimes related to estrogen levels and therefore is more common in women.”

“Women often attribute neurological symptoms to stress,” says Dr. Melgar. “But the key is slowly progressing symptoms.”

Early signs of a brain tumor may include:

• New-onset motor weakness on one side of the body
• Gradual changes in speech, such as slurring
• Progressive blurry vision in one or both eyes
• Personality or behavioral changes, which can be related to tumors located on the left frontal lobe
• New onset seizures

Symptoms

Headaches are a common symptom—one that many women experience regularly. But Dr. Melgar notes that certain red flags should prompt further evaluation:

• A new type of headache in someone who’s never had them
• A different pattern in chronic migraine sufferers
• Headaches that don’t respond to usual medications
• Headaches that are worse in the morning upon waking
• Brain fog accompanied by persistent headaches

If you or a loved one is showing this progression of symptoms, Dr. Melgar stresses that you should “Seek medical help immediately and demand to have brain imaging CT or MRI as soon as possible.”

Prevention is key

“Since the most common cause of brain tumors is a metastasis from elsewhere in the body, the main goal is to prevent cancer.” Recommendations for prevention include:   

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Being physically active
• Avoiding smoking and asbestos exposure
• Getting regular checkups, especially if you have a family history of brain tumors

Memorial Hospital offers the only board-certified neurosurgeons on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including experts like Dr. Melgar, who bring advanced care closer to home.

Thanks to advances in microsurgery, neuronavigation (“GPS for the brain”), and techniques like awake craniotomy, patient outcomes have significantly improved. “But skillful microsurgery remains the gold standard,” says Dr. Melgar.

If something feels off—trust your instincts. It could make all the difference. Learn more about Dr. Melgar and Memorial Neurosciences by calling (228) 867-4855 or by clicking the button below!