Brain tumours
Anything that increases your risk of getting cancer is a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get cancer.
Age is a risk factor in brain tumours. The older you get the higher the risk. Being overweight or obese can also slightly increase your risk.
If you have had radiotherapy treatment before can also increase your risk slightly. As can having a close relative such as parent, child or sibling who has had a brain tumour.
There are ways you can reduce your risk of cancer in general.
Anything that increases your risk of getting cancer is a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get cancer.
Age is a risk factor in brain tumours. The older you get the higher the risk. Being overweight or obese can also slightly increase your risk.
If you have had radiotherapy treatment before can also increase your risk slightly. As can having a close relative such as parent, child or sibling who has had a brain tumour.
There are ways you can reduce your risk of cancer in general.
Go to the Cancer Statistics section
There are ways you can reduce your risk of cancer in general.
Find out more about how you could reduce your risk of cancer
Stories about potential causes are often in the media and it isn’t always clear which ideas are supported by evidence. There might be things you have heard of that we haven’t included here. This is because either there is no evidence about them or it is less clear.
Last reviewed: 19 Jan 2023
Next review due: 19 Jan 2026
Common symptoms of brain tumours include headaches, feeling or being sick and seizures (fits).
Primary brain tumours are tumours that start in the brain. They can start anywhere in the brain and there are many different types of tumour.
You usually start by seeing your GP who might refer you to a specialist. Or you might go to Accident and Emergency (A&E) if you suddenly have severe symptoms.
There are many different types of brain tumours. They are usually named after the type of cell they develop from.
Treatment for a brain or spinal cord tumour depends on the type of tumour you have, where it is and your general health.
Primary brain tumours are cancers that start in the brain.
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