Nausea and dizziness

Do brain tumours cause nausea (make you feel sick)?

Brain tumours can make you feel sick, and feeling nauseous is one of the common symptoms, but it’s rare for nausea to be the only symptom of a brain tumour. 

Feeling or being sick is also common in healthy people and can be due to many everyday causes, such as:

• food poisoning
• drinking too much alcohol
• dehydration
• flu
• pregnancy.

However, brain tumours can make you feel sick, either because they cause increased pressure in the skull, or because of where they are in the brain.

Increased pressure in the skull

When a tumour grows inside the fixed space of the skull, it can press on the brain tissue or block the flow of the fluid within the brain. In both cases, this can lead to increased pressure inside the skull, called raised intracranial pressure (ICP). The effect of this is nausea, vomiting and headaches.

Position within the brain

Each area of the brain controls different functions, so a tumour in any area of the brain may prevent that part from working properly. If a tumour is in an area of the brain that helps to control balance, it can make you feel dizzy, which in turn can make you feel sick.

Other areas where a brain tumour can cause this effect, include those involved in vision and movement of the eyes (giving you double vision), or an area that affects your hormone levels, making them imbalanced.

Such areas of the brain include the cerebellum, the brain stem, the meninges, and areas around the nerves from the ear or near the pituitary gland. (Of course, a brain tumour in any area can cause nausea due to increased pressure in the skull.)

What sort of nausea or vomiting do brain tumours cause?

Nausea (or vomiting) is rarely the only symptom of a brain tumour.

Nausea or vomiting associated with a brain tumour:

• may be worse in the mornings and get better during the day as the tumour may cause a build-up of pressure in the skull overnight, but this begins to drain during the day when you are in an upright position
• may get worse if you suddenly change position, e.g. from sitting or lying to standing
• may continue for more than a week, on most days, with no sign of getting better
• may be accompanied by hiccups
• are unrelated to other conditions
• are usually accompanied by other common brain tumour symptoms, such as a headache or a change in vision.

How do I cope with nausea and vomiting caused by a brain tumour?

If you’re diagnosed with a brain tumour, you may have ongoing nausea and vomiting due to the effects of your tumour, or as a side-effect of treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

You may be given anti-sickness tablets (known as anti-emetics) but you should tell your healthcare team straight away if they become less effective.

There are changes to your diet that can help manage and treat nausea and vomiting. Or, you could try the following suggestions:

• If you have been prescribed steroids, make sure you take them – they can help reduce any swelling/increased pressure in the brain that may be causing the nausea
• Avoid strong smells, for example paint, onions or garlic
• Some people have found acupuncture helps
• If you feel like vomiting, breathe deeply and slowly, or get some fresh air
• Distract yourself by listening to music, watching a film/TV show or chatting with friends

Actions to take Questions to ask Resources to explore

• Track your nausea and dizziness, noting when they are worse or better, any patterns that you see or any changes
• People often experience more than one symptom before a diagnosis, so make sure you understand what other symptoms a brain tumour can cause
• Book an appointment with your GP for a check up and keep a note of any questions that you want to ask
• Take a look at our page about talking to your doctor for some ideas of what to ask and what to expect.

• Do you think I could have a brain tumour based on my symptoms?
• What else could be causing my symptoms (changes in lifestyle, other medical conditions, etc)?
• How can I manage the symptoms I am experiencing?
• Do I need to be referred to see somebody else about my concerns?
• If I need to make another appointment, when should this be made for and who should I talk to?

• Learn about the symptoms of a brain tumour
• Talking to your doctor
• Find out about symptoms caused by tumours in specific areas of the brain

I think I have a brain tumour, what should I do?

Brain tumours are rare. But, if you’re worried and you have a symptom that won’t go away, or if you have more than one symptom of a brain tumour, then:

• Talk to your doctor
  GP appointments are usually quite short, so make sure you find out how to best prepare for your appointment.
• Get an eye test
  If your symptoms are limited to changes in vision and/or headaches, get your eyes tested by an optician before seeing your GP.
• Go to A&E
  If the symptoms are sudden or severe, you should go to your emergency department or call 999.

Know the Signs and Symptoms

Although brain tumours are rare, if you or a loved one are experiencing two or more of the signs and symptoms it’s important that you speak to your doctor to rule out a brain tumour.

Go to the BSTT Website