What are brain metastases?
Brain metastases are tumors that have spread to the brain from a primary cancer located elsewhere in the body. Almost any cancer can spread to the brain, but it most often occurs with lung, breast, colon, skin (melanoma), and kidney cancers. Surgery and therapies can treat your symptoms, improve your quality of life, and help you live longer.
Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center is a national leader in brain tumor care. A multispecialty group of experts work together to evaluate you and create a treatment plan based on your needs. With a skilled surgical team that performs thousands of procedures every year and nurse navigators to help you coordinate your care, you can count on us to bring you the care and support you need when facing a diagnosis of brain metastases.
How brain metastases may affect you
Brain metastases symptoms result from the pressure the tumor puts on your brain. Not everyone will have symptoms. If you do, you might experience:
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Seizures
- Vision difficulties
- Weakness, difficulty moving or paralysis
- Cognitive impairment, including problems with speech, focus, or memory
- Fatigue
Causes of brain metastases
Cancer from another part of the body can spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to the brain to cause brain metastases. Most cases of brain metastases stem from lung cancer, but it can also occur if you have breast cancer, melanoma, kidney cancer, or colon cancer.
Diagnosis of brain metastases
To confirm a tumor in your brain, your doctor will order one or more imaging tests. Sometimes part of the tumor need to be removed to determine where the cancer originated.
Nationally recognized for brain tumor care
Your treatment options depend on the origin of the cancer, as different tissue cells will respond better to some therapies over others. Often, treatment of brain metastases typically requires some form of radiation with or without surgery. At Penn Medicine, our experienced specialists provide the most advanced, precision treatments for brain tumors.
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Patient stories
Tool measures tumor growth for less uncertainty between scans
Neuroradiologists have developed the first-ever tool that gives a real-time assessment of an individual’s tumor, and relieves anxiety between scans.
CNN anchor Kasie Hunt had brain surgery at Penn
Before starting her own daily news show, journalist Kasie Hunt came to Penn Medicine for a growing brain tumor that was causing painful headaches.
A surreal surgery for an unexpected diagnosis: Tanner’s story
Tanner McIntosh was shocked to learn a brain tumor was causing his debilitating back pain. And then his surgeon suggested he be awake for its removal.
Former news anchor recounts brain surgery at Penn Medicine
More than a year after receiving brain surgery at Penn Medicine, former CBS3 news anchor, Pat Ciarrocchi recounted her experience.
Tool measures tumor growth for less uncertainty between scans
Neuroradiologists have developed the first-ever tool that gives a real-time assessment of an individual’s tumor, and relieves anxiety between scans.
CNN anchor Kasie Hunt had brain surgery at Penn
Before starting her own daily news show, journalist Kasie Hunt came to Penn Medicine for a growing brain tumor that was causing painful headaches.
A surreal surgery for an unexpected diagnosis: Tanner’s story
Tanner McIntosh was shocked to learn a brain tumor was causing his debilitating back pain. And then his surgeon suggested he be awake for its removal.
Former news anchor recounts brain surgery at Penn Medicine
More than a year after receiving brain surgery at Penn Medicine, former CBS3 news anchor, Pat Ciarrocchi recounted her experience.