2. Your behavior changes

If you’ve been getting worse and worse headaches and have other behavioral changes, it could be a sign of a brain tumor. Not all brain tumors are cancerous, but even benign tumors can cause serious problems.

As the abnormal cells of a tumor cause it to grow, it can press on the blood vessels in your head, causing headaches. It also can press into the brain itself, causing neurological changes, depending on where it’s situated. These changes may cause you to act differently – according to the American Brain Tumor Association, more than half of patients with malignant (cancerous) brain tumors experience behavioral changes.

You may also experience problems with memory, concentration, judgment and reasoning, reading and writing, and/or emotional control. If you or others around you have noticed these changes along with your headaches, see your doctor.