Living with Meningioma
A tumor of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord, usually not cancer and slow-growing.
Understanding Meningioma
Most are benign (not cancer), though a minority are atypical or cancerous. Even benign ones can cause problems if they press on nearby brain areas. Most grow slowly, but growth cannot be predicted. Sometimes memory loss, carelessness, and unsteadiness are the only symptoms. It can happen at any time in life.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Headache
- Seizures
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vision changes
- Hormone level changes
- Missed periods
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists, cancer specialists, genetic specialists and hormone specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Pituitary Network Association may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists); Cancer specialists (oncologists); Genetic specialists (geneticists); Hormone specialists (endocrinologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Pituitary Network Association
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with American Cancer Society and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
Changes in genes (also called variants) cause this condition. GARD does not name a specific gene in this record.
Also known as: meningioma (disease); meningioma, somatic; noncancerous growth of membranes covering brain
Patient organizations
- American Cancer SocietyMeningioma · United States
- National Brain Tumor SocietyMeningioma · United States
- Pediatric Brain Tumor FoundationMeningioma · United States
- Pituitary Network AssociationPituitary deficiencies · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Meningioma.
Explore research for Meningioma
Explore actively recruiting Meningioma studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Meningioma with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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