Rarely is a brain tumor the cause of headache. Headache can be either a late or early symptom of a brain tumor, depending on the location of the tumor. A constant, progressively increasing pain or a change in the character of headache pain may alert the physician to this occurrence. Sometimes a worsening of an old headache type signals the presence of a brain tumor. Most brain tumors are accompanied by neurological signs and symptoms such as seizures, personality change or weakness as well as headache.
Any type of exertional headache, i.e., a headache that develops after running, coughing, sneezing, bowel movement, etc., should be investigated to make sure there’s no tumor in the brain.