What Can I Do to Prevent a Brain Tumor if I’m At Risk?

Because no one knows what causes brain tumors, it is hard to say what will prevent them. You can do certain things to reduce your risk of getting a brain tumor. One thing is to avoid exposure to radiation. If radiation is prescribed to treat another kind of cancer, the benefits it brings in treating that cancer usually outweigh these risks.

You should also avoid being exposed to these chemicals.

• Pesticides

• Polyvinyl chloride, used in plastics manufacturing

• Petroleum products

See your doctor if you have unusual symptoms that do not go away. Here are examples of some warning signs of a brain tumor.

• New or uncontrollable headaches

• Loss of vision

• Seizures

While in most cases these signs are not caused by a brain tumor, it’s a good idea to see your doctor for a physical exam.