How do tumors affect the mind, emotions, and personality?
A brain tumor and/or its treatment can cause changes to a person’s cognitive (thinking) abilities, behavior, and emotions. The extent of changes can vary considerably from person to person and may affect a patient’s ability to work or go about his/her daily life. Some causes of behavioral and personality changes include tumor size, type, and location; side effects of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy; side effects of medications; and the patient’s psychological reaction to the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness. Cognitive changes can include difficulty speaking, writing, and/or reading; being easily distracted, confused, and disoriented; difficulty doing more than one task at a time; short-term memory loss; slowed thinking; trouble with problem solving; and poor judgment. A combination of medication, modifications in behavior, and simple lifestyle adjustments may help the person dealing with these issues and symptoms. For example, a person who has difficulty with multit
