How can you tell if a headache is coming from a brain tumor?

Exam and imaging: A very good clinical history, and physical examination can tell you a lot whether a headache is a migraine likely, tension headache likely or other serious condition such as brain cancer. Primary brain cancer is not very common. Metastatic disease from other cancer in the body is way more common. If suspicion is high then some imaging studies can be ordered- such as ct scan or MRI of the head.