May is brain tumor awareness month.

It's a condition public figures like John McCain and Elizabeth Taylor have publicly battled and a diagnosis that can be scary.   

Like any other tumor – there are two types of brain tumors: malignant and benign.

Doctor's at NYC Health & Hospitals/Jacobi say brain tumors in adults are relatively rare, and most cases are non-cancerous.

However, brain tumors are far more common in children.

The most common symptom is a headache. Doctors say while a diagnosis may be scary, early diagnosis and support are your first lines of defense.

"Don't be afraid. The sooner we find it and can start treatment, the better the chances are that we can have a better outcome," Director of Neurosurgery at Jacobi Roxanne Todor says.