May 23, 2012
   

Brain Tumor Information

Helpful Links to other related Brain Tumor sites


Facts About Brain Tumors

Brain tumors are:

  • the leading cause of solid tumor cancer death in children under the age of 20, now surpassing acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

  • the second leading cause of cancer death in male adults ages 20-29 and the fifth leading cause of cancer death in female adults ages 20-39.

  • also metastasized cancer that spreads from other parts of the body to the brain. They occur in 10-15% of people with cancer. Primary brain tumors generally do not metastasize to other parts of the body.

There are over 120 different types of brain tumors, making treatment more difficult. It is crucial to understand that no two tumors are alike.

There is no known cure.

Each year approximately 200,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor this year.

Traditional treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, can leave the patient with permanent side effects.

Brain tumors are located at the control center for thought, emotion and movement.

Symptoms of a brain tumor can include headaches, seizures, cognitive or personality changes, eye weakness, nausea or vomiting, vision disturbances, speech disturbances, or memory loss.

Brain tumors are often life-threatening as the survival rates for Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) and All Other Types of Primary Brain Tumors indicate below. GBMs are the most aggressive form of primary brain tumors, accounting for 50% of all primary brain tumors diagnosed.

Brain tumors have no socio-economic boundaries and do not discriminate among gender or ethnicity.

Survival Rate


Glioblastoma
(GBM)


All other types of brain tumors, including “benign” tumors

Two years

8.8%

36.9%

Five years

3.4%

28.8%

Ten years

2.4%

24.9%

 

From the information below, one can see that brain tumors may
have devastating and/or life-threatening effects on an individual.

Survival Rate
All other types of brain tumors, including “benign” brain tumors, have survival rates detailed below:
50% of all diagnosed brain tumors are classified as a “Glioblastoma” or what is commonly called a GBM. The survival rate for this type of brain tumor is detailed below.
Two year
36.9%
8.8%
Five year
28.8%
3.4%
Ten year
24.9%
2.4%
1. Brain tumors are graded on a scale of 1 – 4. A “1” is the least malignant, and a “4” is the most malignant.
2. Even a “1” type of tumor, although considered technically benign, can be life-threatening due to location and size.
3. A glioblastoma, the most malignant type of brain tumor, represents over half of all diagnosed brain tumors.
4. Astrocytomas, Oligodendrogliomas, ependymomas and all other gliomas can be graded between 1 – 4
.
    (Only a biopsy can determine what grade a tumor is.)