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Each year approximately 190,000 people in the United
States and 10,000 people in Canada will be diagnosed with a
primary or metastatic brain tumor.
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Brain tumors are the leading cause of SOLID TUMOR death
in children under age 20, now surpassing acute lymphoblastic
leukemia (ALL), and are the third leading cause of cancer
death in young adults ages 20-39.
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Brain tumor patients, including those with certain
"benign" brain tumors, have poorer survival rates than
breast cancer patients.
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Metastatic brain tumors (cancer that spreads from other
parts of the body to the brain) occur at some point in 10 to
15% of persons with cancer and are the most common type of
brain tumor. The
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incidence of brain tumors has been increasing as cancer
patients live longer.
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In the United States, the overall incidence of all
primary brain tumors is more than 14 per 100,000 people.
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There are over 120 different types of brain tumors,
making effective treatment very complicated.
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Because brain tumors are located at the control center
for thought, emotion and movement, their effects on an
individual's physical and cognitive abilities can be
devastating.
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At present, brain tumors are treated by surgery,
radiation therapy and chemotherapy, used either individually
or in combination.
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Only 31 percent of males and 30 percent of females
survive five years following the diagnosis of a primary or
malignant brain tumor.
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Brain tumors in children are different from those in
adults and are often treated differently.
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Although as many as 69 percent of children with brain
tumors will survive, they are often left with long-term side
effects.
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Enhancing the quality of life of people with brain
tumors requires access to quality specialty care, clinical
trials, follow-up care and rehabilitative services.
Improving the outlook for adults and children with brain
tumors requires research into the causes of and better
treatments of brain tumors.
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Complete and accurate data on all primary brain tumors
are needed to provide the foundation for research leading to
improved diagnosis and treatment and to investigations of
its causes.
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The National Cancer Institute and the National Institute
for Neurological Disorders and Stroke are working together
to implement the brain tumor research priorities set by the
research, clinical and advocacy community, as summarized in
the Brain Tumor Progress Review Group Report.
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Symptoms of a brain tumor can include headaches
(headaches that wake you up in the morning), seizures in a
person who does not have a history of seizures, cognitive or
personality changes, eye weakness, nausea or vomiting,
speech disturbances, or memory loss. While these are the
most common symptoms of a brain tumor, they can also
indicate other medical problems.
