Facts about Brain Tumors

• Currently there are over 600,000 people in the US living with a primary brain tumor.*
• Each year approximately 210,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor. That's over 575 people a day. Breakdown:
  
  
  • An estimated 62,930 new cases of primary malignant and non-malignant tumors**
     
  • An estimated 150,000 cases are brain metastases (cancer that spreads from other parts of the body to the brain)***
     
• Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer 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.****
   
• Metastatic brain tumors (cancer that spreads from other parts of the body to the brain) occur at some point in 20 to 40% of persons with cancer and are the most common type of brain tumor.*****
   
• The incidence of brain tumors has been increasing as cancer patients live longer. 
   
• There are over 120 different types of brain tumors, making effective treatment very complicated.
   
• 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.
   
• At present, brain tumors are treated by surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, used either individually or in combination.
   
• Thirty percent of brain tumor patients survive five years following the diagnosis of a primary malignant brain tumor.**
   
• Brain tumors in children are different from those in adults and are often treated differently. Although as many as 74 percent of children with brain tumors will survive, they are often left with long-term side effects.****
   
• 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.

* CBTRUS (2008). Statistical Report: Primary Brain Tumors in the United States, 2000-2004. Published by the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States.
** CBTRUS (2010) Statistical Report: Primary Brain Tumor and Central Nervous System Tumors Diagnosed in the United States, 2004-2006. Published by the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the U.S.
*** Medline Plus, Medical Encyclopedia: Metastatic brain tumor, Update Date 9/11/06
**** CA A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 2007, Cancer Statistics, 2007, Volume 57, Number 1, January/February 2007
***** Soffietti R, Ruda R, Mutani R. Management of Brain Metastases. October 2002. Vol. 249, No. 10.  Journal of Neurology. Steinkopff. Pages 1432-59. 

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