Awareness Is Key
Our brains control many important body functions, such as emotions, vision, thought, speech, and movement. A brain tumor can disrupt our functioning.
A brain tumor is a growth of abnormal cells in the tissues of the brain. Brain tumors can be benign, with no cancer cells, or malignant, with cancer cells that grow quickly. Some are primary brain tumors, which start in the brain. Others start somewhere else in the body and move to the brain.
Six Quick Facts
- An estimated 700,000 Americans are living with a brain tumor.
- 69.1% tumors are benign
- 30.1% tumors are malignant
- Nearly 87,000 new cases of primary brain tumors are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. this year.
- Brain cancer is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 55-64.
- Brain cancer is the most common cancer in children.
- Survival rates for brain and spinal cord tumors vary widely, depending on the type of tumor and other factors.
- Brain and other nervous system cancer is the ninth leading cause of cancer death in the United States.
Risk Factors
- Family history of brain cancer
- Exposure to radiation
- Exposure to infections
- Health injury and seizures
Symptoms
- Headache, especially in the morning
- Seizures
- Changes in ability to walk, talk, hear or see
- Personality or memory changes
- Nausea or vomiting
- Drowsiness, Sleep problems
Diagnosis
- Neurological, vision and hearing assessment
- CT Scan (computed tomography)
- Cerebral angiogram
- EEG (Electroencephalography)
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
Treatment
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Anti-seizure medication