Who gets Brain Tumors?
Roswell Park Cancer Institute faculty reported in the December 2000 issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery that the incidence rates in New York State of primary brain tumors called gliomas have been increasing slowly over the past 20 years.
Brain tumors are a leading cause of death in children under age 15 and in young adults up to age 34. Brain tumors also are the second fastest growing cause of cancer death among those over age 65.
Cancer of the brain is more likely to occur from a primary tumor located somewhere else in the body. The lung, breast, skin (melanoma), kidney and colon are common sites of origin for such tumors. These tumors often spread (or metastasize) to the brain by way of the bloodstream. In contrast, primary cancerous brain tumors rarely spread to other areas of the body, but they can spread to other parts of the brain and spine.
(Source: National Cancer Institute and The Brain Tumor Society)
Are Primary Brain Tumors Inherited?
Certain inherited genetic conditions can cause members of a family to develop particular types of brain, spine and nerve tumors. Usually, such patients will have a history of family members with tumors of the nervous system and are known to have such conditions as neurofibromatosis or tuberous sclerosis. In addition, there is some evidence that gliomas of the brain are more common in certain families than in others, even in the absence of one of these known genetic conditions. Unfortunately, the exact cause and genetic predisposition of most individuals to gliomas is not yet well understood.
(Source: National Cancer Institute and The Brain Tumor Society)
Brain Tumor Facts
- There are approximately 120 different types of brain tumors. These tumors can be malignant or benign. In either case, they can be life threatening due to their effect on brain function. Established treatments for brain tumors include surgery, radiation therapy, radiosurgery and chemotherapy.
- Over 200,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a brain tumor each year. Primary brain tumors comprise approximately 40,000 of these diagnoses.
- Metastatic brain tumors occur in 10-15% of people with cancer. Breast, lung and melanoma cancers are the most common cancers to metastasize to the brain.
- Brain tumors are the leading cause of solid tumor cancer death in children under the age of 20. They are the second leading cause of cancer death in male adults who are 20-29 years of age and the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women who are 20-39 years of age.
- Males have a 0.66% lifetime risk of developing a primary malignant brain tumor and a 0.50% chance of dying from a brain tumor.
- Females have a 0.54% lifetime risk of developing a primary malignant brain tumor and a 0.41% chance of dying from a brain tumor.
- Meningiomas are the most common type of primary brain tumors. Gliomas account for 44% of all primary brain tumors, with glioblastoma multiforme being the most common type of glioma.