Brain Tumor Facts
These facts are sponsored by the Jeffrey Thomas Hayden Foundation (JTHF). They have kindly allowed Get Through it Together to use their facts. To visit their website click here.
The facts:
- Pediatric Brain Tumors are the leading cause of cancer related deaths in children 18 and under
- 3,200 new childhood primary malignant and non malignant and central nervous systems tumors are expected to be diagnosed in 2004. Of those, 2,450 will be in children under the age of 15
- In 2004 it is anticipated that there will be 12,690 deaths due to primary malignant brain tumors
- Brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in males ages 20-39
- Brain tumors are the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women ages 20-39
- Five year survival rates are a mere 27.9% in males and 30.1% in females
- Every day, an estimated 50 adults are diagnosed with a brain tumor in the United States
- 33% of patients diagnosed with brain cancer will survive five years
- Approximately 40,000 individuals in the United States will be diagnosed with primary brain tumors; of this total, more than 18,000 will be diagnosed with malignant primary brain tumors
- Metastatic brain tumors (cancer that spreads from other parts of the body to the brain) occur at some point in 10-15% of people with cancer and are the most common type of brain tumor.
- In the United States, the overall incidence of all primary brain tumors is 14.1 per 100,000 people.
- There are over 120 different types of brain tumors, making effective treatment very complicated.
- Brain tumors can be malignant or benign, and in either case can be life threatening.
- Brain tumors in children are different from those in adults and are often treated differently. Although as many as 69% of children will survive, they are often left with long-term side effects.
- 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.
Once again, thank you to JTHF. I encourage you to visit their website. Check out more about them in our Support page.