Brain cancer is the 10th deadliest cancer in the United States. According to Cancer.Net, in 2023 an estimated 24,810 adults (14,280 men and 10,530 women) in the US alone will be diagnosed with primary cancerous tumors of the brain and other nervous system cancers. Fortunately, not all brain tumors are malignant. In fact, if caught early, brain cancer can sometimes be cured. All brain tumors, however, are potentially dangerous because of their size and location.
So, how do you know if you have the disease, and what are the treatment options? Click through for a diagnosis.
All brain cancers are tumors, but not all brain tumors are cancerous.
There are more than 120 major types of brain tumors, grouped into two main types: non-cancerous (benign) brain tumors, and cancerous (malignant) brain tumors.
Benign, or non-cancerous, brain tumors are low grade (grade 1 or 2), which means they grow slowly, tend to respond more to surgical or other treatments, and are less likely to return after treatment.
Malignant, or cancerous, brain tumors are high grade (grade 3 or 4) and either start in the brain (primary tumors) or spread into the brain from elsewhere (secondary tumors). Malignant tumors are aggressive and develop faster,and are more likely to grow back after treatment.
When cancer develops elsewhere in the body and spreads to the brain, it’s called a secondary brain tumor, or brain metastasis.
Lung cancer (pictured), colon cancer, kidney cancer, breast cancer, and skin cancer can all metastasize to the brain.
Conversely, while brain cancer cells may travel short distances within the brain, they generally do not spread beyond it.
Actually, only 1.4% of all new cancer cases are brain cancers. The chance of developing a malignant brain tumor is also low, in fact less than 1%, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Men are at a slightly higher risk—about one in 140—of developing malignant brain cancer, whereas women have a one in 190 chance of getting this cancer type.
The risk of getting a brain tumor increases with age (most brain tumors happen in older adults aged 85 to 89).
It’s uncertain why some brain cells begin to form into tumor cells. Besides those that spread from other parts of the body, it’s suggested that certain genetic conditions may predispose a person to overproduction of specific cells. And anyone exposed to dangerous and prolonged levels of radiation always runs the risk of developing cancer.
There are several symptoms that can indicate the presence of a brain tumor. But some of these signs are also indicative of other medical complaints.
Headaches are one of the most common symptoms of a brain tumor, particularly if you have a headache that feels different from the type of headache you usually get, or if headaches are getting worse. These are usually worse in the morning.
Seizures, also called fits, are also commonly associated with a brain tumor. During one of these episodes, the person usually loses consciousness and collapses with a stiff body and jerking limbs.
A persistent feeling of nausea or dizziness, plus frequent vomiting, are among the most prevalent side effects stemming from a brain tumor.
Mental or behavior changes can be telltale signs of a brain tumor, things like memory loss, unusual personality patterns, or general irritability.
Progressive muscle weakness or paralysis on one side of the body are red flags. Many people affected by brain tumors also feel very tired, and this can be made worse by stress.
Problems with vision can happen because of the optic disc becoming swollen, or because of pressure on the optic nerve.
A tumor that develops on the balance (vestibular) and hearing, or auditory (cochlear), nerves can affect hearing and balance.
Likewise, the location of a tumor in the brain can affect the senses of taste and smell.
Some types of brain tumor are more common in children. Actually, brain tumors are the second most common form of childhood cancer after leukemia. Treatment for brain tumors in youngsters is typically quite different from treatment for adult brain tumors. If you suspect your child may have a brain tumor, it’s vital to enlist the expertise and experience of pediatric specialists in neurology and cancer as soon as possible
Procedures used to diagnose brain cancer include laboratory tests, biopsy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) scan.
If you have a brain tumor, your treatment will depend on a number of factors. These include the type of tumor, its location in the brain, the size of the tumor, and how far it has spread.
Brain tumor treatment can include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, steroids, and more. For a low-grade brain tumor, surgery may be the only treatment needed, especially if all of the tumor can be removed.
If a tumor cannot be removed, the aim of treatment is to slow growth and relieve symptoms by shrinking the tumor and any swelling around it. Treatment options in this instance include radiation therapy.
Brain cancer can sometimes be cured if caught early on. If this isn’t the case, the survival rate largely depends on the grade of cancer and the age of the patient.
According to Cancer.Net, the five-year relative survival rate for people younger than age 15 is about 75%. For people age 15 to 39, the five-year relative survival rate nears 72%. The five-year relative survival rate for people age 40 and older is 21%.
Palliative care for adults with a brain tumor is designed to provide the highest quality of care in order to minimize any distressing side effects from the tumor or its treatment. It does not necessarily mean end-of-life care.
Generally speaking, around 15 out of every 100 people with a cancerous brain tumor will survive for 10 years or more after being diagnosed.
