Though brain cancer is one of the least common cancers, it is also among the most dangerous. Because of the position of the tumors, this type of cancer can be very difficult to treat, and nearly impossible to eradicate altogether.
On average, those diagnosed with brain cancer can expect a survival rate of one to two years. In fact, according to the North American Brain Tumor Coalition, only 35 percent of brain cancer patients tend to survive longer than five years (the standard length of time used to measure cancer survival rates).
However, these rates are determined using a huge amount of data and should not be given too much credence on a case-by-case basis. As with most cancers, the chances of an individual surviving brain cancer will depend on a number of factors: the type of cancer, the amount that it has progressed, and the age and overall health of the patient.
Not all brain tumors are cancerous or malignant. A benign tumor, or one that does not expand, may cause symptoms depending on their size and the position within the brain. However, because these tumors do not contain cancer cells, they will not spread to other parts of the body or grow back once they have been surgically removed. Due to their delicate location, it is possible (but not common) for benign brain tumors to be fatal.
In contrast, cancerous tumors are far more dangerous because of the speed at which they spread. Location and size will be a factor in an individual patient surviving brain cancer, as well as how the tumor originated. If the cancer is secondary—that is, metastasized (spread) from a separate case of cancer, survival rates may depend on the location of the original disease. A secondary tumor from breast cancer tends to have a good prognosis, for example, while the prognosis for brain metastases from colon cancer is comparatively poor.
One of the most dangerous things about brain cancer is the relative difficulty of ensuring early detection. Brain tumors can often only be seen when they are scanned for specifically, and may be especially hard to spot in the early stages. Diagnostic tools might include an MRI, a skull X-ray, a spinal tap or even a biopsy, none of which are routine procedures in the absence of a demonstrable medical problem.
So, unfortunately, a diagnosis might be made only after the patient has begun experiencing symptoms—severe headaches, changes in appetite, changes in cognition, etc. These symptoms indicate that the tumor has already spread enough to begin affecting different areas of the brain, and has therefore advanced to a later stage with less chance of operability. Surviving brain cancer becomes much less likely in this case.
Young patients stand a much greater chance of surviving brain cancer than older ones, with the mortality rate rising gradually with age and then exponentially for the elderly. In fact, in cases where the tumor has not spread into other areas of the body, children and young teenagers have about a 70 percent chance of surviving beyond five years. In contrast, brain cancer patients over 65 years of age have a survival rate of only five percent.
Treatments for brain cancer can ease symptoms, but it is difficult to completely cure. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are all potential options. In cases where surgery is possible, this is the preferred method of treatment and the patient’s best chance of survival. If a tumor has metastasized, surgery is typically no longer an option and the prognosis becomes much poorer.
Radiation therapy is commonly used for secondary tumors, either alone or in conjunction with surgery. Chemotherapy may be tried, but only gives the patient an improved chance of survival in about 20 percent of cases. This is the least-preferred method of treatment for brain cancer, and will not usually be the primary course unless surgery and/or radiation are not viable options.
Sources
"An Agenda for Improving Brain Tumor Treatments." The North American Brain Tumor Coalition. April/May 2009.
" Cancer Survivor Stories." TodaysCancerSurvivors.com. 27 April 2011. 24 June 2011.
" Cancer Treatment with Chemotherapy." TodaysCancerSurvivors.com. 1 March 2010. 24 June 2010.
" Radiation." TodaysCancerSurvivors.com. 13 May 2010. 24 June 2011.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Robert Wilson - I am a professional writer that has written for a variety of websites around the internet. I have written for blogs and news websites.
