The Attack and Survival Rate of Brain Tumor

Vakshi Kuluchi^*
*Correspondence: Vakshi Kuluchi, Department of Neurochemistry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Karnataka, India, Email:

Uncontrolled and abnormal cell growth in the brain is called a brain tumour. The space in our skull is restricted. Therefore, this extra growth inside our brain causes more pressure inside the skull, causing lifethreatening complications, and also damaging our brain. Tumours can be either benign or malignant. The benign ones are not cancerous and cannot spread to other parts of the brain or body. The malignant ones are cancerous, grow uncontrollably and can spread to other parts of the body.

There are two main brain tumour types - primary and metastatic or secondary. Primary brain tumours originate within the brain. They may be either benign, without cancerous growth or malignant, with quickly-growing cancerous cells. Secondary or metastatic brain tumours are ones that start in other parts of the body like the breasts or lungs but later spread to the brain through the blood. These are always cancerous and never benign.

A primary malignant brain tumor is a rare type of cancer accounting for only about 1.4% of all new cancer cases in the U.S. The most common brain tumors are known as secondary tumors, meaning they have metastasized, or spread, to the brain from other parts of the body such as the lungs, breasts, colon or prostate.

Most people diagnosed with a primary brain tumor do not have any known risk factors. However, certain risk factors and genetic conditions have been shown to increase a person’s chances of developing one, including: The risk of a brain tumor increases as you age.

People who have been exposed to ionizing radiation such as radiation therapy used to treat cancer and radiation exposure caused by atomic bombs has an increased risk of brain tumor.

Rare genetic disorders like Von Hippel-Lindau disease, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and Neurofibromatosis may raise the risk of developing certain types of brain tumors. Otherwise, there is little evidence that brain cancer runs in families.

Headaches that get worse over time are a symptom of many ailments including brain tumors. Other symptoms may include personality changes, eye weakness, nausea or vomiting, difficulty speaking or comprehending and short-term memory loss. Even benign or non-cancerous tumors can be serious and life threatening. If you experience these symptoms, speak with your doctor right away.

Primary brain tumors those that begin in the brain can develop at any age, but they are most common in children and older adults. While brain tumors are one of the most common cancers occurring in children 0-14 years, the average age of diagnosis is 59 years. Although long-term studies are ongoing, to date there is no definitive evidence that cell phone use increases the risk of cancer. However, if you are concerned about the possible link between cellphones and cancer, consider limiting your use of cellphones or use a speaker or hands-free device.

There are different types of primary brain cancer and survival rates vary significantly depending on the type of cancer. Some types of brain cancer, such as meningioma, anaplastic ependymoma and oligodendroglioma, are highly treatable, while others are less responsive to treatment. Glioblastoma multiforme is the deadliest of all brain cancers and is widely regarded as incurable and universally fatal, killing 95% of patients within five years of diagnosis. To combat this deadly disease, NFCR is part of a robust, international coalition working on innovative ways to defeat GBM utilizing a rigorous adaptive trial platform known as GBM AGILE. Led by some of the best and brightest brain cancer researchers in the world, GBM AGILE is reengineering the way clinical trials are conducted to develop more effective treatments faster than ever before.