Brain cancer
Brain tumours are graded 1-4 by their behaviour such as speed of growth and how likely they are to spread. Grades 3 and 4 are defined as cancerous, high grade tumours. Brain cancer cells grow more rapidly and are more likely to spread to other areas of the brain.
Brain tumours include types of brain cancer. But not all brain tumours are cancerous.
It is important to remember that just because a tumour is low grade, it does not mean there are no associated health risks or problems. Having regular check-ups is important whether you have a high or low grade tumour.
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What is brain cancer?
Brain cancer is a diagnosis of a grade 3 or 4 brain tumour. These grades come from the World Health Organization (WHO) and are the two highest on a scale of 1 to 4.
These high grade tumours contain cells that grow more rapidly and are more likely to spread within the brain.
Brain cancer can spread to other parts of the brain or to the spine, but rarely spreads to other parts of the body.
If cancerous cells develop somewhere else in the body first and then spread to the brain, this is called secondary brain cancer or metastases.
Types of brain cancer
There are over 130 types of brain tumour, but not all of these are cancerous.
Types of cancerous brain tumours include:
Gliomas
Gliomas are a type of brain tumour that develops from cells that can eventually become glial cells. These are the cells that support nerve cells in the brain.
There are different types of tumours that are part of the glioma family. These are glioblastoma, astrocytoma, ependymoma, and oligodendroglioma. Glioblastoma is the most common form of brain cancer.
Medulloblastoma
Medulloblastomas are a type of tumour that forms in the central nervous system, being the brain and spinal cord. They usually form in the posterior fossa, which is the area near the back of the skull.
Medulloblastomas are embryonal tumours, meaning they form from the cells left over from developing in the womb.
They most commonly form in children between the ages of 3 and 8. They are the most common form of brain cancer in children.
Diffuse Midline Glioma (DIPG)
Previously called DIPG, diffuse midline gliomas are a type of tumour that grows in the area between the two halves of the brain, called the midline.
Diffuse midline gliomas are the second most common form of brain cancer in children, after medulloblastoma.
Pineoblastomas
Pineoblastomas start in the pineal gland at the centre of the brain, which is the area where the two halves of the brain join. This type of brain cancer is quite rare, affecting less than 1% of people diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Pineoblastomas can affect both adults and children but mostly affect people under the age of 20.
What causes brain cancer?
Largely, there’s no known cause of brain cancer. But we do know there are risk factors, such as your genetic makeup or exposure to radiation.
It’s important to remember that there’s nothing you could have done, or not done, to prevent brain cancer.
Brain cancer symptoms
When a tumour grows it can cause damage to the brain by pressing on the surrounding cells, affecting how they function. A tumour can also block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) around the brain, leading to increased pressure within the brain, which can also cause damage.
So, symptoms will depend on where the tumour is in the brain and which functions that area of the brain controls.
With this in mind, brain cancer symptoms can include:
- headaches
- changes in vision
- nausea and dizziness
- seizures
- tiredness
- loss of taste and smell.
Brain cancer treatment
Brain cancer treatment will depend on what type of tumour you have and where it is in the brain. Generally, treatment for brain cancer is surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, or a combination of these.
What is the brain cancer survival rate?
The brain cancer survival rate varies from type to type and prognosis will be different from person to person. It will depend on a lot of different things, like the:
- type of brain cancer
- location of the tumour within the brain
- success of surgery (where used)
- tumour’s reaction to treatment
- tumour’s molecular/genetic make-up (to a certain extent)
- individual biology of the person affected.
For this reason, it’s very difficult to predict what will happen in your situation, but your healthcare team will be best placed to advise you on your individual circumstances and prognosis.
It’s very important to remember that any prognosis statistics will only be an average.
Frequently asked questions
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The term ‘cure’ is rarely used with brain cancer as, despite successful treatment, the cancer can often return. But people can live for many years, depending on their circumstances.
Also, some brain cancers are considered inoperable (meaning they can’t be removed with surgery) if they’re too close to vital structures of the brain. Operating could result in damage to healthy brain tissue in these areas, for example, those that control movement, sight or breathing.
Your healthcare team are best placed to advise you on your individual circumstances.
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If your brain cancer type is classed as terminal, this means the tumour itself can’t be successfully treated, but you’ll still be given treatment to treat the side-effects and make you more comfortable.
This can be very difficult to deal with. Speak with your healthcare team about your next steps. You can also contact our support team Monday to Friday, 9am- 5pm on 0808 800 0004 or on Live Chat, or by emailing support@thebraintumourcharity.org.
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