Medulloblastoma prognosis

A prognosis is when your doctor gives you a forecast of the likely outcome of your medical condition.

Your doctor cannot be absolutely certain about what will happen to you following a diagnosis of a brain tumour. They can give you an estimate, based on your tumour type and current situation, but they may not be able to predict other factors, such as how well you might respond to treatment. This is why prognosis is often an ongoing process, revised at different stages in your journey.

Medulloblastoma survival rate

Average risk

About 70 to 80% of children diagnosed with medulloblastoma live for five years or more.

High risk

About 60 to 65% of children live for five years or more.

The figures listed above are given in 1, 2, 5 and 10 year intervals simply because doctors use these intervals for research/measuring purposes – they are not meant to represent how long a person will live past those intervals. For example, a patient who is a 5 year survivor might live as long as any other healthy person, depending on their circumstances.

It is important to remember that statistics and averages cannot tell you what will happen to you specifically.
Read more about medulloblastoma brain tumour treatments and side-effects.

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Receiving information about a brain tumour prognosis

Different people approach their prognosis in different ways.

• Some do not want to know, because they are afraid of what they might hear and how it may affect them
• Some just need some time to cope with their diagnosis before asking about their prognosis
• Others may want to know from the beginning, using their prognosis to plan ahead

There is no right or wrong answer as to whether or when to receive such information. It is entirely up to you whether or when you want to speak to your doctor about your prognosis.