Prognosis for medulloblastoma
Unfortunately, your doctor cannot be absolutely certain about what will happen to your child following a diagnosis of an medulloblastoma. They can give you an estimate, based on tumour type and current situation, but they may not be able to predict other factors, such as how well your child might respond to treatment.
Prognosis is often an ongoing process, revised at different stages in your journey.
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 prognosis.
Brain tumour survival
The figures listed below 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 exactly what will happen to your child. You can find a general overview of prognosis for medulloblastoma below.
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About 70 to 80% of children diagnosed with medulloblastoma live for five years or more.
Get your free brain tumour information pack
Our Brain Tumour Information Pack has been designed to help you cope after diagnosis and support you during this difficult time. It can help to guide you through the healthcare system, answer your questions, and reassure you that you’re not alone so that you feel confident when discussing treatment and care options with your medical team.
Unfortunately, we’re currently unable to send Information Packs by post. All the information contained in the pack can be found in the email you’ll receive after completing this form.
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