Basic Things You Must Know About Kidney Cancer

Brain cancer has always been the most terrifying of malignancies because of the lethality of the position of these tumors and their effects on thought and emotion.  Statistically, the overall incidence of Brain Cancer is relatively low, accounting for 2% of all cancers in the US, causing 13000 deaths annually. Brain Cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death in the US in patients under 35.

In recent years there is some concern that this disease is on the rise with an increasing number of cases being detected. While it is true that the incidence of certain types of brain tumors is increasing, it must be noted that diagnosis has improved remarkably over the past decade or so. CAT scans and MRI techniques detect brain anomalies which would a few years ago have been passed of as a stroke, dementia or any other neurological disorder. While medical improvements do account for some of the increase in the number of cases detected, the increased incidence of certain rare tumors in children affords no explanation. The rare brain tumor, the Central Nervous System Lymphoma which earlier accounted for 5% of all cases has risen by as much as 300% in the past 10 years.

The 5 year brain cancer survival rates are the sixth lowest following pancreatic, liver Cancer, esophagus, lung and stomach cancers. Brain Cancer can occur at any age and the mortality rate rises gradually with each passing decade until the age of 55, after which there is a dramatic rise in mortality. Brain cancer survival rates depend on the duration of symptoms, an absence of neurological changes at the time of diagnosis, location of the tumor, preoperative size of the tumor, and a completeness of surgical resection. In general, younger the age at the time of diagnosis, better the prognosis.

Studies indicate that males have a slightly increased risk for brain cancer. The highest incidence of the disease seems to be in elderly Caucasian males living in metropolitan areas.

Brain cancer survival rates vary with age. The overall brain cancer survival rate for 5 years is 33%, but in children, the survival rate is better. The 5 year survival rate is 70-85% for children if the tumor has not spread and a complete surgical resection is possible. In cases where the tumor has spread, the 5 year survival rate is 30-40%.  

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