Brain and other nervous systems (ONS) tumors rank fourteenth in the top 15 cancers for men and fifteenth in the top 15 cancers for women in the United States.
Overall rates for brain and ONS tumors during this period were 22.37 per 100,000 for men and slightly higher at 26.55 per 100,000 for women.
In adults, the majority (66.3%) of brain and ONS tumors were benign. Although brain and ONS tumors are less common in children, when they occur they are less likely (34.8%) to be benign.
The most common histological types of brain and ONS tumors in the most recent analysis were (rate per 100,000):
- Meningioma (9.2)
- Glioblastoma (4.4)
- Tumors of the sella turcica region (3.6)
- Acoustic neuroma (1.5)
- Astrocytomas (1.2)
Glioblastomas and astrocytomas are malignant brain cancers while the other three types of tumors are overwhelmingly benign with less than 3% classified as malignant.
Five year survival rates for the malignant brain cancers have improved over the last approximately twenty year periods. Here are the most recent five year survival rates group by age:
- 19 and younger (75.3%)
- 20-39 (65.1%)
- 40-64 years (26.6%)
- 65 and older (<5%)
The five year survival rates demonstrate a significant trend for a poorer prognosis with older age groups. This represents a trend for brain cancer in older populations to be of a more aggressive type with poorer response to surgery, radiation and chemotherapy interventions.
The rates of brain cancer are relatively similar throughout the geographic regions of the United States and throughout the world. This supports a predominant genetic role for brain cancer risk. Known risk factors for brain cancer are:
- Family history of brain cancer
- Caucasian race
- Advanced age
- Exposure to ionizing radiation
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
Several studies have demonstrated that individuals with atopic diseases such as eczema, seasonal allergies and asthma have a reduced risk of malignant gliomas. The mechanism for this protective effect is unclear.
In the next two posts, I will summarize some of the recent research related to cell phone use and brain cancer rates. Additionally, I will review an interesting study suggesting the antiseizure drug valproic acid may contribute to increased survival duration in brain cancer.
Photo of bird known as the plain chachalaca from the author's files.
Kohler, B., Ward, E., McCarthy, B., Schymura, M., Ries, L., Eheman, C., Jemal, A., Anderson, R., Ajani, U., & Edwards, B. (2011). Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2007, Featuring Tumors of the Brain and Other Nervous System JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 103 (9), 714-736 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djr077
Comments
To add a comment to the original post, click here.
You must be signed in to post a comment.
Sign in nowThanks,