Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths of adults under 40 and the biggest killer of children, yet it receives the least funding of all cancers.
Brain Tumors:
- Are the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children under age 20
- Second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in males ages 20-39
- Fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in females ages 20-39
- Do not discriminate. Anyone can develop a brain tumor regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, overall fitness, or socioeconomic status. Even individuals that appear to be in excellent physical shape can get a brain tumor
- Cannot be prevented because their causes are currently unknown.
Over 190,000 people are diagnosed with brain tumors each year, 520 each day, 21 each hour.
For every 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 221 are living following the diagnosis of a brain tumor.
Brain tumors reduce life expectancy by, on average, 20 years – the highest of any cancer.
Gliomas represent 30% of all brain tumors and 80% of all malignant tumors. The most common—and most aggressive—type of glioma is glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM.
GBM is the most common and deadliest primary malignant brain tumor in adults, accounting for 16.3% of all tumors. The relative survival rate for GBM is dismal at 35.2% for 1 year, 13.17% for 2 years, and only 4.7% for 5 years. GBM is also classified as a Grade IV (most serious) cancer.