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How Long Can Someone With a Brain Tumor Live?

  • Dr. Robert Lieberson
  • Aug 16, 2022
  • 3 min read

You may be curious about your expected lifespan if you have been diagnosed with a brain tumour. According to Cancer Research UK, 15 out of 100 persons diagnosed with malignant brain tumours will survive for at least ten years. However, depending on your cancer type, your life expectancy may be longer or shorter. Below is information on the life expectancy of various forms of brain tumours.


The Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine provides several therapy options for patients with brain tumours. Some therapies are considered "standard," while others are evaluated in clinical trials. Standard therapies are those that are currently employed and have been shown successful. Treatment clinical trials aim to improve existing treatments and collect data on new treatments. Before selecting, patients with brain tumours should explore all available treatment options. Here are some of the most prevalent brain tumour therapies.


In addition to surgery, the healthcare professional may prescribe genetic counselling to identify whether the patient has a congenital syndrome related to brain tumors that are inherited. Once the source of the cancer has been identified, the therapy will depend on the tumor's kind, location, size, and grade. Additionally, treatment may be combined with other therapies, such as chemotherapy. In addition to surgery, the healthcare professional may provide genetic counseling to determine the patient's tumor type.


It is essential to recognize that the overall survival statistics following a diagnosis of a brain tumor are estimations. They are based on statistics collected annually in the United States. The rates are modified every five years, thus they may not reflect therapy advancements. Nonetheless, these survival percentages can offer patients and their families with crucial information. You should learn more about the treatment you will receive following your diagnosis, as well as the factors that can alter your life expectancy.


After a brain tumor diagnosis, a person's lifespan is determined by a number of factors. New therapeutic options have boosted the likelihood of a positive outcome. Although the typical survival duration for a brain tumor is between twelve and eighteen months, many children with grade 4 astrocytomas can live for up to five years after surgery. Comparatively, just 25% of patients diagnosed with glioblastomas survive after one year, and only 5% survive beyond five years.


Glioblastoma, the most prevalent form of primary brain cancer in adults, can be treated using a variety of methods. Surgery is the initial phase of treatment, with the aim of removing as much of the tumor as feasible. Chemotherapy, including chemotherapy medications such as temozolomide (Temodar), is frequently administered in conjunction with radiation therapy. Additionally, a portable device known as a tumor treatment field is placed in the scalp in order to eliminate cancer cells. Patients may also eligible for clinical studies. In addition to these alternatives, the care team also examines the patient's age, functional level, medical history, and medication tolerability.


The most frequent modalities of treatment for glioblastoma include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Therapies that selectively target cancer cells may be a viable alternative. Specific recommendations depend on the stage and kind of cancer, the patient's overall health, and the tumor's reaction to previous therapies. This article examines the available glioblastoma treatments. These choices may be suitable for your scenario.


The treatment choices for oligodendroglioma of the brain vary, however the majority of patients can anticipate receiving chemotherapy. Patients should be informed that the tumor may not include the same genetic markers as those of an adult. Additional research is required to determine whether pediatric OG has a distinct molecular signature. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery are now the only available treatments for oligodendroglioma of the brain.


Surgical intervention is one of the initial oligodendroglioma treatment steps. This surgery aims to remove as much of the tumor as feasible and obtain a better understanding of its nature. Other treatment choices, including as chemotherapy and radiation, may follow. If the malignancy is malignant, more treatments can be required. Patients with recurrent oligodendrogliomas may be required to undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy in order to control the tumor.


In order to treat medulloblastoma in children, medical professionals have a number of options. Due to the tumors' origin in the cerebellum, the most common symptoms are headache and nausea, which are typically worst in the morning. Vision abnormalities and double vision are additional common signs of medulloblastoma in the brain. Although a total cure is improbable, persons with this illness can undergo surgery.


Surgical excision of the tumor by a pediatric or adult brain surgeon is the primary therapeutic option for medulloblastoma. This treatment is crucial due to the fact that the tumor grows around vital brain regions. Surgery may be a possibility, although it is often impossible to completely remove the tumor. This may necessitate that patients undergo extra therapies. Brain medulloblastoma treatment options may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these modalities.

 
 
 

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