Brain tumors can affect people of any age, gender, race, and at anytime in their lives. This means there is an equal need for research in pediatric brain tumors as there is adult brain tumors.
- More than 28,000 children (0-19 years of age) are estimated to be living with a brain tumor in the US
- The most prevalent
brain tumor types in children (0-14):
- Pilocytic Astrocytoma
- Malignant Glioma
- Medulloblastoma
- Neuronal and mixed neuronal-glial tumors
- Ependymoma
- The cause of most childhood brain and spinal cord tumors is unknown.
- About 4,600 children and teenagers are diagnosed with a primary brain or central nervous system tumor each year, or equal to 13 new cases per day.
- While survival rates for many childhood brain tumors have improved over the past 30 years, survivors often suffer from lifelong side effects caused by their illness as well as by treatments such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
- Malignant (fast-growing) brain and spinal cord tumors are slightly more common in boys, while non-malignant tumors are slightly more common in girls.
- Pediatric brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death among children and adolescents ages 0-19, surpassing leukemia.
Statistics provided by:
A Kid’s Brain Tumor Cure PLGA Foundation
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
National Brain Tumor Society
American Cancer Society