Your Path to Hope Resources

Imagine your brain is like a busy city, with different neighborhoods responsible for different tasks. Just like how each part of a city plays a unique role in keeping things running smoothly, each area of …

Written by Erin Gaffney I’ve been fortunate to serve as an ambassador for several organizations.  I joined the Executive Leadership Committee for the American Heart Association to raise awareness for heart disease.  I participated in …

About Us Brain tumors present unique challenges, demanding specialized care from diagnosis through treatment. With a shared commitment to addressing these challenges, the Brain Cancer Support and Solutions Alliance leverages the strengths of its member organizations to …

Head for the Cure has recently partnered with My DIPG Navigator to introduce a pivotal resource for families and patients battling diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and diffuse midline glioma (DMG). This initiative promises to …

An ependymoma is an accumulation of irregular cells, forming a tumor in either your brain or spinal cord. It falls under the category of primary central nervous system tumors, originating directly in your brain or spinal cord rather than migrating from another location. Ependymomas typically exhibit slow growth and seldom extend to other parts of the body.Classified as a type of glioma, ependymomas initiate in glial cells. These cells play a supportive role for neurons in your brain and spinal cord.

Glioma is a collective term referring to a group of tumors originating in the glial cells of the brain, which provide support to the primary brain cell type, neurons.These tumors commonly occur in the cerebral hemispheres, the brain’s largest outer section responsible for vital functions such as movement, speech, cognition, and emotions. Gliomas can also initiate in the brain stem, regulating essential functions like breathing, blood pressure, and heartbeat. Additionally, they may develop in the optic nerves and cerebellum—the part of the brain overseeing balance and non-cognitive functions.

DIPG, or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, is a type of brain tumor found in an area of the brainstem known as the pons. The name diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma describes how the tumor grows, where it is found, and what kinds of cells give rise to the tumor.Diffuse: Diffuse means that the tumor is not well-contained – it grows out into other tissue so that cancer cells mix with healthy cells.

Medulloblastoma is a cancerous brain tumor that starts near the brainstem in the cerebellum. The tumor is fast growing and can spread to other areas of your brain and spinal cord. Medulloblastoma is more common in children than adults. PopulationWhile medulloblastoma is rare, it is the most common pediatric malignant (cancerous) brain tumor. Approximately 20% of childhood brain tumors are medulloblastomas. According to the American Cancer Society, about 500 children are diagnosed with medulloblastoma each year in the United States. There are four known subtypes of childhood medulloblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common type of malignant (cancerous) brain tumor in adults. Cancer cells in GBM tumors rapidly multiply. The cancer can spread into other areas of the brain as well. Rarely, the cancer spreads outside the brain to other parts of the body. Glioma tumors like GBM start in glial cells. Glial cells are vital to nerve cell function. GBMs specifically form in glial cells called astrocytes. GBMs are the fastest-growing astrocytoma (tumor that forms in astrocytes). Types Healthcare providers use a grading system from 1 to 4 to indicate brain tumor growth.

Different parts of the brain control different functions, so brain tumor symptoms will vary depending on the tumor’s location. For example, a brain tumor located in the cerebellum at the back of the head may cause trouble with movement, walking, balance, and coordination. If the tumor affects the optic pathway, which is responsible for sight, vision changes may occur.The tumor’s size and how fast it’s growing also affect which symptoms a person will experience.