Each May, Brain Tumor Awareness Month #GrayMay is observed. The observance is when we come together to support, empower, and amplify the many voices of the brain tumor community. The brain tumor experience is full of extraordinary challenges and extraordinary hope – the gray area that falls in between is what drives us, unrelentingly, toward our shared mission to conquer and cure brain tumors, once and for all.
Brain Tumor Facts
- The five-year survival rate for glioblastoma patients is only 6.9 percent.
- Glioblastoma accounts for 50.1 percent of all primary malignant brain tumors.
- It is estimated that more than 10,000 individuals in the United States will succumb to glioblastoma every year.
- Glioblastoma is also one of the more expensive cancers to treat, often leaving patients and families with major financial hardship on top of the burdens of the disease.
Source: National Brain Tumor Association
Brain tumors are classified by the microscopic structure of their tissues and unique characteristics at the molecular level.
Brain tumors are also often graded to compare and classify the severity of tumors within a certain type. In general, tumors may be CNS WHO grade 1, which is the least aggressive, up to CNS WHO grade 4, which is the most aggressive.
Knowing the type and grade of a brain tumor helps the health care team predict its behavior, identify the best possible treatment options, and identify potential eligibility in clinical trials.
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