Key facts
What you should know
No two tumors are alike. These facts help paint the full picture.
50%
Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor
GBMs account for over half of all diagnosed primary brain tumors — the most common and most dangerous form. No two cases are the same.
1
There are over 120 different types of brain tumors, making treatment more difficult. No two tumors are alike.
2
There is currently no known cure for brain tumors.
3
Each year approximately 200,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with a primary or metastatic brain tumor.
4
Traditional treatments — including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation — can leave patients with permanent side effects.
5
Brain tumors form at the control center for thought, emotion, and movement — the most complex organ in the body.
6
Brain tumors are often life-threatening. GBMs are the most aggressive form, accounting for 50% of all primary brain tumors.
7
Brain tumors have no socio-economic boundaries — they do not discriminate among gender or ethnicity.
8
Tumors are graded 1 through 4. Grade 1 is least malignant; grade 4 is the most malignant.
9
Even a grade 1 "benign" tumor can be life-threatening depending on its location and size within the brain.
10
Astrocytomas, Oligodendrogliomas, Ependymomas, and all other gliomas can be graded between 1 and 4.
Tumor grading
The 1–4 grading scale
Grading reflects how quickly tumor cells are likely to grow and spread. Only a biopsy can confirm grade.
1
Least malignant
Slow-growing cells that closely resemble normal brain cells. Typically the most treatable.
2
Low grade
Relatively slow-growing but can spread into nearby tissue and may recur at a higher grade.
3
Malignant
Actively abnormal cells that grow more rapidly and may spread to other brain areas.
4
Most malignant
Fastest-growing and most aggressive. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common grade 4 tumor.
Important: Only a biopsy can determine what grade a tumor is. Imaging alone cannot confirm grade.
Watch for these signs
Common symptoms
Symptoms vary by tumor size, type, and location. Many overlap with other conditions — see a doctor if you're concerned.
Headaches
Seizures
Cognitive changes
Personality changes
Vision disturbances
Eye weakness
Nausea or vomiting
Speech disturbances
Memory loss
Find support
Trusted resources
Organizations and centers offering expertise, support, and hope.
Saint Luke's Marion Block Neuroscience Institute
Kansas City, MO
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KU Cancer Center
Kansas City, KS
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Head for the Cure
National
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American Brain Tumor Association
National
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T.H.E. Brain Trust
National
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Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center
Duke University
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National Institute of Cancer
National
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Children's Brain Tumor Foundation
National
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National Brain Tumor Society
National
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North American Brain Tumor Coalition
National
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Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
National
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The Ivy Brain Tumor Center
National
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