Brain Cancer Survival

Question: What was the survival rate for patients with brain cancer in the 1940's? I need to know the survival rate for people with brain cancer in the 40's, along with websites that state them.

Answer: We did not keep track in the 1940s.

Question: What is the survival of brain cancer in early and late detection?

Answer: I think there are different types of brain cancer so a generalization cannot be made. Some are more treatable which will influence the outcome. Obviously the sooner it is treated the smaller is the affected area but the survival rate may depend more on other factors. Only an oncologist familiar with the case could make any kind of determination.

Question: Brain Cancer Survival Rate? I found that over a period of 5 years, 80% of patients with brain cancer survived it. now, does that mean that only 16% of patients in a period of 1 year survive brain cancer? I'm confused.

Answer: Since the above answers (most quite good) are dealing with this in terms of numbers, I'm answering from my initial assumption that you wanted to know about brain cancer survival rates since you or someone you knew was diagnosed with it...I'll leave this as is in case I was correct: My father died of brain cancer (a generic term used for certain types of brain tumors, usually meaning the worst: glioblastoma multiforme). It's so spread out, like a tree's branches, you can't just take it out without destroying the brain! The survival rate then was ZERO! Today, with some new innovations, it's maybe 1 in 3 (that's over 5 yrs. I think), but it depends on which studies you read, which treatment is used, if any and how HONEST the docs are! (They actually operated on my father, KNOWING it was hopeless!). Here's some info I looked up: From WebMD: "Drug Temodar Ups Brain Cancer Survival Study Shows Temodar Extends Lives of Patients With Aggressive Form of Brain Cancer" By Charlene Laino WebMD Medical News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Oct. 30, 2007 (Los Angeles) -- People with a type of brain cancer that was invariably fatal only five years ago now have a shot at living three, four, or even five years after diagnosis, European researchers report. In a new study, four times as many people with a brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme who were given radiation and the drug Temodar survived for at least four years, compared with those treated with radiation alone. The survival rate was even higher among people who didn't have symptoms or who had a favorable genetic makeup, says researcher Rene-Olivier Mirimanoff, MD, a radiation oncologist at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois in Lausanne, Switzerland." (see link below for rest of article. In recent report on increased cancer survival rates, from the National Cancer Institute, certain cancers showed very little improvement: "Modest gains (5 percent to 10 percent) were found for cancers of the bladder, stomach, liver, brain, and esophagus."2) I don't want to depress you, but brain cancer survival rates are still pretty bad, unlike brain TUMOR survival rates, if they're more contained and especially non-malignant. When I found out my father's diagnosis, I did lots of research (I'd studied health and had been a medical transcriptionist and editor, so I could read medical journals...) and it just made me more devastated. I'm not saying you should react like I did, but I would get ready to start dealing with grieving, or if it's your illness, living to the fullest while you can. I'd also get counseling for both yourself and family members. Brain cancer is a slow, agonizing death, and not NEARLY as neat and clean as they made it look on the show "ER"! However you deal with illness and probably early death, whether it's via religion, holistic healing, medical research, meditating or taking a cross-country trip...do it now! Once the cancer takes over, the patient's choices are very limited and others begin to decide FOR them! I wish you the best and know that my thoughts are with you. You'll need LOTS of support, so if you want to email me, I'd be glad to respond more.

Question: What is the survival rate of brain cancer in early and late detection?

Answer: Actual survival rates for the most common forms of brain tissue cancers are very curable with proper treatment. The rate of cure/survival is very high in early intervention, and fairly good in late detection as well. The key to survival is the treatment methods and overall health of the individual.

Question: How likely is survival/remission with brain cancer? My mum has meningioma and is thirty seven...I was just wondering if there was a chance she might get better?

Answer: Meningiomas are tumors of the 3 coverings of the brain (meninges) and are typically benign, but press on brain structures and cause neurological symptoms. There are meningiomas that become malignant, though. Has she had any of the masses removed? Are there further plans for operations to remove them? There is a decent chance of her getting better. Your best course is to speak to either the neurosurgeon or oncologist. Only they can give accurate information about your mom's condition and prognosis.

Question: Survival rate of olfactoryneuroblastoma nonoperable brain cancer?

Answer: Well, the short answer is that it depends to a large degree on which stage it is caught in. I found a link with a ton of information on the subject, including prognosis, symptoms, and treatments. Here's an excerpt from the prognosis section: In recent series, the 5-year patient survival rate varies from 50-80%, with most studies indicating patient survival rates of higher than 70%. Whether the Kadish classification system has a definitive prognostic value is unknown, but stages A and B seem to have a 5-year survival rate of 86% versus 72% for stage C. http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic748.htm

Question: what is survival time for brain mets from breast cancer?

Answer: It depends on the cancer, how it grows, what it responds to in treatment and whether it is contained in a mass or is more diffuse. There are different treatments for brain cancer and you need to discuss these with a neuro-oncologist and a neurosurgeon. In my experience the survival time is somewhere between 3-9 months, but I have known people who have survived and are living cancer free now. Remember, Lance Armstrong had mets to his brain and he is doing great. I wish you strength and comfort in the days ahead.

Question: mass behind a person's eye what are the chances of survival? ok so my mom's best friend whom I am quite close to, has been complaining of pressure behing her eye. and one night she was rubbing her eye and her eye popped out. her and her fiance were able to correctly put it back in, now doctors think she has brain cancer what are her chances of survival and if she undergoes treatment what would be possible side effects.

Answer: Survival depends on what kind of cancer it is and if it is completely resectable.

Question: Brain tumor survival changes? I have a 21-year-old male friend with a brain tumor- his symptoms are headache, nausea, personality changes, strange taste sensation, black-outs, weight loss, and possibly temporal lobe seizure- the tumor is located in the "back" per CT scan- but I don't know exactly where. Still waiting on the MRI results. Do you think this might be cancer- if so, what kind and what's the prognosis for someone experiencing this? Serious answers only please. Thank you! The question also should have read "chances"- not "changes"!

Answer: Some brain tumors are benign, but their danger is that they grow and crowd the brain. My daughter-in-laws father had a brain tumor that was successfully removed by surgery. It was not cancerous, but still in all a pretty scary thing, especially with the personality change. That was ascribed to other problems, but then he started having black-outs and loss of use of his limbs. A co-worker had a non-cancerous tumor also, this was about ten years ago. At that time brain surgery was very dangerous, but she survived, had to go through lots of rehab and is now pretty much herself again. A lot depends on the type of care he is receiving and it sounds like the Doctors are on top of things. If it is indeed cancer, your friend is in for a tough ride, but it is survivable, though the blood/brain barrier can be a problem in treatment. This type of news is devastating, but attitude plays a bigger part than you think. Bless you for your concern and care.

Question: what are the chances of survival after a cancerous brain tumour is removed and chemotherapy is not given? fast growing tumour was removed as only 3 months to live not healthy enough for chemotherapy, this was a secondary tumour from alveolar lung cancer which i have had for 5 years what could the prognosis be

Answer: Has anyone suggested DXR --Radiotherapy?

Question: What is the Anaplastic Astrocytoma Survival rate AFTER surgery and treatment.? Hi, My brother was diagnosed with High Grade Glioma - Anaplastic Astrocytoma (grade 3) last year. It was located on a very "convenient" (if there's EVER such a thing regarding brain cancer) part of the brain in terms of surgical removal. (More specifically in the upper right hemisphere in the back of the head) And in december, went through surgery which was by doctor's accounts very very successful, removing over 98% almost 100% of the tumor. Since then, he went through a few months of Radiation therapy, and has only one session of chemotherapy to go through. The exams after treatment are yet to be assessed by his doctors and oncologists. They said that his brain suffered some lesions natural to this kind of surgery and that they carry obvious deficits (but that was already expected) But given his scenario, would someone who has experience with these tell me the prognosis, possible survival rate and life expectancy ? Also, is there a recurring rate for these ? Do they come back and how often ? Thank you The location of the tumor was in the right Parietal Lobe almost bordering the occipital lobe.

Answer: That's not the best tumor to have. Mine was mixed astrocytoma grade 3. They got all my tumor thank goodness. I can't imagine him going through a few months of radiation! It only lasts for 6 weeks, along with taking temodar at the same time. Guess he got 4 weeks off and then started up the temodar again. Drs will keep a close eye on it, esp since they couldn't get it all. With a little of it left, have they discussed avastin? A good person to talk to about this is Ian's mommy on here. She's going through the exact thing as your brother, right down to the surgery month and location of tumor. I've discussed the odds with my surgeon and onco and the opinion is unanimous: it will eventually grow back. Google George Plym. He was dx in 1967, when he was 12. He's had numerous surgeries and gamma knife and chemo over the years and he's still alive and well. Hmmm, who is this bitter little troll that keeps peeking at my answers??

Question: Do you think Ted Kennedy Might Have Died Sooner if it wasn't for British Medical Technology? The Drug used to treat Ted Kennedy's Brain Cancer Temozolomide (Temodal™) was developed at Aston University in Britain.. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/708105 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temozolomide The Drug used to treat Ted Kennedy's Brain Cancer Temozolomide (Temodal™) was developed at Aston University in Britain.. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/708105 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temozolomide The MRI and CAT Scans used to diagnose and help treat Senator Kennedy's Brain Cancer were developed with British expertise. Sir Peter Mansfield - Noble Prize for his role in developing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Mansfield Sir Godfrey Newbold Hounsfield who was awarded a Nobel Prize for his part in the development of X-ray computed tomography (CT). His name is immortalised in the Hounsfield scale, a quantitative measure of radiodensity used in evaluating CT scans. The use of such CT scanning allows radiologists to determine the exact size and shape of tumours and has led to the development of further radiotherapy techniques. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godfrey_Hounsfield London's Royal Marsden Hospital and its academic partner, The Institute of Cancer Research have discovered or developed more new anti-cancer drugs than the National Cancer Institute in the USA. http://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/RMH/privatecare/privatecare/worldleadingexpertise.htm Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Years of research are behind the dramatic progress being made in the fight against Britain’s common cancers. Survival rates have doubled in the last thirty years and the work of Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of that progress. “Our research is behind 19 of the top 20 drugs used to treat cancer patients worldwide today. Our work has underpinned the huge progress we are now seeing in preventing more deaths from lung cancer. And our progress over decades has helped to develop radiotherapy as a major form of treatment for half of all cancer patients. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5785681/Deaths-from-common-cancers-at-40-year-low.html Whilst just the other day it was announced that researchers at Imperial College London had managed to halt the growth of cancerous tumours, in what could be an important step towards the eventual eradication of this terrible illness. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1208840/Scientists-close-breast-cancer-cure-British-researchers-way-stop-tumours-growing.html It should also be noted that Britain has a thriving Pharma and Bio-Techs Industry, with British Companies such as Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) and Astra Zeneca being amongst the top pharmaceutical companies in the world, whilst Pfizer and other such companies have major research facilities in the UK. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Medicinespharmacyandindustry/Industrybranch/DH_4000038 In terms of UK Cancer treatment the vast majority of NHS patients with suspected cancer (94.5%) see a specialist within two weeks and 98.2% of NHS patients diagnosed with cancer receive their first treatment within one month, however these targets are now set to be mandatory and any patient not seen within the 2 week period will be entitled to a private consultation payed for by the NHS. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5663791/Patients-to-be-given-new-right-to-see-cancer-specialist-within-two-weeks.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5785681/Deaths-from-common-cancers-at-40-year-low.html http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/pressreleases/2009/july/drop-in-deaths-common-cancers http://www.hi-mag.com/healthinsurance/article.do?articleid=20000152001 Professor Darzi, Chair of surgery at Imperial College London has recently written an article in the Washington Post in defence of Britain's National Health Service. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/08/16/ST2009081602108.html Cancer Research UK have recently responded to the figures regarding US/UK Cancer Statistics being quoted by some less credible media souces and you can read their response here - http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2009/08/17/we-need-to-be-careful-when-comparing-us-and-uk-cancer-care/ http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/behindtheheadlines/europeancancersurvival/ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/cancer-deaths-in-britain-no-worse-than-elsewhere-1124751.html Professor Darzi, Chair of surgery at Imperial College London has recently written an article in the Washington Post in defence of Britain's National Health Service. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/08/16/ST2009081602108.html Cancer Research UK have recently responded to the figures regarding US/UK Cancer Statistics being quoted by some less credible media souces and you can read their response here - http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2009/08/17/we-need-to-be-careful-when-comparing-us-and-uk-cancer-care/ http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/behindtheheadlines/europeancancersurvival/ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/cancer-deaths-in-britain-no-worse-than-elsewhere-1124751.html So much for Republican claims regarding British Medical Innovation and suggestions that people like Stephen Hawkings would have died in Britain. The truth being Ted Kennedy relied on British Medical Innovation developed alongside British NHS Hospitals in order to extend his life. Sorry for posting some of the above twice - a few technical problems.

Answer: Thanks for posting some rational stuff about healthcare in the UK. There's been so much disinformation about a system that the British public overwhelmingly supports. Even the conservatives there have asserted their support of it. Brits live longer than Americans and spend much less on healthcare. If that's socialism, give me a piece.

Question: Lung Cancer?? my mom was just diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, it's in her lungs and brain & is at stage four. What are her chances of survival??

Answer: I'm so very sorry about your mom's diagnosis. It's always good to be hopeful, my dad was one of the 2% that survived 5 years after diagnosis, so we were blessed. But you also must be realistic, discuss this with her and her doctor. See what her oncologist believes would be the best and most humane treatment. Sometimes chemo and/or radiation can prolong life and improve quality. Sometimes it can't. Please take care.