May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month
We invite you to join us and the broader cancer community to “Go Gray in May” to raise awareness about brain tumors. Brain tumors are the second most common cancer in pediatrics, accounting for approximately one out of four childhood cancers.
Brain tumor survivors are one of the highest at-risk groups for suffering serious late effects from treatment, which can include second cancers, hearing loss, and significant developmental delays.
The cause of most childhood brain and spinal cord tumors is unknown. Signs and symptoms of brain tumors are not the same in every child, but may include: morning headaches or headaches that go away after vomiting; frequent nausea; vision, hearing, and speech problems; loss of balance; unusual sleepiness or change in activity level; unusual changes in personality or behavior; or seizures. In infants, an increase in the size of the head may be a warning sign. “Some children are unable to reach certain growth and development milestones, such as sitting up, walking, and talking in sentences,” according to the NIH. You should check with your child’s pediatrician if you notice these symptoms and have concerns.
Pediatric Brain Tumor Facts
Brain tumors are the second most common type of childhood cancer (after leukemia) and the leading cause of cancer deaths among children and adolescents. Over 4,000 children and teens under age 20 are diagnosed with central nervous system (CNS) tumors each year in the U.S., accounting for 25% of total cancer diagnoses in this age group.
Despite significant research progress over the last several decades, brain cancers are the leading cause of cancer deaths among children and adolescents. The survival rates for certain brain cancers remain perilously low. Today, three out of every ten childhood cancer deaths are caused by brain cancer.
Every year, 200-400 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) - a brain cancer with a five-year survival rate of approximately two percent. Most children will live less than a year after a diagnosis of DIPG. DIPG Awareness Day is May 17th.
Childhood Brain Tumors in the News
FDA grants accelerated approval to drug for patients with relapsed or refractory BRAF-altered pediatric low-grade glioma (FDA, April 23, 2024)
New study sheds light on the mechanisms underlying the development of malignant pediatric brain tumors (ScienceDaily, April 15, 2024)
World First: 13-Year-Old Child Cured of a Deadly Brain Cancer (Agence France-Presse, February 14, 2024)
Experimental Drug May Slow Childhood Brain Tumors (Northwestern University, January 22, 2024)
Clinical trial results give new hope for children with rare gliomas (ScienceDaily, November 21, 2023)
Improved survival for incurable brain tumor, providing a ‘crack in the armor’ (ScienceDaily, August 16, 2023)
CAR-T ‘robustly effective’ in younger patients with deadly form of brain cancer (HemOnc / April 20, 2022)
Youngest brain tumor patients have significantly poorer outcomes than older pediatric patients (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus / March 18, 2022)
How You Can Help
Follow along on social media all month with hashtags #BrainTumorTips, #GoGrayinMay, and #BTAM.
If you’re a brain tumor survivor, you can help us increase awareness by sharing your story with us. Your voice could be the one to encourage a family who is facing a new diagnosis, motivate a policymaker to take action, or inspire a generous benefactor with time or money who is looking for a cause to support.
Make a Gift: We simply can't do our important work without you. Your support makes a real and lasting impact in the lives of children with cancer and their families.