Incidence of Brain Cancer

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By Misha Safranski
eHow Contributing Writer

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According to the National Cancer Institute, brain cancer affects about six people in every 100,000. Brain cancer is the main cause of cancer deaths among people younger than 35. The risk of cranial tumors among seniors age 65 and over is four times the risk for younger adults. The causes of this devastating disease are, for the most part, a mystery.

Primary Brain Cancer

Primary brain cancer originates in the brain. About 19,000 Americans are diagnosed with primary brain cancer each year.

Secondary Brain Cancer

Up to one third of people with metastatic cancer in other areas of the body experience a spread of the cancer cells to the brain. This occurrence is called secondary brain cancer.

Effects

Brain cancer causes symptoms such as loss of vision or hearing, paralysis, behavioral changes and memory loss.

Theories/Speculation

Possible contributors to the incidence of brain cancers are being researched. These include genetic causes, cell phone usage, occupational hazards and diet and nutrition.

Types

The most commonly diagnosed type of brain cancer among adults is glioma, a cancerous growth affecting the nerve cells in the brain.

Childhood Brain Cancer

Children experience brain cancer at an incidence of approximately one in 100,000. The most common type of brain cancer in children is medullablastoma.