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Around 1700 people are diagnosed with brain cancer in Australia annually and approximately 1200 die from the disease every year. Brain cancer kills more children in Australia than any other disease and more people under 40 than any other cancer. Cure Brain Cancer Foundation is dedicated to accelerating the development of new treatments to increase five-year survival from the current 20% to 50% by 2023. Find out more about the disease in the sections below.
| Benign | Malignant |
| Slow growing | Usually fast growing |
| Has distinct borders | Invasive |
| Rarely spreads | Sometimes spreads |
| Benign |
|---|
| Slow growing |
| Has distinct borders |
| Rarely spreads |
| Malignant |
| Usually fast growing |
| Invasive |
| Sometimes spreads |
Around 1700 people are diagnosed with brain cancer in Australia annually and approximately 1200 die from the disease every year. Brain cancer kills more children in Australia than any other disease and more people under 40 than any other cancer. Cure Brain Cancer Foundation is dedicated to accelerating the development of new treatments to increase five-year survival from the current 20% to 50% by 2023. Find out more about the disease in the sections below.
| Benign | Malignant |
| Slow growing | Usually fast growing |
| Has distinct borders | Invasive |
| Rarely spreads | Sometimes spreads |
| Benign |
|---|
| Slow growing |
| Has distinct borders |
| Rarely spreads |
| Malignant |
| Usually fast growing |
| Invasive |
| Sometimes spreads |
How is brain cancer different to others?
Brain Cancer
| Incidence | 1,896 |
| Mortality | 1,528 |
| 5 Year Survival | 22.3% |
Blood Cancer
All cancers combined
Breast Cancer
Lung Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
| Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2021. Cancer data in Australia. Cat. no. CAN 122. Canberra: AIHW |
Incidence: Projected number of people diagnosed in 2021. | Mortality: Projected number of people who will die from their diagnosis in 2021. | 5 Year Survival Rate: Percentage of people who survive 5-years after diagnosis. |
Grade I Tumour- Slow-growing cells
- Almost normal appearance under a microscope
- Least malignant
- Usually associated with long-term survival
Grade II Tumour- Relatively slow-growing cells
- Slightly abnormal appearance under a microscope
- Can invade adjacent normal tissue
- Can recur as a higher-grade tumour
Grade III Tumour- Actively reproducing abnormal cells
- Abnormal appearance under a microscope
- Infiltrates adjacent normal brain tissue
- Tends to recur, often as a higher grade of tumour
Grade IV Tumour- Abnormal, rapidly reproducing cells
- Very abnormal appearance under a microscope
- Forms new blood vessels to maintain rapid growth
- Areas of dead cells (necrosis) in centre
Grade I Tumour- Slow-growing cells
- Almost normal appearance under a microscope
- Least malignant
- Usually associated with long-term survival
Grade II Tumour- Relatively slow-growing cells
- Slightly abnormal appearance under a microscope
- Can invade adjacent normal tissue
- Can recur as a higher-grade tumour
An acoustic neuroma is a benign, slow-growing tumour that originates in the canal connecting the brain to the inner ear… Read More
Astrocytomas are the most common type of glioma… Read More
A glioma is tumour formed from glial cells… Read More
Chordoma is a malignant tumour that is part of a group of malignant bone and soft tissue tumours, called sarcomas… Read More
Central Nervous System (CNS) lymphoma is a rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma in which malignant cells from lymph tissue form in the brain and/or spinal cord… Read More
Craniopharyngioma is a rare, benign brain tumour which can affect children and adults… Read more
A rare, aggressive type of brain stem glioma that primarily affects children between the ages of 4 - 11 years… Read more
A fast-growing, Grade IV tumour that tends to spread out and invade neighbouring tissue… Read more
Ependymoma is a rare type of glioma that can affect people of all ages… Read more
Glioblastoma is a fast-growing brain tumour and the most common malignant primary brain tumour… Read more
A tumour made up of more than one type of glial brain cell, including astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and ependymocytes… Read more
Oligodendroglioma is a type of glioma that grows from oligodendrocytes, cells that normally provide insulation to the nerves in the brain... Read more
An optic nerve glioma is a benign, slow-growing brain tumour... Read more
Medulloblastoma is a grade IV, high-grade tumour that generally affects children under the age of 14… Read more
Meningioma is a tumour that arises in the meninges, the membrane layer which lines the brain… Read more
Metastatic brain tumours are some of the most frequently diagnosed tumours occurring in the brain… Read more
Pineal tumours form in the pineal gland, a section in the middle of the brain, which is responsible for making melatonin, a hormone that controls sleep… Read more
A tumour that develops on the pituitary gland is called a pituitary tumour, or an adenoma... Read more
Primitive Neuroectodermal (PNET) tumours develop from immature, undifferentiated nerve cells in the brain… Read more
Rhabdoid tumours are made up of many large cells and develop during infancy or childhood… Read more
Disclaimer: All content on Cure Brain Cancer Foundation website is created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should seek your own medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health professional.
