Childhood brain and spinal cord tumour statistics

Brain and spinal cord tumours (or central nervous system cancers) are the 2nd most commonly diagnosed cancer in children in Canada.

It can take several years to collect and confirm cancer data, so the number of new cancer cases and deaths from recent years may not be available for some time. The most recent data available are provided.

Incidence and mortality

Incidence is the total number of new cases of cancer. Mortality is the number of deaths due to cancer.

The most recent incidence statistics for childhood brain and spinal cord tumours in children aged 0 to 14 years are from 2012 to 2016:

• 745 Canadian children were diagnosed with childhood brain and spinal cord tumours.

The most recent mortality statistics for childhood brain and spinal cord tumours in children aged 0 to 14 years are from 2013 to 2017:

• 242 Canadian children died from childhood brain and spinal cord tumours.

For more information about cancer statistics, go to the Canadian Cancer Statistics publication.