Brain and spinal cord tumours
What is a brain or spinal cord tumour?
A brain or spinal cord tumour starts in the cells of the brain or spinal cord. Together, the brain and spinal cord form the central nervous system (CNS).
Risks for brain and spinal cord tumours
Risks for brain and spinal cord tumours include radiation exposure and inherited conditions.
Symptoms of brain and spinal cord tumours
Common signs and symptoms of brain and spinal cord tumours include headaches, seizures and difficulty speaking or understanding words.
Diagnosis of brain and spinal cord tumours
Brain and spinal cord tumours can be diagnosed or ruled out by tests such as an MRI, CT scan and biopsy.
Grading brain and spinal cord tumours
Grading describes how cancer cells look compared to healthy cells. Brain and spinal cord tumours are graded from 1 to 4.
Stages of brain and spinal cord tumours
Brain and spinal cord tumours do not have a staging system because they rarely spread outside the central nervous system.
If a brain or spinal cord tumour spreads
Brain and spinal cord tumours can spread within the central nervous system (CNS), but they rarely spread to other organs.
Prognosis and survival for brain and spinal cord tumours
Prognosis estimates the outcome for brain and spinal cord tumours. It depends on many factors including grade, if the tumour can be removed by surgery, and what genetic and molecular changes are found in the cancer cells.
Treatments for brain and spinal cord tumours
Brain and spinal cord tumours can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Other treatments may be offered.
Supportive care for brain and spinal cord tumours
Supportive care for brain and spinal cord tumours help you meet physical, practical, emotional and spiritual challenges.
Brain and other nervous system cancer statistics
Cancer statistics tell us how many people in Canada are diagnosed with and die from brain and other nervous system cancer in a certain time frame.
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