This year, an estimated 23,130 adults (12,770 men and 10,360 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with primary malignant tumors of the brain and spinal cord. It is estimated that 14,080 adults (7,930 men and 6,150 women) will die from this disease this year. Brain tumors are the tenth most common cause of cancer death in women.

About 4,300 children and teens will be diagnosed with a brain or central nervous system tumor this year. More than half of these are in children younger than 15. This section deals with adult brain tumors, learn about brain tumors in children [2].

About 20% to 40% of patients with other types of cancer will have it spread to the brain. The most common primary cancers that spread to the brain are lung [3], breast [4], unknown primary [5], melanoma [6], and colon [7] cancers. The rest of this section covers primary brain tumors only.

Statistics should be interpreted with caution. Estimates are based on data from thousands of people with brain tumors in the United States each year, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with a brain tumor. Learn more about understanding statistics [8].

Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's publication, Cancer Facts Figures 2013, American Brain Tumor Association and the National Cancer Institute.