National Brain Tumor Awareness Month

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Break out those gray ribbons! Some of the Facts:
• Each year approximately 187,000 adults and 2,900 children are diagnosed with a brain tumor.
• Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer death in children under age 20 now surpassing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and are the third leading cause of cancer death in young adults ages 20-39.
• Brain tumors are the second fastest growing cause of cancer death among those over age 65.
• Brain tumors are the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in males ages 20-39.
• Brain tumors are the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women ages 20-39.
• There are over 120 different types of brain tumors, making effective treatment very complicated. Worse, children's brains react so differently than adults that the same treatment is ineffective.
• At present, brain tumors are treated by surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, used individually or in combination.
• Symptoms of a brain tumor can include headaches, seizures, cognitive or personality changes, eye weakness, nausea or vomiting, speech disturbances, or memory loss.
• The cure rate for most brain tumors is significantly lower than that for most other types of cancer.
• Brain tumor research is underfunded and the public, in general, is unaware of the magnitude of the problem.
• Currently, brain tumors cannot be prevented because their cause is still unknown.