Stage 4 Brain Cancer Survival Rate

When we talk about brain cancer most of the conversation is centered around the different types of treatments and survival rate. Stage 4 brain cancer survival rate if very less because at this stage the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Cells are the primary source of life and in humans the cell growth is controlled, when old cells die new cells replace them. The process of cells dying and new ones replacing them is a common occurrence and it happens naturally. In the case where there is unnatural growth of cells, meaning new cells are formed even when the old ones are functioning.

This unwanted growth of cells is known as a tumor, there are two types of tumors, benign tumors do not pose much of a threat and can be treated easily. Malignant tumors are dangerous and can spread to other areas of the body causing great damage. Malignant tumors are termed as cancerous and when they spread to other areas of the body it is known as metastasis.

Stages of Brain Cancer

Modern medicine has categorized cancer into different stages and this helps create treatment methods for each stage. Like most diseases, early detection is the key to effective treatment of cancer, if detected at a later stage the survival rates drop.

Stage I
In this early stage with effective surgery, cancer can be cured, and patients can live a full life. In stage I cancer, the cell growth is very minimum and treatment for full recovery is possible.

Stage II
In this stage the cancerous cell growth is still at a slow rate and treatment is possible. Surgery and beam radiation is used to cure patients of any cancerous growth.

Stage III
This is still a treatable stage, but clear evidence of abnormal cell growth can be seen, if the size of the tumor is large, chemotherapy will be used prior to surgery.

Stage IV
In this stage the cancer has metastasized to other areas of the body, and treatment becomes difficult. The survival rate dips, with only 20 percent surviving up to 5 years.

Prognosis

Diagnosis is the key to cancer treatment, doctors will use CT scans, biopsies to get information about the cancer and start an effective treatment plan. Without treatment survival rate of stage 4 brain cancer is 2-3 months, people die due to brain edema.

Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the most common forms of malignant brain tumors it is also the deadliest, with stage 4 brain cancer life expectancy around 12-18 months with chemotherapy and radiation. Doctors will also use surgery to remove most of the tumor, after surgery radiotherapy will be used.

Oligodendroglioma is another form of slow progressing malignant tumor, survival rate for this type of tumor can be as high as 16-18 years. Chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy are some of the treatment methods that oncologist will use. Prognosis for this kind of tumor is also less, as this is an incurable form of malignant tumor.

The survival rate for people over the age of 60 is low with, around 33 percent having a life expectancy of 1-2 years. Modern medicine has taken some big strides in treating fatal diseases but is yet to come up with a cure for cancer. Although there are some vaccines for liver cancer and cervical cancer, there is no vaccine for brain cancer.