Are most brain tumors curable?

Answer 1

No, unfortunately they are mostly incurable, but often treatable.

About 25% of symptomatic, during life diagnosed brain tumors, arise from meninges:linings of the brain and are called meningiomas -and can be cured by operation , if in accessible location and totally resected.

About 50% of brain tumors are gliomas-arising from the support cells around the nerve cells. They are classified according to cell type and degree of malignity.
Grade I ,the most benign, which consist of pilocytic astrocytomas and gangliogliomas, can be cured if operated totally away.
Some grade II tumors, particularly oligodendrogliomas, will not recur after so called total resection (grade II to grade IV gliomas do not have sharp margins but usually grow more or less in brain tissue). Most grade II tumors and practically all grade III tumors and grade IV tumors grow back after operation+radiation+chemotherapy, either given sequentially or at the same time.Growing back can sometimes take years. Grade IV tumors are called glioblastomas and rarely ever get cured.
According to population based data gliomas increase the mortality in their carriers until 19 years have gone from diagnosis. After 19 years, the patients risk to die is the same as anyone else's of same age and sex. So , gliomas can be considered cured after 19 years.

Primary brain lymphomas, about 10% of all brain tumors, can sometimes be cured -most often recur.
Some of the remaining type of brain tumors like bloodvessel growths, can be cured, if totally resected.

Most common tumors in the brain are metastases from other cancers, they rarely ever get cured.
About 30 00 to 45 000 primary brain tumors are diagnosed in the US annually. The number of brain metastases from other cancers like lung cancer and breast cancer are diagnosed in at least 150 000 people annually, although many of them in patients who have their tumor spread to other sites also.
So, in conclusion, better therapies are desperately needed -and less toxic ones, too!

Answer 2

A lot of brain tumors are curable and treatable. Unfortunately a brain tumor can be fatal as you well know. You'll get a lot of answers on this but I implore you to ask your Doctor lots of questions. it will depend on what type is diagnose and without people knowing exactly what type your question is difficult to give you a ture answer. I do know for fact that the doctor will tell you as much or as little as you need to know. I wish you all the best.

Answer 3

I agree with lucyshines49, that most brain tumors are treatable.

However I would like to add that because there are so many processes going on in the head, it is a very good idea to think about going to a major hospital centre where you can be referred to different doctors in the same organisation.

Have a look here:
http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/altseek.html

before you consider any "alternative" treatment such as gene therapy.

Answer 4

Look into the Burzynski Clinic, they are in clinical trials for a targeted gene therapy.