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Is Stage 4 Brain Cancer Terminal?

Brain cancer is defined by stage and type (benign or malignant) and as the primary source or metastatic (from another source). Gliomas are a class of tumor that is categorized according to the cells it affects. Gliomas include astrocytomas, which are broken down in stages according to the rate of aggression. Stage 4, the most critical, has a low survival rate.

  1. Identification

    • Stage 4 brain cancer indicates that the cancer has spread to another organ. Brain cancer is also defined by grade. Grade IV means that the malignant tissue looks most abnormal and grows quickly, according to the National Cancer Institute.

    Treatment

    • Stage 4 brain cancer treatment includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, surgery, hormone therapy and cryosurgery. One or a combination of treatments may be pursued, depending on the specific location of the tumor within the brain, according to Buzzle.com.

    Statistics

    • According to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the most common form of brain cancer in adults is a Grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme, an extremely aggressive and lethal brain cancer. It accounts for 67 percent of brain cancer types known as astrocytomas.

    Considerations

    • According to MedicineNet.com, brain cancer is considered terminal because most treatment plans are not a cure. Survival greater than 5 years varies from less than 10 percent to as much as 32 percent.

    Significance

    • American Brain Tumor Association statistics show that brain tumors are at the top of the list for cancer death in individuals younger than 20 years. It also reports there are more than 120 different types of brain tumors.

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