Brain Tumor

Am I at risk for a brain tumor?

Brain tumors generally comprise about 2% of all newly diagnosed adult cancers. There are approximately 98,000 new cases of primary brain tumors, both benign (about 60%) and malignant (about 40%), diagnosed ever year in the United States. The peak age at which people are diagnosed with brain tumors varies with the tumor type, however when taking all types into account the average age is about 50 years of age.

Exposure to radiation, both therapeutic (treatment for a disease) and from atomic bomb exposure, has been linked to the development of certain types of primary brain tumors, including meningiomas, gliomas, and sarcomas, particularly if the exposure took place in childhood. Higher radiation doses are generally felt to increase the risk of eventually developing a brain tumor, and radiation-induced brain tumors can take anywhere from 10-30 years to form.

Although many chemicals have been shown to cause brain tumors in laboratory animals, there have never been any associations with chemical exposures proven in human beings. Chemicals that have been shown to cause brain tumors in animals include: n-nitroso compounds, vinyl chloride, and certain organic solvents. However, when examining populations exposed to these various chemicals (like pesticide workers or workers in the petrochemical industry), there has never been any conclusive evidence to suggest that they get brain tumors at a higher rate than people without the chemical exposures.

With the recent popularity of cellular phones, many people have worried that their use may be a risk factor for developing brain tumors, but there has been no conclusive evidence that cell phones increase the risk of brain tumors. There has also been concern regarding exposure to powerful magnetic fields (high power lines) and some sugar substitutes (aspartame), however, there has not been any conclusive evidence linking these factors to increased risk of brain cancer.

Certain hereditary disorders can predispose someone to the development of certain brain tumors, but only about 5% of primary brain tumors have known hereditary factors. Genetic diseases like neurofibromatosis type 1, neurofibromatosis type 2, von Hippel-Lindau disease, and tuberous sclerosis are all associated with an increased risk of developing a primary brain tumor.