Teen Brain Tumors

Brain tumors are not common in teenagers. There are two types of brain tumor, primary brain tumors start from cells in the brain whilst secondary brain tumors come from a cancer that started in another part of the body and spread to the brain. Teens suffer mostly from primary brain tumors.

The most common forms are teen brain tumor are astrocytomas and ependymomas. Astrocytomas are tumors of the brain that originate from cells in the brain called astrocytes. This type of tumor doesn’t usually spread outside the brain and spinal cord and doesn’t usually affect other organs. Ependymomas are tumors that usually begin in the lining of brain ventricles.

Treatments vary depending upon the type and location of the tumor. If it is possible to remove a tumor, surgery is performed followed by radiation therapy.