The American Cancer Society estimates that 17,200 malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord (9,800 in men and 7,400 in women) will be diagnosed during 2001 in the United States. Approximately 13,100 people (7,200 men and 5,900 women) will die from these malignant tumors. This type of cancer accounts for approximately 1.4% of all cancers and 2.4% of all cancer-related deaths. Both adults and children are included in these statistics. The rest of the information in this document discusses brain and spinal cord cancers in adults.

Average survival time for patients with low-grade astrocytomas or oligodendrogliomas is approximately 6 to 8 years. Average survival for patients with anaplastic astrocytomas is approximately 3 years. Average survival for patients with glioblastomas is approximately 12 to 18 months.