Brain Tumors

Brain cancer is a disease of the brain in which cancer cells (malignant cells) arise in the brain tissue (cancer of the brain). Cancer cells grow to form a mass of cancer tissue (tumor) that interferes with brain functions such as muscle control, sensation, memory, and other normal body functions. Tumors composed of cancer cells are called malignant tumors, and those composed of mainly noncancerous cells are called benign tumors. Cancer cells that develop from brain tissue are called primary brain tumors while tumors that spread from other body sites to the brain are termed metastatic or secondary brain tumors. Only about 5% of brain tumors may be due to hereditary genetic conditions such as neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, and a few others.

Related Associations:

Neuropathy Association and Nevus Outreach, Inc, Brain Injury Resource Center and Brain Trauma Foundation, Epilepsy Therapy Project and Exceptional Parent Magazine , Huntington's Disease Society of America Hydrocephalus Association, Multiple Sclerosis Association of America and Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Multiple System Atrophy Coalition, Acoustic Neuroma Association and ADA Disability and Business Technical Assistance Program; Aicardi Syndrome Foundation and Alliance for Aging Research; ALS Association and ALS Therapy Development Institute; Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood Foundation and Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation.