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HOME > Facts about cancer > Common childhood cancers > Brain tumours

Brain tumours

About 300 children in the UK develop brain tumours each year, with boys being affected more than girls. Brain cancers are the second most common cancer found in children and young people under the age of 15.

A scan of a brain with a tumor

A scan of a brain with a tumour

Brain tumours can develop from any of the different types of cells found in the brain. Most brain tumours are benign, which means they do not spread into other areas of the brain. Malignant brain tumours can spread to the normal brain tissue that surrounds them. This can cause damage to the surrounding areas and increase pressure inside the skull and on the nerves.

The two main types of brain tumours that affect children are astrocytoma and medulloblastoma. Astrocytoma develops from the astrocytes, cells which support the structure of the brain and hold nerve cells in place. Medulloblastoma develops in the cerebellum, a region at the back of the brain. These cancers may spread to other parts of the brain or into the spinal cord.

Surgery is usually used to treat brain tumours. If necessary, the surgery may then be followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

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