The life expectancy for a child with a brain tumor is around 5 to 8 years although some children with brain tumors live longer.
In some cases the child may be cured of the brain tumor and survive a normal lifespan.
The life expectancy of the child with the brain tumor will vary depending on the type of the brain tumor and how far advanced it is.
The most common brain tumor in pediatric is Astrocytoma which is a brain and spinal cord tumor in children also known as glioma.
When a child has a brain tumor they will experience headaches, vomiting and nausea, sleepiness, hearing, vision or speech changes, personality changes, balance problems, seizures and increased head size.
If your child experiences any of these symptoms or complains of a constant headache or headache that gets worse they should be taken to the ER.
Brain tumors in children can be deadly if not treated soon enough.
Even with treatment brain tumors in children can still be fatal.
Always take the symptoms of a brain tumor seriously and seek medical attention right away.
Several tests can help the doctor determine whether a brain tumor is present in your child.
These tests for a child's brain tumor can include: A neurological exam — Tests your child's reflexes, muscle strength, sensation, eye and mouth movement, coordination and alertness.
Imaging tests — Detailed pictures of the brain's structures and possible signs of a tumor.
The red flags of a brain tumor include difficulty swallowing, facial weakness or numbness, or double vision is a symptom of a tumor in the brain stem.
Vision changes, including loss of part of the vision or double vision can be from a tumor in the temporal lobe, occipital lobe, or brain stem.
About 3 out of 4 children with brain tumors (all types combined) survive at least 5 years after being diagnosed. But the outlook can vary a great deal based on the type of tumor, where it is, and other factors.
Brain tumors are relatively rare in children, occurring in only five of every 100,000 children.
Brain tumors can most often be removed from a child through brain surgery although it's a risky surgery.
Chemotherapy and chemotherapy drugs are also other treatment options for brain tumors in a child which is less risky than brain surgery.