Cancer Stat Facts: Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer

At a Glance

Rate of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The rate of new cases of brain and other nervous system cancer was 6.2 per 100,000 men and women per year. The death rate was 4.4 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2016–2020 cases and deaths.

Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 0.6 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with brain and other nervous system cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2017–2019 data.

Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2020, there were an estimated 180,047 people living with brain and other nervous system cancer in the United States.

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How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer?

Relative survival is an estimate of the percentage of patients who would be expected to survive the effects of their cancer. It excludes the risk of dying from other causes. Because survival statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment and responses to treatment can vary greatly.

5-Year
Relative Survival

33.8%

Based on data from SEER 22 (Excluding IL/MA) 2013–2019. Gray figures represent those who have died from brain and other nervous system cancer. Green figures represent those who have survived 5 years or more.

Survival by Stage

Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to extent of a cancer in the body, determines treatment options and has a strong influence on the length of survival. In general, if the cancer is found only in the part of the body where it started it is localized (sometimes referred to as stage 1). If it has spread to a different part of the body, the stage is regional or distant. For brain and other nervous system cancer, 76.6% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year relative survival for localized brain and other nervous system cancer is 36.0%.

How Common Is This Cancer?

Compared to other cancers, brain and other nervous system cancer is relatively rare.

Rank	Common Types of Cancer	Estimated New Cases 2023	Estimated Deaths 2023
1.	Breast Cancer (Female)	297,790	43,170
2.	Prostate Cancer	288,300	34,700
3.	Lung and Bronchus Cancer	238,340	127,070
4.	Colorectal Cancer	153,020	52,550
5.	Melanoma of the Skin	97,610	7,990
6.	Bladder Cancer	82,290	16,710
7.	Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer	81,800	14,890
8.	Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma	80,550	20,180
9.	Uterine Cancer	66,200	13,030
10.	Pancreatic Cancer	64,050	50,550
	-	-	-
16.	Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer	24,810	18,990

Brain and other nervous system cancer represents 1.3% of all new cancer cases in the U.S.

1.3%

In 2023, it is estimated that there will be 24,810 new cases of brain and other nervous system cancer and an estimated 18,990 people will die of this disease.

Who Gets This Cancer?

This cancer is slightly more common in men than women and among those with certain genetic syndromes. The rate of new cases of brain and other nervous system cancer was 6.2 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2016–2020 cases, age-adjusted.

Rate of New Cases per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer

Males

All Races	7.4
Hispanic	5.8
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native	5.5
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander	4.7
Non-Hispanic Black	4.8
Non-Hispanic White	8.7

Females

All Races	5.2
Hispanic	4.5
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native	4.5
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander	3.1
Non-Hispanic Black	3.5
Non-Hispanic White	6.2

• All Races
• Hispanic
• Non-Hispanic American Indian/
  Alaska Native
• Non-Hispanic Asian /
  Pacific Islander
• Non-Hispanic Black
• Non-Hispanic White

SEER 22 2016–2020, Age-Adjusted

Who Dies From This Cancer?

Brain and other nervous system cancer is the ninth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The death rate was 4.4 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2016–2020 deaths, age-adjusted.

Death Rate per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer

Males

All Races	5.4
Hispanic	3.6
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native	3.1
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander	2.8
Non-Hispanic Black	3.4
Non-Hispanic White	6.2

Females

All Races	3.6
Hispanic	2.7
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native	2.7
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander	1.9
Non-Hispanic Black	2.3
Non-Hispanic White	4.1

• All Races
• Hispanic
• Non-Hispanic American Indian/
  Alaska Native
• Non-Hispanic Asian /
  Pacific Islander
• Non-Hispanic Black
• Non-Hispanic White

U.S. 2016–2020, Age-Adjusted

Changes Over Time

Keeping track of new cases, deaths, and survival over time (trends) can help scientists understand whether progress is being made and where additional research is needed to address challenges, such as improving screening or finding better treatments.

Using statistical models for analysis, age-adjusted rates for new brain and other nervous system cancer cases have been falling on average 0.2% each year over 2010–2019. Age-adjusted death rates have been rising on average 0.3% each year over 2011–2020. 5-year relative survival trends are shown below.

Cancer and the Brain

Figure: Brain Anatomy

Figure: Drawing of brain anatomy showing the brain stem, pons, medulla, spinal cord, cerebellum, cerebrum, meninges, ventricles (fluid-filled spaces), and skull.

There are many types of brain and spinal cord tumors. Together, the brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system (CNS).

The tumors may be either benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Tumors that start in the brain are called primary brain tumors.

Primary brain tumors may spread to other parts of the brain or to the spine, but they rarely spread to other parts of the body. Often, tumors found in the brain have started somewhere else in the body and spread to one or more parts of the brain. These are called metastatic brain tumors (or brain metastases). Metastatic brain tumors are more common than primary brain tumors.

Additional Information

• Learn more about brain and central nervous system cancer

More Information

Here are some resources for learning more about brain and central nervous system (CNS) cancer.

• More about risk factors for brain and CNS cancer
• More about symptoms and diagnosis of brain and CNS cancer
• More about treatment options for brain and CNS ca ncer
• More about clinical trials
• More about cancer prevention

References

All statistics in this report are based on statistics from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Most can be found within SEER*Explorer.

Suggested Citation

All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/brain.html