Getting diagnosed with brain tumor can be intimidating as its survival rate is low. What should you do when a dear one has brain tumor? How long can they live after the diagnosis of the disease? In this article, you will get information regarding the estimated number of individuals who are diagnosed with brain cancer/ tumor every year. We will also tell you everything about the survival rate of the disease and how to care for someone battling brain tumor. So, stay tuned till the end to understand the brain tumor death timeline. 

Brain Tumor Stats 

A spinal cord or brain tumor is a type of tumor that originates in the spinal cord or brain. However, it may begin elsewhere and end up spreading to the brain. Terminal brain cancer progression is very fast. Now have a look at these brain tumor stats.

Although 90% of CNS tumors are brain tumors, an individual’s chances of developing brain tumor do not exceed 1%. In 2020, nearly 308,102 people had primary spinal cord or brain tumor. For people who are above 40, the 5-year survival rate is 21%.

The life expectancy with brain tumor depends on the age or the patient and the type of brain tumor. While brain cancers like meningioma, oligodendroglioma, and ependymoma are highly treatable, other brain cancers do not respond well to curative therapies.

Brain Tumor Final Months Symptoms

It is natural for patients, families, and caregivers to wonder how to deal with brain tumor and what will happen as the end approaches.

Brain tumor is accompanied by symptoms like vision changes, behavior changes, trouble swallowing, seizures, unsteadiness, headaches, and difficulty thinking. They patient will feel sleepy most of the time and families should let them sleep to ease their discomfort.

Survival for Different Kinds of Brain Tumor 

Ideally for patients with a malignant (cancerous) brain tumor:

  • At least 40 out of 100 patients survive for 1 year. 
  • Nearly 15 out of 100 patients (15%) can survive the cancer for a period of 5 years.
  • Glioblastomas and Astrocytomas:

For grade 2 astrocytoma or diffuse astrocytoma, 45% of the people survive up to 5 years or more.  For people with final stages of glioblastoma, the survival rate is not more than 5%. For grade 3 astrocytoma or anaplastic astrocytoma, 20% (20 out of 100 patients) is the survival rate for a timeline of 5 years.

  • Oligodendroglioma and Ependymoma

For people with oligodendroglioma, 55% is the survival rate for up to 5 years. Ependymoma, on the other hand, have the highest 5-year survival rate, which is 90 percent.

Palliative Care for Brain Cancer Patients

Palliative care denotes specialized care for people who are living with brain tumor and other serious sicknesses. Palliative care focuses on providing relief from to the patient from the stress and symptoms before death brain cancer. So, palliative care is necessary to enhance the quality of life for patients as well as their bereaved families. 

Hence, all patients with brain tumor should opt for palliative care to alleviate side effects resulting from treatment and the care options are physical therapy, nutritional changes, and occupational therapy. It also targets the emotional well-being and the mental health of the patient and their caregivers. When they notice any brain tumor deterioration signs, they can do light exercises, meditation, and yoga. After being diagnosed with primary brain tumor, joining a support group will also be of great help.

Managing End-stage Brain Cancer

When the healthcare provider feels that the patient might not be able to live more than 1 year even after commencing chemotherapy, they recommend hospice care for brain tumor. Hospice care is a kind of palliative care that makes the lives of brain tumor patients easier. 

Hospice care intends on offering the best quality of life to those people who are approaching the end of life. 

The Bottom Line 

Lastly, you must remember that every patient’s experience brain tumor is different, and the brain tumor death timeline and chances of recovery depends on diverse factors. So, it is important to consult an accomplished doctor to know the latest treatment options (like radiotherapy) and receive proper guidance. 

Q. What are the common signs observed in the final stages of brain cancer? 

The brain cancer end-of-life symptoms can differ from one person to another. Some common symptoms are frequent headaches, vision loss, increased pain, involuntary movements, delirium and agitation, reduced bladder function, confusion, drowsiness, hallucinations, gasping breaths, and appetite loss.

Q. How can families prepare for the end-of-life stage of a loved one with a brain tumor?

If a loved one has reached the final stage of brain cancer, family members should provide comfort and support and take note of the neurological changes before death. Instead of mourning continuously, they should ensure the dying person gets love and care. So, providing them a clean and hygienic environment, offering simple meals, reading stories, and abiding by the advice of the doctor are some of the things that can be done.