About Cancer
Our body is made up of billions of cells that can only be seen under a microscope. Normally, cells only divide to replace old and worn out cells. A brain tumour develops when something inside a cell goes wrong, making the cell carry on dividing until it forms a lump or a tumour.
Read more about how cancer starts
A brain tumour can start in any part of the brain or other parts of the including the . Brain and spinal cord tumours can affect children and adults. This information is about adults with brain tumours.
Find out about brain and spinal cord tumours in children
The brain and the spinal cord make up the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is made up of different types of cells and tissues. Brain tumours are usually named after the cell or tissue they started in.
Find out more about the brain and the spinal cord
Tumours that start in the brain are called primary brain tumours. This is different from cancers that have spread to the brain from somewhere else in the body. These are called secondary brain cancers or brain metastases.
Find out more about secondary brain cancers
This information is about primary brain tumours, if you have a secondary brain cancer this is not the right section for you. You need to look at the section for your type of primary cancer which is named after the part of your body where your cancer started.
Generally, brain tumours can be benign (non cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Benign tumours usually grow slowly. They are less likely to come back after treatment or to spread to other parts of the brain. Your doctor might refer to some benign brain tumours as low grade.
Each year around 6,700 people are diagnosed with a benign brain tumour in the UK.
Malignant brain tumours grow faster than benign tumours. They are more likely to come back after treatment and to spread to other parts of the brain. Your doctor might refer to malignant brain tumours as high grade.
Each year around 5,800 people are diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in the UK.
The brain is made of different tissues and cells which can develop into different types of tumours. There are over 100 different types of brain tumours.
We have information about the most common types of brain tumours.
Find out more about the different types
Around 12,500 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour in the UK each year. This includes tumours in other parts of the central nervous system such as the:
spinal cord
covering of the brain (meninges)
nerves leading from the brain
Brain tumours are more common in older people. Each year 25 out of every 100 people (25%) diagnosed with a brain or spinal cord tumour in the UK are aged 75 or older.
Tumours affecting the brain and spinal cord are the second most common type of children’s cancer in the UK.
We have separate information about brain tumours in children
You usually start by seeing your GP who might refer you to a specialist. Or you might go to Accident and Emergency (A&E) if you suddenly have severe symptoms.
Tests for brain or spinal cord tumours include scans to look at your brain and a test of your nervous system (neurological examination). Your doctor might also arrange some other tests.
Treatment for a brain or spinal cord tumour depends on the type of tumour you have, where it is and your general health.
Researchers in the UK are looking at better ways to diagnose and treat brain tumours and manage treatment side effects.
This section is due for review. We will update this as soon as possible.
Last reviewed: 18 Jan 2023
Next review due: 18 Jan 2026
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