Grey May: Brain Tumor Awareness Month 2024

 May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month, also known as "Grey May" according to the National Brain Tumor Society. I used to think it was only brain cancer that was represented by May, but it's actually all brain tumors, over 70% of which are benign (x). It is thought that over 1 million Americans live with a primary brain tumor, including over 13,000 children. Indeed, it is the most common solid tumor cancer in children and accounting for a quarter of childhood cancer diagnoses (x).

I actually had a bit of a scare with a (possible) brain tumor earlier this year. I've had a hormone imbalance for years, and we'd always assumed it was due to some medication I take. However, after finally starting treatment, the imbalance didn't resolve, and my doctors agreed that I should be tested for a pituitary tumor, a usually benign tumor of the pituitary glad that may be present in up to 10% of people, usually without symptoms (x). The scan was (thankfully) negative and we went back to the assumption that the imbalance was medication-caused, and I'm currently continuing treatment, something that challenges me on a daily basis.

But this treatment is very easy compared to what it would have been with a brain tumor, and especially if it had been a cancerous tumor. Some brain tumors have very low cure rates, or are even 100% fatal, like DIPG. So this May, take time to learn more about brain tumors and brain cancer.

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