New cases come from SEER 12. Deaths come from U.S. Mortality. All Races, Both Sexes. Rates are Age-Adjusted. Modeled trend lines were calculated from the underlying rates using the Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software. The 2020 incidence rate is displayed but not used in the fit of the trend line(s). Impact of COVID on SEER Cancer Incidence 2020 data
New cases are also referred to as incident cases in other publications. Rates of new cases are also referred to as incidence rates.
Age-Adjusted Rates of New Cases/Deaths Per 100,000 & 5-Year Relative Survival Percentages
Year
Rate of New Cases — SEER 8
Rate of New Cases — SEER 12
Death Rate — U.S.
5-Year Relative Survival — SEER 8
Observed
Modeled Trend
Observed
Modeled Trend
Observed
Modeled Trend
Observed
Modeled Trend
1975
5.93
5.88
-
-
4.11
4.20
23.51%
21.90%
1976
5.86
5.95
-
-
4.34
4.24
22.63%
22.35%
1977
6.29
6.03
-
-
4.39
4.28
22.33%
22.79%
1978
5.79
6.11
-
-
4.52
4.32
25.16%
23.24%
1979
6.12
6.19
-
-
4.26
4.35
23.11%
23.69%
1980
6.57
6.27
-
-
4.36
4.39
24.01%
24.14%
1981
6.53
6.35
-
-
4.36
4.43
25.24%
24.60%
1982
6.38
6.43
-
-
4.42
4.47
25.31%
25.05%
1983
6.37
6.51
-
-
4.39
4.51
24.38%
25.51%
1984
5.95
6.60
-
-
4.55
4.55
29.18%
25.97%
1985
6.96
6.68
-
-
4.57
4.59
23.87%
26.44%
1986
6.78
6.77
-
-
4.53
4.63
29.00%
26.90%
1987
6.97
6.86
-
-
4.71
4.68
30.49%
27.37%
1988
6.82
6.85
-
-
4.71
4.72
31.09%
27.84%
1989
6.78
6.84
-
-
4.72
4.76
27.27%
28.31%
1990
7.17
6.83
-
-
4.87
4.80
28.41%
28.79%
1991
7.06
6.82
-
-
4.95
4.84
32.55%
29.26%
1992
6.92
6.81
6.73
6.54
4.85
4.89
30.77%
29.74%
1993
6.68
6.80
6.49
6.53
4.78
4.84
30.96%
30.22%
1994
6.52
6.79
6.32
6.52
4.83
4.79
33.61%
30.70%
1995
6.55
6.79
6.31
6.50
4.67
4.75
32.91%
31.18%
1996
6.62
6.78
6.37
6.49
4.73
4.70
32.61%
31.66%
1997
6.76
6.77
6.49
6.48
4.68
4.65
30.91%
32.14%
1998
6.57
6.76
6.47
6.47
4.67
4.61
31.38%
32.62%
1999
6.89
6.75
6.67
6.46
4.64
4.56
33.15%
33.11%
2000
6.88
6.74
6.38
6.45
4.53
4.52
35.94%
33.59%
2001
6.66
6.73
6.29
6.44
4.45
4.47
35.36%
34.07%
2002
6.70
6.73
6.44
6.43
4.45
4.43
36.42%
34.56%
2003
6.78
6.72
6.50
6.41
4.40
4.39
33.49%
35.05%
2004
6.94
6.71
6.55
6.40
4.31
4.34
35.58%
35.53%
2005
6.85
6.70
6.54
6.39
4.34
4.30
35.66%
36.02%
2006
6.41
6.69
6.27
6.38
4.17
4.26
36.66%
36.50%
2007
6.60
6.68
6.45
6.37
4.21
4.22
36.84%
36.99%
2008
6.70
6.67
6.40
6.36
4.28
4.25
37.88%
37.48%
2009
6.92
6.67
6.63
6.35
4.34
4.27
38.11%
37.96%
2010
6.69
6.66
6.32
6.34
4.25
4.30
35.38%
37.71%
2011
6.72
6.65
6.16
6.32
4.26
4.33
35.35%
37.45%
2012
6.58
6.64
6.26
6.31
4.41
4.36
35.05%
37.19%
2013
6.60
6.63
6.31
6.30
4.36
4.39
37.08%
36.93%
2014
6.31
6.62
6.15
6.29
4.45
4.42
34.91%
36.67%
2015
6.76
6.61
6.43
6.28
4.45
4.45
35.51%
36.41%
2016
6.41
6.53
6.09
6.27
4.52
4.48
34.54%
36.15%
2017
6.51
6.44
6.22
6.26
4.42
4.46
34.93%
35.90%
2018
6.50
6.36
6.23
6.14
4.44
4.45
-
35.64%
2019
6.27
6.28
6.00
6.03
4.37
4.43
-
35.38%
2020
6.30
6.19
6.00
5.91
4.51
4.41
-
35.12%
2021
6.00
6.11
5.77
5.80
4.41
4.40
-
34.86%
2022
6.07
6.03
5.72
5.70
4.35
4.38
-
34.60%
2023
-
-
-
-
4.36
4.36
-
34.34%
Rate of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The rate of new cases of brain and other nervous system cancer was 6.1 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 2018–2022 cases and 2019–2023 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 2018–2021 data, excluding 2020 due to COVID.
Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2022, there were an estimated 187,162 people living with brain and other nervous system cancer in the United States.
Did You Know? Video Series
Did You Know? Video Series
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
33.0%
Based on data from SEER 21 (Excluding IL) 2015–2021. 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.
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, 76.9% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year relative survival for localized brain and other nervous system cancer is 35.3%.
Percent of Cases & 5-Year Relative Survival by Stage at Diagnosis: Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer
Stage
Percent of Cases
5-Year Relative Survival
Localized Confined to Primary Site
77%
35.3%
Regional Spread to Regional Lymph Nodes
14%
20.5%
Distant Cancer Has Metastasized
2%
29.3%
Unknown Unstaged
7%
33.2%
Percent of Cases by Stage
Localized (77%) Confined to Primary Site
Regional (14%) Spread to Regional Lymph Nodes
Distant (2%) Cancer Has Metastasized
Unknown (7%) Unstaged
5-Year Relative Survival
SEER 21 (Excluding IL) 2015–2021, All Races, Both Sexes by SEER Combined Summary Stage
Compared to other cancers, brain and other nervous system cancer is relatively rare.
Rank
Common Types of Cancer
Estimated New Cases 2025
Estimated Deaths 2025
1.
Breast Cancer (Female)
316,950
42,170
2.
Prostate Cancer
313,780
35,770
3.
Lung and Bronchus Cancer
226,650
124,730
4.
Colorectal Cancer
154,270
52,900
5.
Melanoma of the Skin
104,960
8,430
6.
Bladder Cancer
84,870
17,420
7.
Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer
80,980
14,510
8.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
80,350
19,390
9.
Uterine Cancer
69,120
13,860
10.
Pancreatic Cancer
67,440
51,980
-
-
-
16.
Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer
24,820
18,330
Brain and other nervous system cancer represents 1.2% of all new cancer cases in the U.S.
1.2%
In 2025, it is estimated that there will be 24,820 new cases of brain and other nervous system cancer and an estimated 18,330 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 6.1 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2018–2022 cases, age-adjusted.
Rate of New Cases per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer
Males
All Races
7.2
Hispanic
5.7
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native
5.3
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander
4.7
Non-Hispanic Black
4.8
Non-Hispanic White
8.5
Females
All Races
5.2
Hispanic
4.6
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native
4.4
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander
3.4
Non-Hispanic Black
3.4
Non-Hispanic White
6.0
All Races
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic American Indian/ Alaska Native
Non-Hispanic Asian / Pacific Islander
Non-Hispanic Black
Non-Hispanic White
SEER 21 2018–2022, Age-Adjusted
Percent of New Cases by Age Group: Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer
Age Range
Percent of New Cases
<20
11.0%
20–34
8.4%
35–44
8.0%
45–54
11.4%
55–64
20.0%
65–74
22.4%
75–84
14.0%
>84
4.8%
Brain and other nervous system cancer is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 65–74.
Median Age At Diagnosis
61
SEER 21 2018–2022, All Races, Both Sexes
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 2019–2023 deaths, age-adjusted.
Death Rate per 100,000 Persons by Race/Ethnicity & Sex: Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer
Males
All Races
5.3
Hispanic
3.6
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native
3.3
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander
2.8
Non-Hispanic Black
3.4
Non-Hispanic White
6.1
Females
All Races
3.6
Hispanic
2.6
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native
2.5
Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander
2.0
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. 2019–2023, Age-Adjusted
Percent of Deaths by Age Group: Brain and Other Nervous System Cancer
Age Range
Percent of Deaths
<20
2.9%
20–34
3.0%
35–44
4.7%
45–54
9.8%
55–64
22.2%
65–74
29.4%
75–84
20.2%
>84
7.8%
The percent of brain and other nervous system cancer deaths is highest among people aged 65–74.
Median Age At Death
67
U.S. 2019–2023, All Races, Both Sexes
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 1.0% each year over 2013–2022. Age-adjusted death rates have been stable over 2014–2023. 5-year relative survival trends are shown below.
New Cases, Deaths and 5-Year Relative Survival
Rate of New Cases
Death Rate
New cases come from SEER 8. Deaths come from U.S. Mortality. All Races, Both Sexes. Rates are Age-Adjusted. Modeled trend lines were calculated from the underlying rates using the Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software. The 2020 incidence rate is displayed but not used in the fit of the trend line(s). Impact of COVID on SEER Cancer Incidence 2020 data
5-Year Relative Survival
SEER 8 5-Year Relative Survival Percent from 1975–2017, All Races, Both Sexes. Modeled trend lines were calculated from the underlying rates using the Joinpoint Survival Model Software.
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SEER*Explorer is an interactive website that provides easy access to a wide range of SEER cancer statistics. It provides detailed statistics for a cancer site by sex, race, calendar year, age, and for a selected number of cancer sites, by stage and histology.
Figure: Drawing of brain anatomy showing the brain stem, pons, medulla, spinal cord, cerebellum, cerebrum, meninges, ventricles (fluid-filled spaces), and skull.
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.
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.
These stat facts focus on population statistics that are based on the U.S. population. Because these statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. To see tailored statistics, browse SEER*Explorer. To see statistics for a specific state, go to the State Cancer Profiles.
The statistics presented in these stat facts are based on the most recent data available, most of which can be found in SEER*Explorer. In some cases, different year spans may be used.
Estimates of new cases and deaths for 2025 are projections made by the American Cancer Society (ACS), based on earlier reported data.
Cancer is a complex topic. There is a wide range of information available. These stat facts do not address causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, or decision making, although links are provided to information in many of these areas.
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Localized (77%)
Regional (14%)
Distant (2%)
Unknown (7%)
