The brain and the spinal cord together make up the central nervous system.
Brain tumors are more common than tumors of the spinal cord.
The two age groups most likely to develop primary brain tumors are children and adults that over the age of 45. Headaches are the most common symptom of a brain tumor and are of special concern when they increase in number and severity. Other symptoms of brain cancer may include seizures, blurred vision, sleepiness, mental impairment, personality changes, weakness of one side of the body and difficulty speaking. The initial step in treatment of brain cancer is almost always surgery. Sometimes a tube called a shunt is implanted to drain away brain fluids.