Approximately 85 percent are benign and cured by surgery. Some, however, are located dangerously close to vital structures within the brain and cannot be cured by surgery alone. The rapidly growing tumor makes up about 23 percent of all primary brain tumors. Patients almost always need surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. About 8.8 percent of patients survive two years, 3.4 percent survive five years and 2.3 percent survive 10 years.
Doctors say there is no chance for long-term survival.
It is the only tumor referred to by grades, typically 1 through 4, from the least malignant to the most malignant. Most astrocytomas, like the highest-grade glioblastoma, cannot be cured. However, there are some special types of astrocytomas, such as pilocytic astrocytomas and subependymal giant cell astrocytomas, which tend to have particularly good prognosis. Patients usually need surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. They often form in the cranial nerve responsible for hearing and balance.