Neuro-oncology

Neuro-oncology is the study of brain and spinal cord neoplasms, many of which are (at least eventually) very dangerous and life-threatening (astrocytoma, glioma, glioblastoma, multiform, ependymoma, pontine glioma, and brain stem tumours are among the many examples of these). Among the malignant brain cancers, gliomas of the brainstem and ponsglioblastoma multiforme, and high-grade (highly anaplastic) astrocytoma are among the worst. In these cases, if untreated lifespan usually amounts to only a few months, and survival with current radiation and chemotherapy treatments may extend that time from around a year to a year and a half, possibly two or more, depending on the patient's condition, immune function, treatments used.