The Acreage Cancer Study

 This information is  reprinted with permission from the American Brain Tumor Association.

• In  2009,  approximately  4,000  children  younger than  age  20  will  be  diagnosed  with  primary brain  tumors,  of  which  2,875  will  be  under  age 15.11  

• An  estimated  4,000  children  under  age  20  are  diagnosed  annually  with  a  primary  benign  or  malignant  brain  tumor.  11  Of  these,  2,875  will  be  less  than  15  years  of  age,  and  1,125  between  the  ages  of  15  and  19.   

• The  pediatric  incidence  rate  of  4.58  per  100,000  person  years  is  slightly  higher  in  boys  (4.61  per  100,000)  than  girls  (4.55  per  100,000)1.  

• Brain  tumors  are  the  second  most  frequent  malignancy  of  childhood6  and  the  most  common  of  the  solid  tumors  in  children.2   

• Brain  tumors  are  the  second  leading  cause  of  cancer‐related  deaths  in  children  under  the  age  of  20.6  Leukemia  remains  the  first.2,  6  

• The  majority  of  childhood  tumors  (17.3%)  are  located  within  the  frontal,  temporal,  parietal,  and  occipital  lobes  of  the  brain.  Tumors  located  in  the  cerebrum,  ventricle,  brain  stem  and  cerebellum  account  for  6%,  6%,  16%,  and  12%  of  all  childhood  tumors,  respectively.  Tumors  located  in  overlapping  or  ‘other’  brain  locations  account  for  14%  of  all  childhood  tumors.1   

• Gliomas  account  a  significant  percentage  of  childhood  tumors:   

  1. 55%  of  all  tumors  and  70%  of  malignant  tumors  in  children  age  0—14  
  2. 40%  of  all  tumors  and  73%  of  malignant  tumors  in  children  age  15—19.1  

   

• Within  the  following  age  groups,  the  most  common  primary  brain  tumors  are:   

  1. In  ages  0—4,  embryonal/primitive  neuroectodermal  tumors/medulloblastomas  (incidence  rate  of  0.92  per  100,000  person‐years),  followed  by  pilocytic  astrocytomas  (0.90);  
  2. in  ages  5—9,  pilocytic  astrocytomas  (0.90  per  100,000)  followed  by  malignant  gliomas,  not  otherwise  specified  (0.70);  
  3. in  ages  10—14,  pilocytic  astrocytomas  (0.80  per  100,000)  followed  by  non‐malignant   and  malignant  neuronal/glial  (0.39);  
  4. in  ages  15—19,  pituitary  tumors  (0.97  per  100,000)  followed  by  pilocytic  astrocytomas  (0.58);  
  5. in  ages  20—34,  pituitary  (1.82  per  100,000)  followed  by  meningioma  tumors  (1.01);   

  6. in  ages  35—44,  meningiomas  (3.60  per  100,000)  followed  by  pituitary  tumors  (2.47);  

  7. in  ages  45—54,  meningiomas  (7.20  per  100,000)  followed  by  glioblastoma  (3.74);  

  8. in  ages  55—64,  meningiomas  (12.04  per  100,000)  followed  by  glioblastoma  (8.09);  

  9. in  ages  65—74,  meningiomas  (20.44  per  100,000)  followed  by  glioblastoma  (13.16);  

  10. in  ages  75—84,  meningiomas  (28.66  per  100,000)  followed  by  glioblastoma  (14.61);  and,   

  11. in  ages  85  and  older,  meningiomas  (35.27  per  100,000)  followed  by  glioblastoma  (8.57)  1   

   

   

   

   

   

    

• The  median  age  of  diagnosis  for  all  primary  brain  tumors  is  57  years  old.  10

• Medulloblastomas are named after a part of the brain called the "medulla oblongata." The medulla connects the bottom of the brain to the top of the spinal cord.

•  Astrocytomas are named after the Latin word "astro" meaning "star." The cells that make up an astrocytoma look like stars.

•  The types of brain tumors more often found in adults are: "glioblastoma," "meningioma," and "oligodendroglioma."

• Oligodendroglimoa have cells that look like fried eggs!

•  Scientists are working hard to learn what causes brain tumors and how to make them stop growing. Right now, scientists are focusing on the DNA inside tumor cells. Most brain tumors seems to have an abnormal chromosome somewhere in their DNA - how this happens is not yet known.

• Half of the tumors that begin in the brain are "benign." Benign means "not cancer." Doctors usually treat benign tumors with an operation to remove the tumor.

• Some brain tumors are cancer. Those tumors are called "malignant" tumors, and they can be treated. Doctors usually begin with an operation to remove the tumor. Radiation and chemotherapy are then used to help get rid of any leftover tumor. Radiation is treatment using special medical x-ray beams. Chemotherapy is treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.
  
• Benign brain tumors can become malignant. 

• There are approximately 50,000 residents living in The Acreage.
• The Acreage is a rural suburb of West Palm Beach located in Palm Beach County.
• The homes each have their own private well.
• Private wells are not monitored by the city unless you live near a gas station ( due to potential leakage).  
• The data listed below is from the Florida Cancer Data System. The Incidence Rate Selection Report is based on the entire county of Palm Beach - not just the Acreage:

  

• Click Here for Rate Definitions.