What is cancer of the brain and central nervous system?

Brain cancer and cancer of the central nervous system starts in the cells of the brain, spinal cord, the thick layer of protective tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges), the cerebrospinal fluid and the pituitary gland. Tumours of the CNS are often classified as having benign or malignant behaviour. Benign tumours usually grow slowly and rarely spread, whereas malignant tumours may be fast growing and spread within the brain and the spinal cord. The statistics provided in this report only include patients diagnosed with primary brain and CNS cancers, where the tumour has started in the brain and CNS. When cancer starts in another area of the body and spreads to the brain and CNS it is referred to as secondary or metastatic brain and CNS cancer.

In this Fact Sheet, statistics reported for benign brain and CNS tumours also include tumours classified as being of uncertain behaviour.

You can access further information about cancer of the brain and central nervous system, including risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment from Cancer Council Victoria. You can also call our trusted cancer nurses on 13 11 20 for support and to learn about our range of services for people affected by cancer.

The Victorian Cancer Registry also operates an interactive web portal, Data Explorer, which provides more trends and statistics than published here.

How common is cancer of the brain and central nervous system?

In 2024, 1305 Victorians were diagnosed with brain and CNS cancer. Of these, there were 594 males and 711 females, representing 59% and 41% of the total Victorian brain and CNS cancer diagnoses, respectively.

In 2024, 753 Victorians were diagnosed with benign brain and CNS tumours. Of these, there were 268 males and 485 females, representing 36% and 64% of the total Victorian non-malignant brain and CNS cancer diagnoses, respectively. Currently, benign brain and CNS cancer is diagnosed at a rate of 7.2 per 100,000 males and 12 per 100,000 females. The median age at diagnosis of benign brain and CNS cancer is 58 years in males and 59 in females (Figure 1 & 2).

In 2024, 552 Victorians were diagnosed with malignant brain and CNS tumours. Of these, there were 326 males and 226 females, representing 59% and 41% of the total Victorian malignant brain and CNS cancer diagnoses, respectively. Currently, brain and CNS cancer classified as malignant is diagnosed at a rate of 8.6 per 100,000 males and 5.3 per 100,000 females.The median age at diagnosis of malignant brain and CNS cancer is 61 years in males and 62 in females (Figure 1 & 2).

Accounting for 1.4% of all cancers diagnosed and 3.6% of all cancer-related deaths in 2024, malignant brain and CNS cancer was the 17th most commonly diagnosed cancer and the 7th most common cause of cancer-related deaths in Victoria in 2024.

Trends in cancer of the brain and central nervous system over time

Figure 3a shows that for males between 2010 to 2024 the age standardised incidence rate of benign brain and CNS cancer declined by an average of 1.1% per year.

For females between 2010 to 2024 the age standardised incidence rate of benign brain and CNS cancer declined by an average of 1.8% per year.

Brain and CNS cancer morphology

Figure 4a provides a summary of the different types of cells (morphology) which have caused brain and CNS tumours classified as benign or of uncertain behaviour. Most, 59%, present as meningioma tumours. Figure 4b provides a summary of the different types of cells (morphology) which have caused malignant brain and CNS tumours. Most malignant brain and CNS tumours, 64%, present as glioblastoma tumours.

Geographical variance in cancer of the brain and central nervous system by local government area

Figure 5 demonstrates variation in the estimated risk of being diagnosed with brain and CNS cancer, including malignant tumours and those classified as benign or of uncertain behaviour, by local government area, relative to the Victorian average. Red shading indicates areas with higher risk and blue shading indicates areas with lower risk relative to Victoria.

Cancer of the brain and central nervous system in people born overseas

Figure 6 shows the standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) of brain and CNS cancer, including malignant tumours and those classified as benign or of uncertain behaviour, in Australian-born Victorians compared to other major migrant groups over the five-year period 2019 to 2023. The highest standardised incidence ratio (SIR) for brain and CNS cancer was 1.0 for males born in the Other Europe region and the lowest SIR of 0.53 was observed in males born in the South-East Asia region. The highest standardised incidence ratio (SIR) for brain and CNS cancer was 1.7 for females born in the North America region and the lowest SIR of 0.34 was observed in females born in the South-East Asia region.

Cancer of the brain and central nervous system five-year relative survival

Figure 7 shows the change in 5-year survival for brain and CNS cancer and the 5-year survival trend for all cancers over the same time period. It demonstrates that five-year relative survival has increased for benign brain and CNS cancer between 1984-1988 and 2019-2023 from 86% to 95%. Five-year relative survival has increased for malignant brain and CNS cancer between 1984-1988 and 2019-2023 from 24% to 28%.