What is DIPG.
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma
A type of brain tumor found in an area of the brainstem known as the pons. The name diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma describes how the tumor grows, where it is found, and what kinds of cells give rise to the tumor.
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Who is Affected by DIPG.
DIPG cancer primarily affects children, with most diagnoses occurring between 5 and 7 years of age. It makes up 10-15% of all brain tumors in children, with about 150-300 new diagnoses per year in the United States. Unfortunately, fewer than 10% of children survive two years from diagnosis. *1
Symptoms of DIPG.
The DIPG tumor itself, and especially in combination with hydrocephalus, can cause the following symptoms:
Double vision
Difficulty in controlling eye and eyelid movement, and facial expression
Difficulty chewing and swallowing
Difficulty speaking
Difficulty urinating
Weakness in the arms and legs
Loss of balance
Difficulty walking
Clumsiness
Headaches (especially in the morning)
Nausea and vomiting
Fatigue
Because of the aggressive nature of DIPGs and the rate at which they grow, symptoms usually get worse quickly. *2
Causes of DIPG.
Researchers do not yet know what causes DIPG. Like most cancers, DIPG occurs when something goes wrong with the process of cell reproduction. However, unlike many other cancers, there is no evidence that indicates DIPG is caused by environmental factors (exposure to chemicals or radiation), or specific inherited genetic variations. *3
Survival Rate.
While research over the last ten years has helped improve treatment for DIPG patients, and somewhat increased life expectancy, the prognosis is still not good–with the median survival range being from 8-11 months.
Statistics overall with DIPG have also evolved, culminating in the release of updated data from the International DIPG Registry in 2018, identifying changes from previously assumed statistics, including:
2-year survival is approximately 10%2
5-year survival is approximately 2%
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https://dipg.org/dipg-facts/what-is-dipg/3
https://dipg.org/dipg-facts/symptoms-of-dipg/
https://dipg.org/dipg-facts/causes-of-dipg/
https://dipg.org/dipg-facts/dipg-survival-rate-and-prognosis/
