The risk of developing brain cancer by the time you are 85 years old is 1 in every 108 for men and 1 in every 154 for women.²

It is not known what causes tumours in the brain or spinal cord, however there are some factors which are thought to increase the risk for development of brain tumours: ³

●       Impaired immune function – can result in an increased risk of primary CNS lymphoma (cancer of the lymphocytes of the spinal cord and brain). Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell which is responsible for protecting the body from infection and disease.³

o   Impaired immune function can result from a virus, such as AIDs, or from organ transplants, however CNS Lymphoma is increasingly seen in people with healthy immune systems as well. ⁴

●       Genetic predisposition – in some cases of brain and spinal cord cancers there is a family link, although it is rare.³

●       Exposure to radiation – the development of brain tumours from radiation exposure is quite rare, and is most often seen in people who have had radiation to their head to treat other types of cancers, such as in children who are treated for leukemia.³

Brain cancer and its treatment can affect your sight, coordination, ability to think and carry-out critical functions needed for safe driving.¹⁰ Therefore it is important you discuss your cancer diagnosis and treatments with your specialist team, who will be able to assess and advise you on your medical fitness to drive.¹¹

A medical fitness to drive is an assessment based on two medical standards across Australia: a commercial vehicle standard or a private vehicle driver standard. ¹¹  For more information on the medical fitness to drive process, as well as forms required for this please click here.

Useful resources about brain cancer include;

• Understanding Brain Cancer: A guide for people with brain or spinal cord tumours, their families and friends
• Brain Cancer Fact Sheet
• High level thinking or executive impairment. Can’t seem to think straight.
• Medical fitness to drive

1. Brain Tumours. (2017). HealthDirect. Australian Government Department of Health. Retrieved on 20^th February 2019 from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/brain-cancer
2. Brain Cancer. (2018). Cancer Council. Retrieved on 20^th February 2019 from https://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/brain-cancer.html
3. Risk factors for brain and spinal cord tumours. (2017). American Cancer Society. Retrieved on 20^th February 2019 from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/brain-spinal-cord-tumors-adults/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
4. Factsheet: Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma. (2012). Leukaemia Foundation. Retrieved on 20^th February 2019 from https://www.leukaemia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Factsheet-Lymphoma-Primary-CNS.pdf
5. Grading and prognosis for brain cancer. (2018). Cancer Council.  Retrieved on 20^th February 2019 from https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/brain-cancer/diagnosis/staging-prognosis/
6. Brain cancer treatment. (2018). Cancer Council. Retrieved on 20^th February 2019 from https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/brain-cancer/treatment/
7. Surgery for brain cancer (2018). Cancer Council. Retrieved on 20^th February 2019 from https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/brain-cancer/treatment/surgery/
8. Chemotherapy for brain cancer (2018). Cancer Council. Retrieved on 20^th February 2019 from https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/brain-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy/

9. Radiation therapy for brain cancer (2018). Cancer Council. Retrieved on 20^th February 2019 from https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/brain-cancer/treatment/radiotherapy/
10. Driving (2018). Cancer Council. Retrieved on 26^th May 2019 from https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/brain-cancer/after-treatment/living-with-a-brain-tumour/driving/
11. Medical fitness to drive. (2018). Queensland Government. Retrieved on 26^th May 2019 from https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/update/medical/fitness