The short answer
MedlinePlus lists two national nonprofits as brain tumor resources: the National Brain Tumor Society and the American Brain Tumor Association. It lists support groups from the American Brain Tumor Association in English and Spanish. Neither group treats patients or interprets your scans.
MedlinePlus lists the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) and the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) among its brain tumor resources.
MedlinePlus lists ABTA brain tumor support groups in English and Spanish.
They are two separate nonprofits. Check which one a link or brochure comes from.
Brain tumors can be benign, with no cancer cells, or malignant, with cancer cells that grow quickly.
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This page is for people with a brain tumor and their families who want outside support. It covers two national brain tumor nonprofits, what MedlinePlus says about them, and what they cannot do.
Two groups, one narrow focus
The National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) and the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) both focus on brain tumors. MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine's health site, lists both among its brain tumor resources. NBTS appears with pages on brain tumor types and on signs and symptoms. ABTA appears with pages on signs and symptoms, treatment options, support groups and recurrence.
They are separate organizations. If someone hands you a brochure or a link, check which of the two it is from.
Support groups
MedlinePlus lists brain tumor support groups from ABTA, available in English and Spanish. NCI also offers general information on cancer support. Group schedules and contact methods change, so check the group's own site for current details before you plan around them.
Benign and malignant tumors
MedlinePlus explains that brain tumors can be benign, with no cancer cells, or malignant, with cancer cells that grow quickly. A benign tumor can still cause serious problems depending on where it sits. If general cancer material has not fit your situation, ask your team and the groups above what is available for your tumor type.
Clinical trials
MedlinePlus links to ClinicalTrials.gov searches for brain tumor studies, including glioma and meningioma. A search does not enroll you in a study. Each study team sets its own eligibility rules. Bring anything you find to your neuro-oncology team.
What these groups cannot do for you
Neither NBTS nor ABTA treats patients. No staff there reads your scan or writes your treatment plan. That work stays with your neuro-oncologist, neurosurgeon and radiation oncology team.
We did not confirm a financial aid or grant program for either group in an official source. If money is your immediate concern, ask directly what current support exists. Do not assume a grant is available.
Staying current
Program names, schedules and contact details change. Check braintumor.org or the ABTA website for the latest, and bring anything relevant back to your treating team.
Sources
- MedlinePlus, Brain Cancer (opened 2026-10-02): https://medlineplus.gov/braincancer.html
- NCI, Brain and spinal cord tumors research page (opened 2026-10-02): https://www.cancer.gov/types/brain/research
Common questions
Are the National Brain Tumor Society and American Brain Tumor Association the same group?
No. They are two separate nonprofits that both focus on brain tumors. Check which one a specific resource or referral is pointing you to.
Is there a support group for people with brain tumors?
MedlinePlus lists brain tumor support groups from the American Brain Tumor Association, in English and Spanish. NCI also has general cancer support information. Check the current details with the group.
Where can I find clinical trials?
MedlinePlus links to ClinicalTrials.gov searches for brain tumor studies. Searching a registry does not enroll you. Each study team sets its own eligibility rules, so talk with your neuro-oncology team.
Do these organizations offer financial aid?
We did not confirm a financial aid program in an official source. Contact the organizations directly to ask about current options.
Can these organizations tell me what my scan means?
No. Interpreting your scan is the job of your treating neuro-oncology team.
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Sources last checked: 2026-10-02 what this meansLast updated: 2026-10-02Next planned review: 2027-09-03
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Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes, and this is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status: Editorial review complete — This page completed Cancer Explained's editorial checks (sources, safety, plain language, duplication). It has not been reviewed by a physician or other healthcare professional.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
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