What is DIPG? UK health expert speaks on rare childhood brain cancer

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Kentucky cases of DIPG, which stands for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, have been a topic of discussion lately, and one health expert is sharing a deeper dive into the illness.

This is a rare brain cancer that can form in the brain STEM, and health experts say this is a highly aggressive form of cancer that primarily affects children around the age of 5 through 10.

Dr. Jay Christian, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky, says, “Unfortunately, they don’t survive very long. Often, after this diagnosis, most individuals diagnosed with this disease typically survive two years or less.”

There’s currently no cure, but researchers are doing what they can to help those who’ve been diagnosed with DIPG.

Christian also says, “This is very, it’s a very difficult tumor to treat, which is why it has such high mortality. In Kentucky and typically, you know, we’ve never seen, I don’t think, you know, 10 or more in this state in a single year. It’s very rare.”

There haven’t been more than 10 cases at a time in the state of Kentucky, but health experts say that if you notice any neurological differences in your child, contact your doctor.