Friday, October 24th, 2025, is Brain Cancer Awareness Day in Canada. Globally, Brain Tumour Awareness Week occurs during October 25th – November 1st, 2025.
The Canadian Cancer Society estimates1 that 3,300 Canadians, including 1,400 women, will be diagnosed with brain and spinal cord cancer in 2024.
The link between Depo-Provera and meningiomas
Studies2 have demonstrated a link between the development, growth, and recurrence of meningioma following long-term use of medroxyprogesterone acetate, the active ingredient found in Depo-Provera. While Depo-Provera is most commonly prescribed as a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy, has previously been utilized to manage endometriosis and as a palliative treatment for certain cancers. In response to the serious side effects associated with its use, Siskinds LLP and Siskinds’ Québec-based affiliate, Siskinds, Desmeules, have initiated class actions against Depo-Provera on behalf of affected individuals.
What are meningiomas?
Meningiomas are a type of tumor that originate in the cells of the meninges, the tissues that encapsulate the brain and spinal cord. Up to 70%3 of meningiomas contain progesterone receptors, meaning their growth is impacted by exposure to progesterone (a female hormone) within the body. According to the World Health Organization, meningiomas can be classified into 3 different levels (grades) to describe their characteristics and growth pattern.
Understanding meningioma grades
According to the World Health Organization, meningiomas can be classified into 3 different levels (grades)4 to describe their characteristics and growth pattern:
- Grade 1 meningiomas are considered “low-grade”. These tumours account for an estimated 70-80% of all meningiomas. They are considered to be benign (non-cancerous).
- Grade 2 meningiomas display an atypical or invasive growth pattern. They recur more often and spread more quickly than grade 1 meningiomas.
- Grade 3 meningiomas are considered to be malignant (cancerous) meningiomas. They are more likely to spread to other parts of the body. Grade 3 meningiomas are the least common type of meningioma.
Some individuals may not know that they have a meningioma until the tumour grows large enough to compress or impact other structures within the body. A person could be asymptomatic while the meningioma grows for a number of years. Other individuals may face varied impacts to their vision, hearing, balance, speech, movement, or sensation, depending on the location and size of the tumour5.
Supportive resources for Canadians diagnosed with meningioma
For individuals who have recently received a spinal or brain meningioma diagnosis, accessing reliable information and supportive resources is critical. Resources are also available for caregivers of a person with a meningioma diagnosis.
The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada offers virtual, hybrid, and in-person support groups throughout Canada specific to caregivers and persons who have received a brain tumour diagnosis.
How Siskinds can help
If you, or someone you know, used Depo-Provera and were recently diagnosed with a spinal or brain meningioma, Siskinds may be able to offer legal help. Contact our class action team by email: [email protected], call us toll-free at 1.800.461.6166. Quebec residents should contact Siskinds Desmeules by phone at 418.694.2009 or by email at [email protected].
- https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/brain-and-spinal-cord/statistics ↩︎
- https://www.bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-078078.long ↩︎
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15006250/#:~:text=About%2070%25%20of%20meningiomas%20express,than%2031%25%20express%20estrogen%20receptors. ↩︎
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560538/ ↩︎
- https://www.pennmedicine.org/conditions/meningioma ↩︎