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Brain Tumour UK Conference 14 – 15 July 2008

Record numbers at new venue!

The conference certainly made for a ‘better innings for patients’ at Edgbaston Cricket Ground with many positive messages for the treatment and care of brain tumour patients and news of past and future clinical trials.

The gathering also provided the opportunity for patients and carers, medical professionals and others to meet informally and to form new friendships whilst many old friends caught up with each other.

Some great people attended this year and we’d like to share a few of them with you.

Anne Atkins (left) and Jean Tomlinson (right) – new supporters

Anne and Jean are the two key people helping to start the new Birmingham based Brain Tumour UK West Midlands Support Group.

The first meeting will be on 12 September 2008 at 14.00 pm in the Health Exchange Hub Meeting Room, 5th Floor, Birmingham Central Library. If you’d like to join them please contact Anne or Jean

 

Leanne Cruickshanks, husband and baby

Leanne was one of four patient speakers who told their truly inspirational stories of how they coped with their diagnoses. Leanne got through surgery and treatment with the help of her family and fulfilled her three ambitions of going back to work as a midwife, getting married and having a baby - all in the space of two years!

Peter Buller

Peter spoke about his ‘Winding Walsingham Wobble’ which took place in June 2008. Walking about 300 miles from Glastonbury to Walsingham, this was Peter’s celebration of 25 years of surviving a brain tumour. Visit his blog to read how he got on and see his photographs.

Battle of the professionals – Professor Garth Cruickshank vs Dr David Levy

To end the conference on an upbeat note these two professionals battled it out in a lively debate about whether patients should be allowed to buy additional treatments not offered by the NHS.

A poll was taken at the beginning of the debate when a majority was in favour of ‘Topping –Up’. 

After the debate a second poll was taken. Whilst Dr Levy made a good case there was a clear winner: Professor Garth Cruickshank had successfully changed people’s opinions as the audience voted against NHS top-ups.              

Some comments from this year’s conference:

"I really enjoyed it"   "It was really nice to see the professionals in a social setting”

 “It was brilliant”    ”Well done for arranging such a great conference”

 “It was excellent, I’d give it 10 out of 10”   "The whole event was optimistic"  

"I thought the facilities at Edgbaston were spot on and all the speakers were well worth a listen"

“I  enjoyed the opportunity of meeting fellow survivors” “Thank you for inviting me”

 “It was great hearing patients stories and so many of them were so inspirational”

 

The media coverage that we received on the conference this year was fantastic. We were the lead story on the Midlands Today television news and were featured in the major newspapers around Birmingham. Please find links to the television coverage and news articles below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7505722.stm - BBC Midlands Today news coverage

Launch of support group for brain tumour victims – Article in the Birmingham Mail

Midland support group puts brain tumours on top of agenda – Article in the Birmingham Post

Little Iona faces scan on day mother launches new group ... – Another Article in the Birmingham Post

Iona inspires support drive – Article in the Solihull Times