Fighting Brain Tumours Together Through Research

Brain Tumour UK believes in the power of collaboration to effect significant brain tumour research into the causes, cures and treatment of brain tumours

We are proud and privileged to carry out our research work in close association with several other UK brain tumour charities.

We combine resources with the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust , its partnership charities, the British Brain Tumour Association, Charlie's Challenge and the Diana Ford Trust. 

Working in partnership ensures that your donations are put to maximum effect.

There is a lot of work to be done and these are some of the challenges that face us

• Around 13.000 people of all ages are diagnosed with a brain
  tumour each year in the UK

• Around 5000 of these are cases of primary brain tumours

• The incidence of brain tumours has increased by approximately
  10% over the decade 1991-2000

• Brain tumours are the fastest growing cause of cancer death
  among those over the age of 65

• Brain tumours are the most common type of solid tumour in children

• Childhood cancers are the main cause of death in children after
  accidents, with brain tumours accounting for 30% of these deaths

• Over 100 children with brain tumours die each year in the UK

• The cure rate for most malignant brain tumours is significantly
  lower than that for most other cancers

• Average life expectancy for an adult with a malignant brain tumour is around three months without treatment. With treatment, the likely outcome depends mainly on the type and grade of tumour, its position, the age of the patient (for some tumours) and how soon they were diagnosed.

• Survival of patients with brain tumours has not improved over the
  last 15 years compared to most other common cancers

• Effective treatment is complicated by the cellular complexity of the
  brain, the different types of brain tumour and the fact that the
  brain is protected by a special tissue, the blood-brain barrier

• Brain tumours cannot be prevented because their cause is
  unknown. No changes in lifestyle have been shown to reduce the
  risk

• Brain tumour research is grossly under-funded and urgently
  needed both into the treatment and the causes of these tumours

• Brain tumour patients rank highest for the burden of cancer to the
  individual patient, as measured by average years of life lost

• Brain Tumours are a " Cinderella Cancer" with very low research
  spending

• Patients who survive a brain tumour are frequently left in poor
  health with long term disabling affects

• Brain tumours present themselves in different ways with a
  diverse range of symptoms; delays in diagnosis and treatment
  happen on a regular basis

• The public, in general, is unaware of the incidence and impact
  of the condition

• The impact of both benign and malignant brain tumours can be
  profound affecting thought, emotion and physical function

• Support for those affected is fragmented and inadequat

Please note: These facts reflect statistical averages and DO NOT indicate how well individual brain tumour patients will respond to treatment. This extract is based oninformation from Cancer Research UK and a Cancer Stats Monograph 2004 (published January 2005). More up-to-date statistics can be found on the Cancer Research UKwebsite, including an explanation of how to interpret statistics.