International Brain Tumour Awareness Week

Approximately 45 people a day are diagnosed with a brain tumour in the United Kingdom. There are over 120 different types of brain tumours which are extremely difficult to diagnose. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other type of cancer.

Brain tumours are not biased and can affect people of all sexes and ages.

What is a brain tumour?

A brain tumour is a growth of abnormal cells that grow uncontrollably. They are graded depending on how fast they grow and how likely they are to grow back after treatment.

There are two main types of brain tumours, benign and cancerous. Benign tumours are non-cancerous, low-grade, and less likely to return after treatment. Cancerous tumours are high-grade and are more likely to start in the brain and then spread to other parts of the body.

They are more likely to grow back after treatment and are harder to treat.

Causes

The cause of most brain tumours is unknown. There are various factors that could increase your risk of developing a brain tumour, these include your age, radiation exposure, family history and genetic conditions.

International Brain Tumour Awareness Week

The International Brain Tumour Awareness Week 2022 will run from Saturday 29^th October 2022 – Sunday 5^th November 2022 and is organised by the International Brain Tumour Alliance. This week is all about raising as much awareness as possible and encouraging people to get involved with activities that draw attention to the challenges of a brain tumour and the need for an increased research effort.

The importance of prompt diagnosis

Because brain tumours are so difficult to diagnose, there can be a delay in treatment or diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis of a brain tumour can make a huge impact on the outcome and treatment of a patient. If you are concerned that diagnosis and/or treatment may have been delayed, and your condition may have worsened as a result, you may consider consulting solicitors. If a clinical negligence claim is to be investigated, the solicitors would need to seek advice from independent medical experts to see whether the criteria for a case could be met.