Brain Tumour Awareness Month

March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month. Children with Cancer UK funds a number of innovative brain tumour research projects aimed at improving survival rates and enhancing quality of life for young patients.

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Children with Cancer UK fund several innovative brain tumour research projects, which will directly impact on survival and quality of life for patients.

We need your help to continue funding this critical research and future projects to accelerate improvements to treatments and improve outcomes for all types of brain tumours.

Donate today to help us continue to fund vital research and spread awareness of the impact of brain tumours.

Join us in supporting Brain Tumour Awareness Month

Brain and other central nervous system tumours are by far the greatest cancer-related cause of death in children in the UK. We are working with dedicated researchers and clinicians to change that, using research to improve lives, .

On average, every month over 30 children* (the size of a classroom in the UK), are diagnosed with a brain tumou r which will have a life-changing impact on them and their family. Just over half of the children who do survive will have neurological disabilities for the rest of their lives because surgery and treatments, such as chemotherapy, lack specificity and therefore can destroy healthy cells leading to permanently damaging side effects.

But there is hope with your help.

In March, we’re recognising Brain Tumour Awareness Month, highlighting not only the impact on children and their families, but also the vital work we do every day to develop kinder, more effective treatments.

That’s why our research includes projects focused on targeted treatment options tailored to each child’s specific cancer.

*Statistic calculated based on figures provided by Cancer Research UK.

Find out more about brain and spinal tumours

What are brain tumours?

Learn more about the types of cancers that brain and central nervous system tumours are, from Dr Mohammed Abbas Khaki, GP and Children with Cancer UK Ambassador.

Life-saving brain tumour research

Learn about vital brain tumour research funded by Children with Cancer UK, made possible by the generosity of our supporters.

Building better models of brain tumours to advance patient treatment

This project focuses on investigating the interaction between tumour cells and their environment which will provide understanding into how a tumour develops and grows and will help in identifying cellular pathways that can be targeted by therapies without damaging healthy tissue.

Better surgical navigation for the removal of brain tumours in children

This project focuses on improving the imaging available to support neurosurgeons when they’re removing a brain tumour, so that they have more information to make key decisions. Improved imaging is helpful in supporting more effective surgery.

Cholesterol inhibitors for diffuse midline glioma

Professor Chris Jones’ project focussed on making improvements for those diagnoses with Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG) is funded by Children with Cancer UK. Professor Jones runs a lab focused on developing new treatments for these tumours at the The Institute of Cancer Research.

Read inspirational real-life stories from brain tumour patients

Dylan’s story

Dylan’s journey began in April 2014 when, as a young child, he was diagnosed with a Grade 4 medulloblastoma after experiencing concerning symptoms. He underwent urgent brain surgery, followed by intensive chemotherapy. Despite initial success, Dylan suffered a relapse in 2015, leading to further aggressive treatments, including radiotherapy and a year of chemotherapy, which resulted in significant long-term side effects.

As of the last update in April 2020, he continued to face recurrences, necessitating ongoing private treatment and an oral chemotherapy.

Read Dylan’s story