Cancer Research UK have released figures that demonstrate how receiving a cancer diagnosis in a timely manner varies across the UK.
We know that late diagnosis is an ongoing issue in our community across the UK. In adults, 63% of high grade brain tumours are diagnosed as an emergency – more than any other cancer.
Recent research commissioned by The Brain Tumour Charity into the experience of adults with a brain tumour, also demonstrates that getting a diagnosis can be slow, with over half of respondents (55%) visiting their GP three or more times prior to diagnosis, and nearly a third (31%) more than five times(2).
We have now commissioned further research into the routes to diagnosis for adults which we hope will lead to further insight into how diagnosis times for adults can be reduced.
In children and teenagers our HeadSmart campaign has been instrumental in reducing diagnosis times from over 12 weeks, when the campaign started in 2011, to less than 7 weeks. HeadSmart aims to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of a brain tumour in children and teenagers, with GPs, other health professionals and parents.
Your voice matters
By campaigning with The Brain Tumour Charity, you can help ensure the issues which affect the brain tumour community remain a political priority.