Information for journalists
Our media team is made up of four former journalists who can provide you with information about healthcare issues, research we’re funding, the incredible fundraising feats that make our work possible, and personal stories about those affected by a brain tumour diagnosis.
Our spokespeople include our Senior Leadership Team, Involvement Champions and ambassadors listed here.
See our latest news here
Facts and figures on the prevalence of brain tumours and their impact is available to download here along with data sources.
To share our information describing a glioblastoma brain tumour and its symptoms, please use this link.
For any other media enquiries please email [email protected] in office hours or phone 07990 828385.
About The Brain Tumour Charity
Registered Charity No. 1150054 (England & Wales) SC045081 (Scotland)
The Brain Tumour Charity is the UK’s largest dedicated funder of research into primary brain tumours – committing almost £60m to research projects in the past 10 years.
It’s also the only UK charity tackling this disease on all fronts: by funding the most promising research globally, offering tailored support services to those who need it right now, and working with healthcare professionals and policy makers to effect change.
Research: The Brain Tumour Charity funds an extensive and diverse portfolio of research across the UK and internationally, which aims to transform the research landscape for people with brain tumours and give rise to the best chance of finding the treatments that are so desperately needed. Find out more about our research funding here:
Support: The Charity offers comprehensive support and information services to anyone who affected by a diagnosis for however long they need. This includes a helpline, Information Standard accredited fact sheets, free counselling by trained volunteers, online peer-to-peer support and a dedicated Children and Families Service. Here are 10 ways we help.
Awareness: Too often, we hear of missed or delayed diagnoses. That’s why the Brain Tumour Charity works with healthcare professionals to raise awareness of the symptoms and effects of brain tumours. Its HeadSmart campaign, in collaboration with the University of Nottingham, helped reduce average diagnosis times in children from more than 13 weeks to 6.5 weeks between 2018 and 2020. ‘Better Safe Than Tumour’ aims to do the same in adults.
Campaigns: In March 2024, more than 52,000 people signed our open letter calling for all UK Governments to implement a National Brain Tumour Strategy to cater for the specific needs of our community. This was the culmination of the findings from a number of our published reports about gaps in care which you can find here.
The Charity is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities, The Information Standard, The Helplines Partnership and the Fundraising Standards Board.
About brain tumours
- Brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among children and adults under the age of 40 in the UK.
- Each year, approximately 13,000 people in the UK receive a diagnosis of a primary brain tumour.
- Thousands more are diagnosed with secondary brain tumours, which are not recorded.
- In England, only 12.9% of adults diagnosed with brain cancer live for five years or longer, compared with an average five-year survival rate of 56% across all cancers.
- On average, a brain cancer diagnosis shortens life expectancy by 27 years.
- Every year, more than 5,400 people die from a brain tumour.
- Among all cancer clinical trials, those for brain cancer have the lowest levels of patient recruitment.
- Symptoms can include: headaches, nausea or vomiting, hearing, vision or speech problems, seizures, behavioural changes, such as memory problems or changes in personality.
- The Brain Tumour Charity campaign “Better Safe Than Tumour” raises awareness of the common signs and symptoms of brain tumour. Its aim is to ensure the public get any concerning or persistent symptoms checked out by a doctor.
- Childhood brain tumour survivors are 10 times more likely to have disabilities than well children.