A woman who lost a close friend to an aggressive brain tumour, attended the UK Brain Tumour Symposium in Milton Keynes on Thursday, 12th October.
Angela Scrutton OBE, 49, of Surbiton, was eager to hear about advances being made in the world of brain tumour research and support. Her friend Paul Chamberlain, who lived in Welwyn Garden City, died in 2006 leaving his two children, Ben then six, and Lexy, four, without a dad. Paul had initially being diagnosed with a low- grade brain tumour in December 2000, aged 30, just a few months before his second child was born.
The UK Brain Tumour Symposium 2017 was jointly organised by two game-changing national charities Brain Tumour Research and brainstrust, which supports people living with a brain tumour throughout the UK. Leading experts from many areas of brain tumour research were brought together to show the progress that is being made on many fronts to improve outcomes for people living with a brain tumour.
Director of Research at Brain Tumour Research, Dr Kieran Breen, delivered an informative speech, updating the delegates on innovative brain tumour treatments from around the world, while Consultant Neurologist, Dr Robin Grant from the Edinburgh Cancer Centre focused his talk on the top 10 priorities for research.
Founder and Director of Services at brainstrust, Helen Bulbeck, spoke eloquently about living well with a brain tumour, improving quality of life and supportive care, while Head of Public Affairs at Brain Tumour Research, Carrie Hume, demonstrated how the charity is working with Parliamentarians to influence cancer policy at the highest levels as it campaigns to increase national investment for research into brain tumours.
Angela, who is a trustee of Astro Brain Tumour Fund, a member charity of Brain Tumour Research, set up by Paul’s sister-in-law, Katie Sheen to support patients with low-grade brain tumours, said: “The lives of Emma, Paul’s wife, and their children, Ben and Lexy, were torn apart in 2006 when they lost Paul.
“We were all shocked to discover that brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. It makes no sense.
“Research into this disease is really important to me. I know that brain tumours can affect anyone at any age, but no one knows what causes them. It is only right that the national spend on research into brain tumours should be increased to £30 - £35 million a year, in line with breast cancer and leukaemia.”
Angela concluded: “It was comforting to hear that advances are being made, although any improvements in treatment will be all far too late for Paul. I am determined to continue to raise awareness to help bring about better outcomes for patients so that other families in the future don’t have to go through what Paul’s has.”