A man diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in 2005, attended the UK Brain Tumour Symposium in Milton Keynes on Thursday 12th October.
David Grant, who turned 60 this year, of Grove Hill Road, Tunbridge Wells, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma after a week of headaches and an episode when his wife Lisa noticed he was twitching badly and becoming increasingly incoherent. His daughter, Lauren, was just two years old at the time. David was given a survival prognosis of 12 to 18 months.
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.
David said: “I believe now at 12 years, I am the UK’s longest survivor with a GBM, having vowed to stay alive for my daughter Lauren’s key milestones. I was a proud dad walking Lauren to her first day at Claremont Primary School and then three years ago to her first day at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Girls.
“I have now set myself a new target to see Lauren through University, which would be in 2024, putting me at 19 years post-op and a stately 67!
“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.
“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.”
“It was comforting to hear at the Symposium that advances are being made. I am determined to continue to raise awareness to help bring about better outcomes for patients.”