This month, the Office for National Statistics released various cancer statistics for England and Wales.
Bringing welcome news, these latest statistics show that survival rates for children (defined as anyone under the age of 15) with cancer are increasing and have gone up by approximately 8% since 2001.
Some cancers, particularly leukaemia, have seen real improvements in outcomes and are driving this overall improvement in survival rates. For example, in 2001, 101 children died as a result of leukaemia. In 2018, this was halved to just 48 children.
However, for many other types of cancers, and especially brain tumours, survival rates are not improving. In 2001, 68 children died from a brain tumour. In 2018, this sadly increased to 80 children lost to this devastating disease.
Some astonishing £30 million a year is received for leukaemia research. This has allowed the development of better treatments, and led to many more children surviving after being diagnosed with leukaemia.
Brain tumours remain the biggest cancer killer children. Brain Tumour Research is determined to change that. We are calling on the Government and larger cancer charities to increase national investment for research into brain tumours to rise to £35 million per year. Only then can we usher in the same advances seen in leukaemia, revolutionising treatments for brain tumours, providing new hope for patients and their families.
Related reading:
- Brain tumour patients score lowest on patient experience survey
- Urgent investment for brain tumour research is still needed
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