Be brain-tumour aware

Be brain-tumour aware
A new campaign is being launched to help parents recognise the warning signs of brain tumours.


Parents are being encouraged to be aware of the warning signs linked to brain tumoursBrain tumours remain the leading cause of cancer deaths in children, with around 500 children and young people a year being diagnosed.

Symptoms of a brain tumour can often be similar to those of other illnesses; which can lead to symptoms being mistaken as less serious than they actually are.

In the UK it can take up to three months for a child to be diagnosed, three times longer than in the United States and Canada. A delay in diagnosis can have devastating results, contributing to higher death rates and lifelong disabilities.

Warning signs to be aware of include fits or seizures, persistent or recurring vomiting and headaches, blurred or double vision, abnormal eye movements and deteriorating eyesight. You may find they also struggle with coordination and balance and experience other behavioural changes.

In older children or teenagers, symptoms can also include a slow or late start of puberty.

The Headsmart campaign is a joint campaign by the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre at the University of Nottingham, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust.

Richard Sloane of Trumpington, whose daughter Alexia lost her sight aged two due to a bran tumour, welcomed the campaign:

“Any campaign that raises awareness is a really good thing particularly for children as there are often such awful results in cases such as these.

“Although I am cautious that it may overly worry parents. If at the first sign of any dizziness they are carting their children off to hospital the doctors could be overrun.”

Professor David Walker at the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre also advised that the campaign should not bring unnecessary worry:

“Brain tumours are fortunately rare, but they do happen, and it can be difficult for doctors to diagnose because the symptoms can often mimic less serious illnesses.

“Parents have no need to worry if their child occasionally experiences headaches, for example, but if symptoms come back frequently or are present for more two weeks or more, see your family doctor.”