So March is almost over, which means so is Brain Tumour Awareness Month. I’ve done so many lengthy posts about brain tumours that I thought it would be good to round off the month with a summary of things to remember.
- · The brain controls the body.
- · The brain has several parts and ANY part can be affected by a brain tumour
- · Symptoms will depend on the part of the brain the tumour is growing in. This is because each part of the brain has a different purpose and affects different parts of us.
- · Not much is known about what causes a brain tumour – age is a factor as your risk rises as you get older. Genetics is also an issue; your risk is doubled if a parent or sibling has had a brain tumour. Radiation is a definite risk as brain tumours are common in people that have had radiation treatment on their head. A weak immune system can also lead to brain tumours.
- · Brain tumours are slightly more common in men, although Menigionma is more common in women.
- · Currently less than 15% of brain tumour sufferers survive their battle
- · 48,000 people in the UK are diagnosed every year: 16,000 suffering from a primary brain tumour and 32,000 suffering from a secondary brain tumour.
- · 20 – 25% of all cancers spread to the brain
- · Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children in the UK and brain tumours also kill more people under 40 than any other cancer
- · Research into brain tumours is significantly behind research into other cancers
- · Current treatments can frequently lead to significant, life limiting deficits
- · There are more than 120 different types of brain tumour, each requiring different treatments
There are several charities specialising in support for brain tumour sufferers and their families. These charities have been created by parents that have lost their precious children to the disease. I am a very fierce and proud supporter of these charities and I urge you to read about them, support them and help them in any way that you can.
Harry Moseley – Help Harry Help Others
Harry is one of the most inspirational people I have ever come across. He raised over £650,000 for Cancer Research UK whilst fighting his own horrific battle with a brain tumour. He lovingly made and sold beautiful beaded bracelets, whilst also doing public speaking and generally raising awareness of brain tumours. Harry sadly died in October 2011 and his amazingly strong mum Georgie is fighting through her immense grief to carry on Harry’s work in his memory. You can read more about Harry, Georgie and the fabulous work they do at www.helpharryhelpothers.com
Ellie Othick – Ellie’s Fund
Ellie was eleven when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in March 2007. She was given six months to live but she found the strength to fight the tumour for three years and one day before passing away on Valentine’s Day 2010 aged just fourteen. Ellie managed to raise £25,000 for various charities whilst battling her tumour. Her parents have decided to carry on her fabulous work and have created Ellie’s Fund Brain Tumour Trust. The trust raises money to fund a brain tumour research laboratory in Leeds. They also campaign for improved awareness and funding for brain tumours and research into causes and cures for them. They have a petition which they are going to hand in to the government when they reach their target number of signatures. You can read more about the trust at www.elliesfund.com and you can sign the petition http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/17419
Joss Parkes – Joss Searchlight
Joss was diagnosed with a Brain Stem Glioma in 2005. His doctor declared it to be “Disneyland Time” and told his devastated parents that nothing more could be done for him. Dianne and Nigel Parkes refused to give up on their son and spent hours looking things up on the internet and creating a treatment plan for their son. The doctors had given Joss just weeks to live but his parents helped him survive five more years. Sadly Joss died in January 2011 aged eleven. Dianne and Nigel have also pushed through their grief and used it to help others. They have set up Joss Searchlight, a charity helping families struggling to look after a child with a brain tumour. They aim to make those children happy by granting them wishes and creating happy memories for the child and their family to cherish. You can read more about this fairly new charity at www.jossparkessearchlight.org.uk
The Joseph Foote Charitable Trust
Joseph Foote was just two and a half when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour back in 2000. This incredible young boy fought the tumour for seven years before passing away at the age of nine in September 2007. His family have decided to raise money in his memory and fund research into brain tumours. They are hoping this research will lead to survival rates rising from 15% to 80%. You can read more about the trust and their work at www.josephfoote.co.uk
I hope you have found my posts this month useful and I really do hope you check out the charities I have mentioned. I've lost people I love but I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child. These charities are incredible because they are created by people wanting to prevent other people going through the pain that has been forced on them. They are amazing and I am proud to support them.
Lets hope they achieve their goals and one day soon we have a world in which brain tumours are less common and easier to cure.
RIP Harry, Ellie, Joss and Joseph - may your memories live on in your incredible work
xxxxx
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