Brain Tumour Research is supporting the first Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month, taking place throughout April.
Cancer charities from across the UK have come together to launch this awareness month, aimed at sharing young people’s experiences of cancer and working to improve their experience through specialised services and research.
Every year, around 2,300 young people aged 15-24 are diagnosed with cancer. Of those, on average 260 are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year in the UK (source: Cancer Research UK).
Brain tumours are among the five most commonly diagnosed cancers in both males and females aged 15-24, and account for around 13% of incidences of cancer in males in that age group and 14% in females.
Dr Karen Noble, our Director of Research, Policy and Innovation, said: “Brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, the disease is the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40. Treatments for this uniquely complex disease – which may include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy – have not improved majorly in decades and can have lifelong effects on a young person.
“Brain Tumour Research has a vision to find a cure for all types of brain tumours, through increased national investment in research into the disease. It is only through this vital research that we will uncover more about this deadly disease, paving the way to kinder treatments and better options for patients and, ultimately, a cure.”
Follow Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Awareness Month on Twitter using #TYACAM
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