Lions Brain Tumour Research

If you have any queries or questions please do not hesitate to contact the Officer for Brain Tumour Research

Click here to go to the Lions Brain Tumour Research website: https://www.lionsbraintumourappeal.co.uk/ 

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Key information

Lions Clubs International (MD105) British Isles is working in partnership with Brain Tumour Research to raise £1 million over four years to help fund game-changing research and raise awareness of the impact of brain tumours.

Brain Tumour Research is dedicated to raising funds for continuous and sustainable scientific research into brain tumours. It supports one of the UK’s largest collaborative groups of laboratory-based scientists.

At the end of the partnership, a laboratory in one of Brain Tumour Research’s dedicated research centres will be named after Lions Clubs International – British Isles, creating a legacy in recognition of the contribution of its members and their local communities to improve the lives of brain tumour patients and their families.

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Key facts from Brain Tumour Research

Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK dedicated to raising funds for continuous and sustainable scientific research into brain tumours and is a leading voice calling for greater support and action for research into what scientists are calling the last battleground against cancer.

• Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age.

• Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

• Historically, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours.

• In the UK, 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour.

• Brain tumours kill more children than leukaemia.

• Brain tumours kill more men under 45 than prostate cancer.

• Brain tumours kill more women under 35 than breast cancer.

• Less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers.

Highlighted Story

So why am I supporting The Lions Brain Tumour Research Appeal?

Well, May 2017 saw me as fit, healthy, busy wife, mum of 2 (daughter just graduated from

university and about to embark on a career as a teacher at an International School in Bangkok, son about to go into his
second year at college and onto university) working as a clinical nurse specialist in the NHS.

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Why did life suddenly change for me and my family then?

I started to experience a very intermittent, sharp, pulsating pain at the top of my head.
This lasted seconds and then went. It sometimes occurred when I was bending down but not always.

I had no other symptoms that I was aware of.

I saw my GP who thankfully sent me for an MRI of my head. I’m eternally grateful he did. 
I had the scan done one Saturday morning and was re called to hospital a couple of hours

later.

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The MRI had revealed 2 large brain tumours…. both about the size and shape of large eggs,

one slightly bigger than the other, one on top of the other.

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The bottom one had buried itself deep inside my brain it was later discovered.
Stunned, shocked and frightened - not just me, but family, friends and colleagues.

I was immediately started on intensive drug treatment.

The following couple of weeks passed in a busy blur of many consultations, tests, investigations and numerous different types of scans. 

I underwent, what the consultant described as, complex, complicated 7 hours of surgery.

I spent 24 hours in Intensive Care and a week in hospital. 

One tumour was successfully removed but some of the deeper tumour had to be left behind.
The tumours were found to be Atypical Grade 2 with some rapid growth cell changes.
(Grading is 1 to 4)  More consultations, more scans and treatments.

I also underwent 6 weeks of daily Radiotherapy.

Brutal but essential and knocked the stuffing out of me.

Believe me though, I am truly grateful and thankful.

I  have nothing but praise for the amazing, dedicated staff in numerous departments at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

I received and continue to receive, the very best, evidence, research based, appropriate care - always delivered with the utmost kindness, professionalism, efficiency and compassion.

Recovery has been slow with many challenges.

I have also received and continue to receive amazing support and friendship from Brain Tumour Support Charity.

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I am so very lucky and very appreciative that I am still here. 

You will also be pleased to know that I donated what was removed at surgery for Brain Tumour Research. 

Sadly, I was unable to return to work because of on going health issues due to my diagnosis but, after 40 years working in the NHS, perhaps it was finally time to put my feet up! 

As a result of this, I joined Lions International and I haven’t looked back.

Yes there are things I cannot do or participate in, however, there are equally lots of things I can do and help with.

Our Lions club fully supports and continues to raise funds for The Lions Brain Tumour Research Appeal. 

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Please help to ensure this essential and vital work continues, develop treatments and therapies and hopefully, eventually find a cure.