Each year, approximately 13,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour in the UK. Among them are around 900 children and young people. Brain tumours are currently the biggest cancer killers of children and adults under 40, according to the Brain Tumour Charity.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has recently issued a major update following widespread concerns about the current state of brain cancer treatment in the UK. This message responds to an ongoing petition, which has been signed by over 20,000 people, calling for increased funding and improved treatment efforts.
The parliamentary campaign behind the petition pressed the Government to examine increased funding to “give patients a fighting chance.” Campaigners argued that treatments for brain tumours “haven’t changed in decades” and advocated for expanded exploratory research initiatives.
In response, the DHSC acknowledged that “more needs to be done” and confirmed that a National Cancer Plan is due to be published later this year. The department’s statement, published on October 3, reads:
> “Every brain cancer diagnosis has a life-changing impact on patients and their families. Research is vital to ensure people can access the most effective, cutting-edge treatments and receive the highest quality care.
> We currently invest £8 million in research projects and programmes focused on brain tumours. The National Institute for Health Research’s (NIHR) wider investments in research infrastructure amount to an estimated £37.5 million, supporting the delivery of 261 brain tumour research studies and enabling over 11,400 people to participate in potentially life-changing brain tumour research.
> However, we understand that more needs to be done to boost research into brain tumours.”
The DHSC also stated that it is working closely with patient and research communities to stimulate high-quality research applications. This includes the establishment of a national Brain Tumour Research Consortium and a dedicated funding call.
However, the department stressed that there are currently “no plans” to introduce a ‘Right to Try’ initiative for new treatments. For context, the Right to Try Act in the United States permits eligible patients with life-threatening conditions to access unapproved investigational treatments under certain conditions.
Regarding new and personalised treatments, the DHSC reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing patient access to effective and innovative new medicines, including those for brain tumours. It noted:
> “There are established routes to support timely access for NHS patients to safe, clinically and cost-effective new medicines. There are no plans to introduce a new Right to Try initiative for treatments.
> The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) evaluates all new medicines and makes recommendations for the NHS on whether they should be routinely funded. NICE aims to issue guidance on new medicines as close as possible to the point of licensing.
> Our Life Sciences Sector Plan, published in July, sets out measures to streamline decision-making and accelerate patient access to new medicines by three to six months.
> The NHS in England is required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, and NHS England funds cancer medicines from the point of positive draft NICE guidance, accelerating patient access by around five months on average.”
Looking ahead, the DHSC highlighted the upcoming National Cancer Plan, due to be published later this year. The plan will focus on patients and cover the entire cancer pathway—from referral and diagnosis to treatment and aftercare. The goal is to improve all aspects of cancer care and outcomes, aiming to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years, including from brain cancer.
The petition, titled *“Invest in brain cancer and give rights turn terminal into treatable,”* currently has over 20,000 signatures. If it surpasses 100,000, it will be considered for a debate in Parliament.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/government-shares-major-cancer-research-36021923