A scan of a brain

Brain Tumour Research Fund

Brain tumours account for about a quarter of cancer diagnoses in children and around 12% in teenagers and young adults, but they are the biggest cause of cancer deaths in children and young people.

Brain tumour facts and figures

More statistics
  • 400

    children aged 0-14 are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year in the UK

  • 25 %

    of tumours in children aged 0-14 are brain and spinal tumours

  • 12 %

    of tumours in young people aged 15-24 are brain and spinal tumours

There are many different types of brain tumours, and they can be difficult to treat. While overall survival for all brain tumours has increased over the past decades as a result of research, for some types survival is poor and has not seen the same improvements.

Where treatment is successful, many survivors are left with lifelong challenges as a result of their cancer and its treatment. CCLG’s Brain Tumour Research Fund supports pioneering research into these devastating cancers in children and young people, changing the future by learning more about what causes them, finding better, kinder treatments, and improving our understanding of how to manage the long-term effects of treatment.

More about brain tumours

Brain tumours in children

Brain tumours are the most common tumours that develop in children. Children of any age can be affected. About 400 children in the UK develop brain tumours each year. Boys are affected slightly more often than girls.

Image of a brain tumour cell

Brain tumours in teenagers and young adults

Primary brain tumours are tumours that start in the brain. Any illness related to your brain can be scary. If there is something you do not understand, don’t be scared to ask.

Types of cancer in children and young people

Although there are over 200 different types of cancer, certain cancers are more likely to affect children and young people. Understanding more about the type of cancer and the treatments that may be used can often help you to cope. Your doctor will give…

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