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Article in Huddersfield Examiner
Debbie Selam, who has a low grade astocytoma, had an article printed in the Huddersfield Examiner. Many thanks to Debbie for mentioning Astro Fund.
Hammer Out Conference
24th-25th March 2012
Please find below a link to a flyer promoting the Hammer Out conference, March 24th & 25th 2012 in Cheltenham, UK. I will be running a breakout session for LGG patients and carers and it would be wonderful to see some of you there :-)
Katie Sheen
Hammer Out Conference Flyer
Brain tumour article in Prima
Linda Rickford had an article printed in the March 2012 edition of Prima. She was somewhat disappointed that Astro Fund wasn't mentioned in more detail but this is a great article which will hopefully reach a big audience. Thanks also go to Joannie McCutcheon for her contribution. Click here to see the article.
Support Day
Yorkshire based charity Brain Tumour Research and Support (formerly Andrea's Gift) are holding their first patient and carer information day on Tuesday 6th March 2012 from 11.00am to 3.00pm at the Thackray Museum, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7LN. The event is run in partnership with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Neurosciences team.
Adult patients and their carers/family are invited to visit stands manned by health professionals and related charities and organisations that provide care, support and information for brain tumour patients. Linda Rickford, Astro Fund Trustee, will be representing us and will look forward to welcoming you. Coffee and cake will be available all day. At 12.30 we move into another room where a series of presentations will be given, after which more time will be available to browse the stands.
If you wish to attend, please contact Carol Robertson at contact@btrs.org.uk tel 01943 870770.
Travel insurance advice
We now have a new section offering advice on getting travel insurance if you have a low-grade brain tumour. See the Live your Dreams page or click here.
Bridge Day 2012
Christine Forecast is holding her 2012 Bridge Day at The Old Coach House, Thornham, on Wednesday, 21st March at 10.30am, tickets £20, including coffee and lunch.
Norfolk Family Walk 2012
The Sixth Norfolk Family Walk, once again organised by Christine Forecast, is scheduled to take place in and around the grounds of the magnificent Holkham Hall, Wells-next-the-Sea on Sunday, 7th October 2012. There are walks of 1, 3, 6 or 10 miles long. This year, the ten mile walk will include the pretty seaside town of Wells-next-the-Sea. Please join us if you can!
Brain Tumour Consortium website launched
We are delighted to announce the launch of the Brain Tumour Consortium website. The Brain Tumour Consortium is a coalition of UK brain tumour charities and trusts, including Astro Fund as a member of the Brain Tumour Research group of charities.
Our aim is to work together to campaign for improved brain tumour policy and services in the areas of support, care and treatment; patient involvement and choice; and research. The three priorities identified from our Manifesto are to ensure that the Government prioritises the following:
- Ensure early diagnosis and treatment
- Implement NICE's best practice guidance
- Increase Government investment in brain tumour research, and more accurately measure numbers of both primary and secondary brain tumours
Visit the Brain Tumour Consortium website and please contact us if you would like to become actively involved in our political lobbying.
Astro Fund contributes to new Clinical Guidelines for rare brain tumours
Following a recommendation in the Improving Outcomes for People with Brain and other CNS Tumours (June 2006), the British Neuro-oncology Society (BNOS) worked with the National Cancer Action Team to produce four new national clinical guidelines for rare adult brain and CNS tumours (Adult PNET, Primary CNS Lymphoma, Pineal and Optic Pathway Glioma). Astro Fund's Founder, Katie Sheen, was honoured to be part of the team invited to contribute to their development, and you can now access the published documents at http://www.bnos.org.uk/rare_tumours.html
Raise Awareness & Funding for those affected by Brain Tumours: e-petition to Department of Health
The government must take action, NOW, to IMPROVE AWARENESS AND FUNDING IN THE UK:
- Brain Tumour research is approximately 12 YEARS behind other types of cancer research.
- 65% more women die from a brain tumour than from cervical cancer
- Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of UK children
- 16,000 people each year in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour
- More people under 40 die of a brain tumour than from any other cancer
- Only 14% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond 5 years (compared with 50% for all cancers)
- 25% of all cancers spread to the brain
- 65% more women die from a brain tumour than from cervical cancer
- Every year there is a 4% increase in incidence.
THESE ARE ONLY SOME OF THE FACTS: THE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE ACTION NOW FOR THE FUTURE OF THOSE DIAGNOSED WITH A BRAIN TUMOUR.
Wear a Hat Day 2012
Plans are well under way for Wear A Hat Day 2012. We already have schools and businesses committed to this fun and easy way of raising invaluable cash to support brain tumour research by donating money to wear a hat on 30th March, and a cake shop who can supply cup cakes with hats on! We also have the ever popular Hat Badges for sale. Do contact us for details about how you can get involved.
Report on Brain Tumour Research
May 2011
Report from Dr Carol Walker, Astro Fund's Brain Tumour Research Co-ordinator
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Brain tumour charities lobby MPs
Tuesday 22nd March 2011
An unprecedented lobby to MPs was organised by Sue Farrington-Smith for the Brain Tumour Research group of charities, of which Astro Fund is proud to be a member, together with BTUK, SDBTT and IBTA. It was entitled "Don't Forget Brain Tumour Care". Some 200 patients, carers, charities and medical professionals attended and asked MPs to sign up to a brain tumour care charter in support of the Guidance to make sure the guidelines are not lost in the wider NHS reforms.
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