Brain tumors are on the rise in England with a 50% increase in cases since 2001.
In 2019, 9,960 people were diagnosed with devastating cancers compared to 6,577 18 years earlier.
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Shocking figures reveal that brain tumor cases have doubled in England since 2001 as doctors struggle to raise survival rates Credit: Getty
The Brain Tumor Charity said an aging population means more people are at risk and high-tech scans detect more cases.
But doctors are struggling to raise survival rates and 90% of patients die in five years. Brain tumors are one of the leading causes of death from cancer in children under 40 and The Wanted singer Tom Parker died of the disease in March.
Four out of 10 cases are not trapped until someone is in A&E, at which point the chances of survival are slim.
Dr David Jenkinson, scientific director of the charity, said: “These worrying figures show how urgently we need to act against this devastating and life-changing disease.
“While brain tumors remain relatively rare, the incidence has continued to increase significantly over the past two decades.
“This has not yet been matched by the tangible progress in diagnosis, treatment and survival outcomes seen in many other cancers.”
The Brain Tumor Charity launched a campaign called “Better Safe than Tumor” to help people detect warning signs, such as headaches, blurred vision, seizures, balance problems, forgetfulness, and speech problems.
Brain cancer rates per person have risen by a quarter, from 14.8 per 100,000 to 18.3.
Professor Keyoumars Ashkan, a brain surgeon at King’s College London, added: “Increased awareness of symptoms is crucial to ensure that more people receive a diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.”
One study found that married people are more likely to survive cancer.
The Journal of Investigative Medicine revealed that married patients had an average 72% chance of surviving stomach cancer, compared with 60% of widows.