About the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust

Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust was registered with the Charity Commission by Samantha’s parents, Neil and Angela in December 1996. Samantha had died of a brain tumour on 31st October 1996, just six days before her 17th birthday.

Since 1996, the Trust has become the largest brain tumour charity in the UK with the highest level of laboratory based brain tumour research in the country.  The Trust offers support to patients diagnosed with a brain tumour as well as their families and/or carers.

Research projects are chosen carefully with the advice of our Scientific and Medical Advisory Board and over 100 specialists in the field of neurology from around the world.

We have an increasing number of umbrella groups who fundraise for the Charity.  Many groups are in memoriam whilst others are fundraising in the name of a patient.

 

Brain Tumour Statistics

• More children now die from a brain tumour than any other childhood cancer
• Sadly 3,400 people lose their lives to a brain tumour each year
• Whilst on average 75% of all childhood cancer patients in Britain survive five years, only 65% of children diagnosed with a high grade brain tumour live for longer than this
• In adults, with a malignant brain tumour, the statistic is even more tragic with only 14% living longer than 5 years
• 40% of all cancer deaths in children are from a brain tumour
• The number of people dying from a brain tumour has increased over the last decade - incidence increases by approximately 2% per year
• 6,500 people are diagnosed each year with a primary brain tumour
• On average it takes longer to diagnose a child with a brain tumour in the UK than in North America and a number of European countries.  The principal cause of delay in diagnosis is the failure by front-line health professionals to include brain tumours in the differential diagnosis.
• The average years of life lost (AYLL) to brain tumours is the highest of any cancer at over 20 years.