brainstrust events

Our Thrive with brainstrust events will help you live better with a brain tumour. Below you can find information about upcoming webinars and meetups, both online and face-to-face. Filter by Patient and Carer events to see what’s happening this month. If you have any questions about our supportive events or would like to book a coaching session, please email hello@brainstrust.org.uk

You can also browse our calendar of upcoming fundraising events and campaigns. For the latest information about races and challenges, please keep in contact with event organisers or email fundraising@brainstrust.org.uk

Running events by region – brainstrust would love you to support the charity by taking on a challenge for us.  See what events are available in your region and do something amazing today!

Running Events with Realbuzz – through brainstrust’s partnership with Realbuzz, our runners now have the opportunity to take on some of the biggest events Globally  and in the UK including the Superhalfs series & the Abbott World Marathon Majors.  Places in these events are hard to come by so check out the list below and get registered.
Treks & Trails with Ultra Challenge – The UK’s No 1 Series of treks & trail runs! Take on a challenge at your pace and fundraise for the brain tumour community! Whether along a stunning coastline or on trails through magnificent countryside, you’ll get full support all the way–including plenty of food & drink, medics & massage, camaraderie, a medal & T shirt -and an amazing sense of achievement. With 20 events to choose from, and distance options ranging from 10km up to the full 100km, there’s an Ultra Challenge waiting for you.
  • All Events
  • Fundraising Events
  • Patient & Carer Events
January 13th, 2026

Focus group- Help shape the future of children’s brain tumour treatment – Tues Jan 13th 2.00pm

Researchers are developing a groundbreaking new technology to treat childhood brain tumours, and they need your insights to help guide this Researchers at Imperial College London and the University of Leeds are developing a groundbreaking new technology to treat childhood brain tumours – and they need your insights to help guide this work.

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January 14th, 2026

Brainstrust Bereavement Community – Jan 14th 7:00pm

The grieving process begins at the time of diagnosis. We know that a death caused by a brain tumour is different. Come and be less alone. For those living with loss, a space to share, reflect, and feel held.

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January 14th, 2026

Scanxiety- Hypnotherapy workshop for brain tumour patients and caregivers- Jan 14th 2:00pm

Find out more about how hypnotherapy can help you to manage scanxiety when living with a brain tumour. That familiar wave of worry before a scan? You’re not alone. This session builds on what you’ve already learned and brings fresh focus to understanding and managing scanxiety. We’ll explore how fear affects your body and mind, […]

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January 14th, 2026

January Art Time – Weds 14th Jan 10.30am

Join our January session – a gentle space for brain tumour patients and caregivers to express, connect, and belong through art.

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January 21st, 2026

While I Wait- Hypnotherapy workshop – Jan 21st 2:00pm

Join this session to learn how hypnotherapy can support you doing periods of waiting when you are living with a brain tumour.

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January 22nd, 2026

A Dose of Neuroscience – Hypnotherapy Session – Jan 22nd 12:00pm

A hypnotherapy session to build calm and confidence while understanding the neurochemicals behind emotional wellbeing.  

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January 23rd, 2026

Colloid Cyst Community – January Online Meetup – Jan 23rd 1:00pm

A relaxed virtual cuppa and chat for anyone affected by a colloid cyst – patients, carers, and families.  

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January 26th, 2026

Living with Metastatic Brain Cancer- Jan 26th 2:00pm

Living with metastatic brain cancer? Join us for a virtual event where we share stories, support, and resources for those of you who are living with metastatic brain cancer. Living with a meningioma can feel isolating. This is a relaxed, open space to talk, listen, We know how hard it can be to live with […]

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January 28th, 2026

Calmness and confidence- Hypnotherapy workshop Jan 28th 7:00pm

An extra dose of steadiness when you need it most.

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January 28th, 2026

Neuro Pilates for the brainstrust community – Weds Jan 28th 10-11.00am

A gentle, inclusive Neuro Pilates class designed to support movement, balance, and wellbeing for those living with a brain tumour. Join us for a calm, welcoming online Neuro Pilates session designed especially for the brainstrust community. This gentle class focuses on supporting movement, posture, and balance through a specialist Pilates approach tailored to individuals living with neurological […]

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February 7th, 2026

Run Dorney Lake 10k / Half Series -Feb & April 2026

Join Team Brainstrust’s mission to help those with a brain tumour at the Run Dorney Lake series in February and April 2026.  Will you choose the 10k or Half Marathon and do something amazing for brainstrust. Dorney Lake; home to London 2012′s Olympic rowing events. Dorney Lake, situated near the village of Dorney in Buckinghamshire, […]

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March 8th, 2026

Chester 10k 2026

Join Team Brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Chester 10k 2026. This event sells out every year, so don’t delay & enter now! This fast course starts from the iconic Chester Racecourse and heads north-west out of the City along wide roads allowing runners to rapidly settle into race pace, then passing […]

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March 22nd, 2026

Reading Half Marathon 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the well established and supported Reading Half Marathon.  Join 5,000 runners on the start line for the 43rd Reading Half Marathon. The Reading Half Marathon not only takes in the highlights of the centre of Reading where you will experience huge crowd support but also […]

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March 29th, 2026

Sheffield Half Marathon 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Sheffield Half Marathon. A major event in the UK’s running calendar, the Sheffield Half Marathon is South Yorkshire’s biggest event of its kind. Thousands of runners of all abilities will be taking part, raising many thousands of pounds for numerous great causes. […]

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March 29th, 2026

Wolverhampton 10k 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Wolverhampton 10k. Join us for the brand new ROAD CLOSED Wolverhampton 10k. Starting and finishing at Molineux Stadium this race is open to all abilities and offers the perfect opportunity to run a chip timed 10k! You will each get a unique themed medal, […]

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April 12th, 2026

Milan Marathon 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the fantastic Milan Marathon. A fast and scenic course that runs mostly in the heart of the city, medal and jersey for all finishers, plus a state-of-the-art Running Festival that turns into a modern and engaging running fair for three days. The start […]

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April 12th, 2026

City of Lincoln 10k 2026

Join Team Brainstrust’s mission to help those with a brain tumour at the City of Lincoln 10k 2026. This 10k is one of the biggest and best-loved road runs in the region. With brilliant support all round the route, a great goody bag and a trendy T-Shirt, it’s no surprise that thousands rock up and run every year. The […]

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April 12th, 2026

Paris Marathon 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the world famous Paris Marathon. The Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris is now one of the biggest marathons in the world and perfectly combines a personal challenge with the chance to discover one of the world’s greatest cities. Race day will see you […]

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April 26th, 2026

Shakespeare Half & Marathon Series 2026

Join Team Brainstrust’s mission to help those with a brain tumour at the Shakespeare Half or Marathon 2026. This flat and fast route, follows 1 lap for the half marathon and 2 laps for the marathon. The majority of the route follows closed roads around the town, with the remainder on the Stratford Greenway footpath, a […]

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May 3rd, 2026

Great Birmingham Run Series – 10k / Half Marathon 2026

Join brainstrust’s mission to help those with a brain tumour at the Great Birmingham Run Series. The AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run is the Midlands’ biggest and best running event, with thousands of Brummie runners taking to the streets every year to challenge themselves and raise cash for charity. There’s everything you’d expect from a […]

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May 9th, 2026

Tough Mudder 5km / 15km Challenges – May – October Nationwide 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the 2025 Tough Mudder. The ultimate obstacle course challenge now has 20+ obstacles over a 15 Kilometre run. With no competition and no timing, it’s just you, your teammates and muddy strangers working together to conquer the course and earn the world-famous orange headband. […]

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May 9th, 2026

Nuclear Races – 6 & 12k challenges – May to November 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Nuclear Races in Brentwood, Essex. Events are open to anyone and includes challenges at  6 & 12km. Nuclear is well known for delivering UK’s most award winning events with big, high quality, achievable, natural & man-made obstacles designed to test every ability […]

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May 10th, 2026

Great Bristol Run Series – 10k/ Half Marathon 2026

Join brainstrust’s mission to help those with a brain tumour at the Great Bristol Run 2026. Each year, thousands of runners push their perseverance and passion to the limit and take on the super-scenic 10k and half marathon routes at the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run. If stunning views, inspiring history and graffiti murals are […]

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May 10th, 2026

Leeds Half Marathon 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at Leeds Half Marathon, Yorkshire’s biggest and loudest event.  With a fantastically vibrant atmosphere guaranteed, this run could be right up your street. The much-loved run raises hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity every year and often attracts more than 7,500 runners. The race starts […]

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May 10th, 2026

Leeds Marathon 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Rob Burrows Leeds Marathon. The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon will see 7,777 participants take on a brand new route through Leeds that starts and finishes at Headingley Stadium.  This is an event that truly is for everyone, so whether you are an experienced runner […]

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May 10th, 2026

Bidwells Oxford 10k Town & Gown 2026

Join Team Brainstrust’s mission to help those with a brain tumour at the Bidwells Oxford 10k Town & Gown 2026. As the only closed-route 10k race in Oxford, this sell-out event offers a unique opportunity to run on city roads amidst Oxford’s scenic landmarks and historic charm. The course also features beautiful stretches through the city’s […]

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May 17th, 2026

Essar Chester Half Marathon 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Essar Chester Half Marathon 2026. The Chester Half is one of the UK’s longest established and most highly regarded half marathons, starting and finishing in the historic Roman/Medieval international destination city of Chester. The fast and largely flat city and rural race route will […]

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May 23rd, 2026

Edinburgh 5k – Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Edinburgh 5k 2026. Come and be part of Scotland’s BIGGEST running festival! This ever-growing festival of running is now a major event in the Scottish sporting calendar. Starting in Edinburgh, the course heads out through East Lothian offering stunning views and an unforgettable running […]

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May 23rd, 2026

Edinburgh 10k – Edinburgh Running Festival 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Edinburgh 10k 2026 Come and be part of Scotland’s BIGGEST running festival! This ever-growing festival of running is now a major event in the Scottish sporting calendar. Starting in Edinburgh, the course heads out through East Lothian offering stunning views and an […]

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May 24th, 2026

Edinburgh Half Marathon 2026

Join brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Edinburgh Half Marathon 2026. Come and be part of Scotland’s BIGGEST running festival! This ever-growing festival of running is now a major event in the Scottish sporting calendar. Starting in Edinburgh, the course heads out through East Lothian offering stunning views and an unforgettable running […]

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May 24th, 2026

Edinburgh Marathon 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Edinburgh Marathon. The marathon route is one of the fastest in the UK making that elusive personal best a distinct possibility! Edinburgh Marathon joined the world’s elite road races in 2012 by becoming the first marathon in Scotland to be officially recognised […]

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May 24th, 2026

Edinburgh Marathon Festival – 5km/10km / Half / Marathon

Join brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Edinburgh Half Marathon 2026. Come and be part of Scotland’s BIGGEST running festival! This ever-growing festival of running is now a major event in the Scottish sporting calendar. Starting in Edinburgh, the course heads out through East Lothian offering stunning views and an […]

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May 31st, 2026

Great Manchester Run Series 2026

Join Team Brainstrust’s mission to help those with a brain tumour at the Great Manchester Run series 2026.  Will you choose the 10k or Half Marathon? Join us for another spectacular running celebration in the heart of Manchester with the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run. The AJ Bell Great Manchester Run is the city’s original and best-loved […]

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June 7th, 2026

Leeds Running Festival 5k/10k/Half – June 2026

Join Team Brainstrust’s mission to help those with a brain tumour at the Leeds Running Festival in June 2026. Join us for a unique opportunity to run a 5k, 10k or Half Marathon around Roundhay Park in Leeds, one of the biggest city parks in Europe. Each Mile will be accurately marked out and we have […]

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June 13th, 2026

Great North Swim 2026 – 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 2 mile, 5k or 10k Challenge

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Great North Swim challenge.  Choose your distance from 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 2 miles, 5k or 10k. The Great North Run is the UK’s biggest open water swimming event providing a fantastic opportunity for families, individuals, experienced and beginner swimmers to enjoy […]

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July 5th, 2026

The Great North Run 10k July 2026

Join Team Brainstrust’s mission to help those with a brain tumour at the Great North Run 10k 2026. The AJ Bell Great North 10k transforms ordinary people into local heroes. This year’s event will take place on an exciting new course, passing some of Newcastle’s most iconic sights. Expect a party atmosphere, incredible support and […]

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July 12th, 2026

Ride Reigate Cycle Challenge 2026 – 25k, 50k or 100k

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at Ride Reigate 2025. A cycle sportive event offering three scenic routes. With 100K, 50K and family friendly 25K route, our local sportive offers something for everyone from keen cyclists to leisure and family. The deadline for entries is 1oth June 2026.  

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July 12th, 2026

Saucony London 10K

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Saucony London 10km, the most iconic capital city 10k race. Following a sell-out 2023, 2024 and 2025 event, don’t miss your chance to be a part of 2026! Enjoy an incredible closed-road route through central London, past some of the city’s most […]

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July 12th, 2026

Newcastle Half 2026

Join Team brainstrust’s mission to help those with a brain tumour at the Newcastle Half 2026. We are excited to announce the return of the Newcastle Half Marathon, starting and finishing at the Newcastle Falcons Rugby Union home ground – Kingston Park! This ROAD CLOSED course takes in the beautiful countryside lanes around Newcastle Airport and […]

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July 19th, 2026

Birmingham Running Festival – 5k/10k/Half July 2026

Join Team Brainstrust’s mission to help those with a brain tumour at the Birmingham Running Festival 2026. We’re back for our next Birmingham Running Festival at the wonderful Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. Choose between a 5k, 10k or Half Marathon  for a fun morning out running with friends and family! Take in the natural beauty […]

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July 26th, 2026

Hillsborough Castle & Gardens Running Festival 2026 – 10k / Half Marathon

Join Team Brainstrust’s mission to help all those with a brain tumour at the Hillsborough Castle & Gardens Running Festival 2o26.  Will you choose the 10k or Half Marathon challenge? These ROAD CLOSED races will start and finish within the beautiful Grounds of Hillsborough Castle, before heading out onto the surrounding rural roads of Hillsborough […]

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August 2nd, 2026

York 10k 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at this fast, flat, PB potential 10k. Running since 2009, the York 10k has been described as one of the country’s most beautiful city runs and Yorkshire’s most popular 10k. 5000 runners took part in 2025, will you join them in 2026? Closing date for registrations […]

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August 30th, 2026

Leeds Running Festival – 5k /10k / Half 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Leeds Running Festival. Join us for a unique opportunity to run a 5k, 10k or Half Marathon around Roundhay Park in Leeds, one of the biggest city parks in Europe. Each Mile will be accurately marked out and we have plenty of […]

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September 6th, 2026

The Big Half 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a bran tumour at The Big Half in London this September.  With only 5 charity places available, early booking is advised! Organised by London Marathon Events, The Big Half is a vibrant, inclusive half marathon with a fun, festival atmosphere. The 13.1 mile course weaves through London from Tower Bridge […]

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September 6th, 2026

Run Thorpe Park 5k / 10k 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Run Thorpe Park .  Choose to run either the 5k or 10k  around the rides and rollercoasters inside the fantastic THORPE PARK Resort and be first in line to enjoy everything the Resort has to offer. Following the race, you will be […]

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September 13th, 2026

The Great North Run 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the world’s biggest and best half marathon, with 60,000 runners taking on the route from Newcastle to South Shields each year. Did you miss out in a place in the September ballot?  Why risk missing out in a place in the January ballot, take […]

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September 27th, 2026

Sheffield 10k 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help all those with a brain tumour at the Sheffield 10k. Staged in partnership with Sheffield City Council, the Asda Foundation Sheffield 10K is set right in the heart of South Yorkshire’s famous Steel City. A fantastic atmosphere is always generated by the enthusiastic local support. Thousands took part last […]

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September 27th, 2026

Robin Hood Half Marathon 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at this well established  half marathon event which is being held for the 46th time in 2026. This one loop half marathon course now attracts over 9,000 runners. The Robin Hood Half Marathon is one of the longest established and most popular city centre road events […]

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October 4th, 2026

Manchester Half Marathon 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the sell out Manchester Half Marathon. This inaugural half marathon sees runners take on generous, closed roads across the towns of Old Trafford, Stretford & Brooklands, with the promise of great support and an abundance of entertainment en route. The Manchester Half Marathon hosts […]

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October 4th, 2026

The Great Scottish Run Half Marathon 2026

Join team brainstrust’s mission to help people with a brain tumour at the Great Scottish Run Half Marathon. With a city centre start and finish, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run is a celebration of everything that makes Glasgow truly great: inspiring urban architecture, green spaces, history, music, strength, spirit and, of course, great people, […]

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Introduction

The Brain Tumour Data Dashboard lets you explore up -to-date, population level data about the brain tumours diagnosed in England between 2013 and 2015. Using the drop down menus on the left you can select different groups of patients to view in the charts below. In these charts the number of patients for every 100 diagnoses is displayed as images of people. Patients have been grouped by date of diagnosis, type of tumour, age, gender, and region in England.

For each group of patients you can explore the different routes to diagnosis, the proportion of those who received chemotherapy or radiotherapy, as well as the survival of the patients within each group. For more information about what these metrics mean please see the glossary.

How to use

  1. Select the year of diagnosis using the drop down menu.
  2. Select your patient group of interest from the four drop down menus in the following order:
    1. Tumour group
    2. Age at diagnosis
    3. Region of England
    4. Gender of patient
  3. To view a second chart to compare different groups of patients, click the ‘compare’ button.The second chart will appear below the first chart.

*Note that the tool is best used on a laptop or tablet rather than a mobile phone*

Unavailable data

Some of the data in these charts is not available.There are two main reasons for this:

  1. How the data has been grouped

If you cannot select a patient group from the drop down menus, the data is unavailable because of how the data has been organised.

Public Health England has grouped the data like a branching tree. The bottom of the tree contains all the patients with brain tumours, and then each branch divides the data by a certain characteristics, like age, or location of tumour. But the data is divided in an order, starting with location of the tumour (endocrine or brain), then by age, region, and gender. Age is at the start because it makes a bigger difference to survival rates and treatment rates than gender or region. Sometimes, after the data has been split by type of tumour and age, there is not enough data to be split again. This is because to protect patient confidentiality groups cannot contain less than 100 patients. Because some groups cannot be split further, you cannot create ‘totals’ for everyone by region or gender. For example, you cannot see results for all ages by region, or all brain tumours by gender. If these totals were calculated and released, it might be possible to identify patients, which is why Public Health England cannot release this data.

  1. Statistical reasons and data availability

If you can select a patient group from the chart menus, but the chart does not display, the data is unavailable for one of several reasons:

  1. Data is not yet available for the selected year from Public Health England.
  2. Data is not available because the data quality is too poor to release this statistic.
  3. Data is not available as the statistic is not appropriate for this group.
  4. Data is not available because the standard error of the estimate was greater than 20% and so the estimate has been supressed.

Up to date brain tumour data

Brain tumour data may influence the decisions you make about your care. Data also helps you understand the bigger picture, or landscape, in which you find yourself.

Brain tumour data and statistics influence the focus, and work of organisations like brainstrust. The information helps us to understand the scale and impact of the problems we are setting out to solve.

This tool helps you understand the landscape in which you find yourself having been diagnosed with a brain tumour. This landscape can be particularly tricky to navigate as there are many different types of brain tumour, all of which have a different impact.

The information you see represents the most up-to-date, official, population level brain tumour data available for England. Over time we will be adding to the brain tumour data available and publishing reports, with recommendations, as a result of what we learn from this data.

The data behind this content has come from Public Health England’s National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS) and is a direct result of the ‘Get Data Out’ project.

This project provides anonymised population level brain tumour data for public use in the form of standard output tables, accessible here: http://cancerdata.nhs.uk/standardoutput

Incidence

The number or rate (per head of population) of new cases of a disease diagnosed in a given population during a specified time period (usually a calendar year). The crude rate is the total number of cases divided by the mid-year population, usually expressed per 100,000 population.

Malignant

Malignant tumours which grow by invasion into surrounding tissues and have the ability to metastasise to distant sites

Mortality

The number or rate (per head of population) of deaths in a given population during a specified time period (usually a calendar year). The crude rate is the total number of deaths divided by the mid-year population, usually expressed per 100,000 population.

Non-malignant

Not cancerousNon-malignant tumours may grow larger but do not spread to other parts of the body.

Survival

The length of time from the date of diagnosis for a disease, such as cancer, that patients diagnosed with the disease are still alive. In a clinical trial, measuring the survival is one way to see how well a new treatment works. Also called ‘overall survival’ or ‘OS’.

Routes to Diagnosis

Under the ‘Routes to Diagnosis’ tab in the Brain Tumour Data Dashboard, you can explore the ways patients have been diagnosed with brain tumours. There are many ways, or routes, for cancers to be diagnosed in the NHS. A ‘route to diagnosis’ is the series of events between a patient and the healthcare system that leads to a diagnosis of cancer. The routes include:

  1. Two Week Wait

Patients are urgently referred by their GP for suspected cancer via the Two Week Wait system and are seen by a specialist within 2 weeks where they are diagnosed.

  1. GP referral

Diagnosis via a GP referral includes routine and urgent referrals where the patient was not referred under the Two Week Wait system.

  1. Emergency Presentation

Cancers can be diagnosed via emergency situations such as via A&E, emergency GP referral, emergency transfer or emergency admission.

  1. Outpatient

Outpatient cancer diagnoses include diagnoses via an elective route which started with an outpatient appointment that is either a self-referral or consultant to consultant referral. (It does not include those under the Two Week Wait referral system).

  1. Inpatient elective

Diagnosis via an inpatient elective route is where diagnosis occurs after the patient has been admitted into secondary care from a waiting list, or where the admission is booked or planned.

  1. Death Certificate Only

Diagnoses made by Death Certificate Only are made where there is no more information about the cancer diagnosis other than the cancer related death notifications. The date of diagnosis is the same as that of the date of death.

  1. Unknown

For some patients with a cancer diagnosis, there is no relevant data available to understand the route to diagnosis.

 

More information

If any of the statistical terms in this section of the brainstrust website are hard to understand, we recommend looking them up here:

Cancer Research UK’s Cancer Statistics Explained

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/cancer-stats-explained/statistics-terminology-explained#heading-Seven

If you are looking for help understanding terms relating specifically to brain tumours, and treatment, then the brainstrust glossary is available here:

https://www.brainstrust.org.uk/advice-glossary.php