Calls for dedicated brain tumour strategy in Wales
The charity says it hopes the government will prioritise both policy and finances
Campaigners are calling for a dedicated national strategy for brain tumours in Wales, saying patients continue to face slow diagnosis, limited treatment options and gaps in support.
More than 400 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour in Wales every year. Brain tumours are also the biggest cancer killer of people under 40 in the UK.
The Welsh Government is developing a 10-year National Cancer Strategy, which aims to transform how cancer is prevented, diagnosed and treated. It is due to be published on World Cancer Day in February 2027.
Clair Thorstensen-Woll, policy advisor for The Brain Tumour Charity, says brain tumours should be explicitly prioritised within that strategy, but believes a dedicated plan is also needed.
She said: “It’s really clear that improvements are needed across that entire pathway. We really need to speed up diagnosis times and make sure that the right support is available before, during and after treatment.
“The forthcoming National Cancer Strategy for Wales is a really crucial opportunity to start to improve this. We want to see brain tumours explicitly prioritised within it, with clear commitments to improve diagnosis, treatment, research and care.
“But we really need to go further for this community, which is why Wales now needs to have a dedicated national brain tumour strategy, with that leadership and accountability to make sure that we’re turning any ambitions into lasting change for this whole community affected by brain tumours”.
Campaigners are calling for faster diagnosis, greater investment in research, better access to rehabilitation and psychological support, and consistent standards of care across Wales