New guide to help identify brain tumours in young people

Ottoline Spearman

Brain Tumour Ireland has developed a guide to help identify brain tumour symptoms in children and teenagers.

The guide is being published to coincide with National Brain Tumour Awareness Week, which runs until Sunday.

Around 65 children and young people are diagnosed with a brain or other central nervous system tumour each year in Ireland.

A total of 400 people each year are diagnosed with brain tumours, with men more likely than women to be affeceted, according to the Irish Cancer Society.

Dr Jane Pears from CHI Crumlin urged GPs, doctors, and ED staff to consider brain tumours when reviewing symptoms in sick children.

Speaking on Newstalk, Ms Pears said: "There's a huge overlap between those signs and symptoms and much less serious childhood illnesses.

"So there's a very fine line to tread between causing unnecessary alarm, but on the other hand, also making sure that children who need to be seen get seen by the appropriate people."

Brain Tumour Ireland are also holding an launch event for their new online teen support group for teens affected by tumours and their families.

The event will be held at Windmill Recording Studios on October 25th at 2pm. For more information, visit here.