Brain Tumours: Causes and Treatment

Lord Sharpe of Epsom Excerpts

Monday 24th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I want to convey to the noble Lord our ambition in this area. I completely accept the point he makes—although not all of them—about the challenge of diagnosing rarer cancers, including brain tumours. Research is absolutely vital. Last September, we announced new research funding opportunities, bringing the brain cancer research community together, because we want to drive step change for patients in the way the noble Lord seeks. Funding decisions will arise from this call, and announcements are expected imminently.

[Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)]

My Lords, my son survived a brain tumour, but he was lucky, because in the UK between 40% and 60% of brain tumour diagnoses happen after the patient has arrived at A&E, having often been misdiagnosed—to follow on from the noble Lord’s question—earlier. That is a much worse outcome than many for other cancers. As the Minister said, brain tumour cancers are the leading killer of people under the age of 40. Will she therefore commit to a public awareness campaign to explain some of the difficult symptoms the noble Lord just identified, and the seriousness of brain tumours? Such awareness is sadly lacking among the public.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I take the point the noble Lord makes, and I am sorry to hear of his son’s—and of course his family’s—experience. One of the things we are working on is increasing public awareness of brain cancer research opportunities. That is not quite the same as the point the noble Lord made, but extending that through the NIHR’s “Be Part of Research” initiative is important. The national cancer plan will give us the opportunity to review what communications and campaigns we run with the public. That will be a good opportunity to consider the point he makes.