Brain Tumour Ireland has launched their new 'Heads Up' campaign as part of Brain Tumour Awareness Week, which runs from today until 26 October.
The campaign is aiming to support children with brain tumours and reduce the time from early symptoms to diagnosis.
Over 200 children are treated after cancer diagnosis each year.
Brain or central nervous system tumours account for 27% of cancer diagnosis amongst children, the most of any kind alongside leukemia.
At present, a diagnosis can take some time and delays in finding a brain tumour can lead to other complications, such as a loss of sight.
‘Heads Up’ pushes to remind doctors, GP’s, A&E staff and parents that children can get brain tumours and it is important to be familiar with the symptoms in babies, such as a tense and elevated fontanelle, or in children such as a change in handwriting or educational ability.
Faster diagnosis could lead to more children recovering from brain tumours like Jaiden Maguire, a ten year old boy from Dublin, who was initially being treated for severe hallucinations in November 2023 after suddenly falling ill, however, an MRI scan revealed a brain tumour.
After undergoing surgery, he was able to return to school in December 2024 and even begin playing soccer, his favorite hobby, once again.
The campaign has a number of initiatives such as an online symptom guide event for brain tumours, which includes advice on navigating coming back to school post-recovery, an eight week music therapy programme for teenagers, and a series of nightly children’s bedtime stories presented by paediatric doctors.
