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Brain tumour rise predicted
Scotland Created: 3 Mar 2011
A MASSIVE increase in the number of patients suffering brain tumours is predicted in Scotland, experts have warned.

Professor Colin Blakemore, a leading neuroscientist and president of charity Brain Tumour UK, said between 2000 and 2020 the scale of the problem is predicted to grow by 25%.

This is largely to do with the aging population. He said many brain tumours currently go undiagnosed and GPs need more training and hospitals need more scanners to ensure tumours are detected earlier.

Professor Roy Rampling, professor emeritus in neuro-oncology at Glasgow University, agreed many brain tumours were currently being missed by the Scottish NHS.

He said: “We would expect between 300 and 500 new primary brain tumours each year. We have reason to believe that the actual number is considerably higher than this.”

Mr Rampling said many cases are not recorded because patients in poor condition may not be operated on, others are labelled simply as having cancer and not a primary brain tumour, while others – particularly the elderly – may be mis-diagnosed as having a stroke or dementia.

The Department of Health in England has announced more money to support the diagnosis of brain tumours and Mr Blakemore said they wanted Scotland to follow suit.

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Source: Herald Scotland, Helen Puttick, 03 Mar 2011

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