FACTS AND STATISTICS

CHILDHOOD BRAIN CANCER KILLS MORE CHILDREN THAN ANY OTHER DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA.

On average, two children are diagnosed with a brain cancer every month in Western Australia. Treatment for childhood brain cancer has not changed for over thirty years – and therefore neither has the survival rate.

• • Brain cancer is the most common form of cancer in children.
  
  
  • Treatment may involve surgery, chemotherapy and/or radio therapy.
  
  
  • If successful, the impacts of treatment are severe and lifelong – including stroke, permanent hair loss, partial paralysis, neurocognitive defects, difficulty eating, cataracts, stunted growth, thyroid and hormonal issues, and difficulty coping in social situations.
  
  
  • Unlike most situations where after you have your medicine you get better – the impacts of some treatments can take years to show. Some side effects worsen over time.
  
  
  • The impact on the whole family is devastating – including job losses, needing to move house to be nearer to the hospital, implementing complicated care and medical regimes all on top of the fear of losing their child. Siblings often feel like they come second and struggle to understand why this has happened.
  
  
  • For some brain cancers – there are no treatment options available, for example Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas (DIPG).
  
  
  • There is currently no treatment for relapse of any childhood brain cancer.