Marking the first Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week
This week has been the first ever Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week (13-19 January 2025). We wanted to share some of the ways we’ve been using this time to create meaningful change for the brain tumour community.
By Glenn Saitch
What is Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week?
Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week (LSCAW) is a new awareness campaign building on the successes of Less Survivable Awareness Day. It’s organised by the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce, of which we’re a proud founding member.
The aim is to bring raise awareness of the need to improve outcomes for the six less survivable cancers. These are brain, lung, pancreatic, liver, oesophageal and stomach.
Why is Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week important?
While some cancers have seen great progress in survivability, others are just as deadly as they were 40 years ago. These six cancers are responsible for half of all common cancers deaths. They up a quarter of all cancer cases.
Data released last week by the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce shows that more than half (58%) of people in England diagnosed with a cancer of the brain, lung, liver, oesophagus, pancreas or stomach will die from their disease within one year.
This is unacceptable.
That’s why, together with the five other charities that form the taskforce, we’re campaigning for more awareness, faster diagnosis, better research and clearer funding to close the deadly cancer gap.
Listen to our podcast
The latest episode of our podcast features Anna Jewell (Director of Support, Research and Influencing at Pancreatic Cancer UK) and Cameron Miller (Director of External Affairs and Strategy at The Brain Tumour Charity) discussing the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce.
Our supporters share their stories to create change
Matthew’s story
Matthew’s story is a stark reminder of why faster diagnosis and kinder treatments are desperately needed.
Matthew visited medical professionals multiple times before finally being diagnosed with a glioblastoma. His symptoms – thunderclap headaches, seizures, and even a stroke – were repeatedly dismissed as anxiety or routine concerns.
Matthew is now undergoing treatment and crowdfunding to access options unavailable on the NHS.
Frankie’s mum, Sue, experienced severe headaches, nausea, and reduced mobility for over a year. Despite multiple GP and hospital visits, she was repeatedly dismissed or misdiagnosed. By the time a scan revealed the brain tumour, it was too late for treatment. Sue died just four months later, aged just 54, leaving behind seven children and a grandchild.
“I think education around brain tumours is really important. It’s ridiculous to me that something that’s one of the deadliest diseases is just not known about. We should all know what signs to look for. You know your body better than anyone else and if somethings not right then we need to help people confident in pushing their GPs.”
Frankie
Joining the first ever Less Survivable Cancers APPG
Last week was also first ever Less Survivable Cancer All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) meeting in Parliament. An APPG is an cross-party group formed by MPs and Members of the House of Lords who share a common interest in a particular policy area, region or country.
They often bring together experts and people with specific lived experience – for example, people living with a brain tumour or caring for somebody living with a brain tumour – to discuss solutions and updates in that area.
We’re thrilled to join so many MPs keen to raise awareness and work together on the less survivable cancers. It’s really exciting to be a part of the new APPG and to represent the brain tumour community in this work going forwards!
Paulette Hamilton (MP for Birmingham Erdington) and Charlie Maynard (MP for Witney) co-authored an article for The House Magazine – Parliament’s in-house magazine – about the launch of the APPG on Less Survivable Cancers.
This year, the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce held drop-in events for parliamentarians in Scotland and Wales. We were delighted to be able to attend these events and meet with so many MSPs and MSs about the need to close the deadly cancer gap.
These events are an amazing opportunity for politicians to learn more about the less survivable cancers and meet with people personally affected by them so they can better understand the impacts these cancers have. We wanted to say a huge thank you to our Charity Ambassadors for attending the events and sharing their experiences.
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