Yesterday, NHS Scotland published updates to the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Brain Cancer. We were delighted to have helped inform and shape the key changes that have been announced. These include: A clearer distinction of what warrants a referral to an emergency setting versus using an urgent suspicion of cancer pathway. Inclusion of ‘Headache Plus’ symptoms, which include a combination of headache symptoms for GPs to look out fo,r which can indicate a greater chance of it being a potential brain tumour. A note that GP direct access to imaging referrals must be delivered urgently to avoid delay in diagnosis. Reference to the use of a Semantic Verbal Fluency Test (SVFT) as a good practice point. The SVFT is described as a quick test (‘how many animals can you name in a minute’) which can be done easily in practice. Additionally, our Better Safe Than Tumour website is now included within the guidance as a reference point to see more information on possible signs and symptoms. It’s important to share that the guidance is used by primary care professionals across Scotland to identify people who are most likely to have cancer and is not intended to be used by the general public. We hope the updates to this guidance is a step to enabling a faster, better diagnosis to be achieved for those affected by brain tumours and we look forward to continuing to engage with stakeholders in Scotland to ensure this happens If you would like to find out more information on the changes that have been made, read our blog here: (fb)

Did you know that only 10% of all research breakthroughs in the laboratory actually make it through to viable treatments? For the first time, we’re funding translational research for brain tumours to help change this. We’ve awarded £1.2 million across three pioneering projects that aim to bridge the gap between discovery and real-world treatment. Each project will receive up to £400,000 over 18 months to answer a critical question: Can this innovation move closer to the clinic – or is it time to stop and refocus? This type of funding helps promising ideas succeed or fail faster. It’s about speeding up progress, avoiding dead ends, and making sure those affected by this devastating disease benefit from breakthroughs sooner. Learn more about our new award by heading to the link in our bio. #BrainTumours #BrainTumourAwareness #AccelerateACure #LiveLongerAndBetter #Research #TranslationalResearch #Explore #Treatments #Glioblastoma #BrainCancer (fb)