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The Orchard Practice
Brain Tumour Awareness Month
Brain Tumour Awareness Month aims to shine a light on the challenges faced by individuals diagnosed with brain tumours and to promote research into better treatments and outcomes.
- Each year, various organisations (including Brain Tumour Research and Macmillan) lead initiatives to raise awareness and funds for research into this often-overlook condition.
- Brain tumours can affect people of any age, including children, although they tend to be more common in older adults.
- More than 12,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour in the UK each year, of which about half are cancerous. Many others are diagnosed with a secondary brain tumour.
What is a brain tumour?
A brain tumour is a growth of cells in the brain that multiplies in an abnormal, uncontrollable way.
- Grades and types of brain tumour - Brain tumours are graded according to how fast they grow and how likely they are to grow back after treatment.
- Grade 1 and 2 tumours are low grade, and grade 3 and 4 tumours are high grade.
There are 2 main types of brain tumours
- non-cancerous (benign) brain tumours – these are low grade, which means they grow slowly and are less likely to return after treatment
- cancerous (malignant) brain tumours – these are high grade and either start in the brain (primary) or spread into the brain from elsewhere (secondary); they're more likely to grow back after treatment.
Signs & symptoms
The symptoms of a brain tumour vary depending on the exact part of the brain affected. Common symptoms include:
- headaches (particularly if different from your usual type of headache or if they're getting much worse.
- seizures (fits)
- persistently feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting) and drowsiness
- mental or behavioural changes, such as memory problems or changes in personality
- progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
- vision or speech problems
Sometimes you may not have any symptoms to begin with, or they may develop very slowly over time.
How to get involved in your community
Wear a hat day on Friday 27th march 2026
Whether you favour a fedora, sport a sombrero or pop on a Panama – whatever your style – by wearing a hat and holding a fundraising event, you'll help bring hope to the one in three people who knows someone affected by a brain tumour.
Learn more aboout Wear A Hat Day
If wearing a hat isn't for you, there are a variety of other fundraising events happening:
- Follow the Seagulls (50 miles, 2 days, on foot)
- Find meaningful ways to fundraise for Macmillan
- Do your own fundraising for Cancer Research UK
Donate
Contribute to organisations that fund brain tumour research, support services, and awareness campaigns.
Volunteer your time
- Volunteering with Brainstrust, brain tumour charity
- Volunteering with Macmillan Cancer Support
- Volunteering with Cancer Research UK
Share your story
Share personal stories via social media to help spread awareness and inspire others.
Published: Mar 1, 2026