Brain Tumour Awareness: Coverage and Support When You Need It Most
Brain Tumour Awareness: Coverage and Support When You Need It Most
Why Should We Care About Brain Tumour Awareness?
Grab your favourite hats!
This Friday the 28th March is "Wear A Hat Day" - a brilliantly simple but powerful day dedicated to raising awareness of all types of brain tumours in aid of Brain Tumour Research. It's just one highlight of Brain Tumour Awareness Month, which kicks off every March.
This awareness month was launched back in 2004 by the passionate folks who founded Brain Tumour Research, and it shines a light on something that doesn't get nearly enough attention – the shocking lack of funding for brain tumour research in the UK.
Working at The Insurance Dog, I've noticed something that many clients overlook. Benign brain tumours consistently rank among the top five conditions people claim for on their critical illness policies. Yet few people understand how these policies actually cover brain tumours until they're facing a diagnosis. Let's change that.
Brain Tumours: The Basics
Brain tumours aren't all the same – far from it.
When doctors talk about brain tumours, they're usually referring to one of two types:
Primary tumours pop up right in the brain itself or in the protective layers (called meninges) that wrap around it. These originate in the brain.
Secondary tumours are uninvited guests – cancer cells that have travelled from somewhere else in the body and set up camp in the brain. Doctors call this metastasising.
Here's something that surprised me when I first learned it – there are over 120 different types of brain tumours! They can appear anywhere in the brain or spinal cord and get their names from the type of cell they develop from.
Doctors typically sort them into two main groups:
"Benign" tumours grow slowly, tend to stay put rather than spreading, and often don't need treatments beyond surgery. But don't let the word "benign" fool you – these can still cause serious problems.
Malignant tumours contain cells that look abnormal under a microscope and grow quickly. These typically need more aggressive treatment.
Many doctors now avoid using the term "benign" since it can be misleading. Instead, they prefer using a numerical grading system or simply saying "non-malignant."
Real People, Real Stories
The Three Tumours project has collected some truly moving stories of survival. Reading these accounts really brings home how a diagnosis can flip someone's life upside down in a heartbeat.
It's shocking to think that brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 in the UK than any other cancer. Even more shocking? Only 1% of the national cancer research budget has historically gone towards brain tumours. That's just not right.
What About Critical Illness Cover?
When I'm sitting down with clients to go through protection options, I always make sure they understand how their policy would handle brain tumours:
If cancer spreads to the brain (secondary brain tumours), it's covered under the standard cancer definitions in the policy
Malignant primary brain tumours likewise fall under cancer definitions
Benign brain tumours usually qualify for claims if they either cause ongoing symptoms or require specific treatments
Most insurers will pay out if the brain tumour:
Causes symptoms that don't go away, or
Requires treatment – typically surgery
I've noticed more insurers are now including radiotherapy and chemotherapy as qualifying treatments in their policies. This matters because treatment options keep evolving, and policies need to keep pace.
How Are Brain Tumours Treated?
Treatment really depends on what type of tumour you're dealing with, where it's located, and its grade:
Surgery is still the go-to treatment for tumours that can be safely reached
Radiotherapy might be used alone or alongside surgery
Chemotherapy isn't common for benign tumours but may be used for malignant ones
Newer techniques like stereotactic radiosurgery (precise, high-dose radiation) are becoming more available
As The Three Tumours project emphasises in their awareness work, we desperately need more research to improve treatments and quality of life for people diagnosed with brain tumours.
The Hard Facts
The numbers tell a sobering story:
Over 12,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with brain and central nervous system tumours every year
That's about 3% of all new cancer cases
Brain tumour rates have jumped by nearly 40% since the early 1990s
Each year, 16,000 UK families hear the devastating news of a brain tumour diagnosis
It's the deadliest cancer for people under 40
Want to Help? Here's How
The Three Tumours project suggests several ways to get involved:
Follow their social accounts and share their posts (it takes seconds but helps spread awareness)
Chuck a few quid towards TTT when you can
Join a fundraising event – from bake sales to marathons, there's something for everyone
Share your story if you've been affected
As protection advisers, we also help by making sure our clients understand exactly what their critical illness cover includes and why robust protection matters.
In a Nutshell
Brain Tumour Awareness Month reminds us that while we've come a long way, we've got miles to go in fighting this devastating disease. At The Insurance Dog, we believe that proper protection planning, combined with greater awareness and research funding, offers both financial security and hope for better treatments down the road.
Want to learn more about brain tumour research and support? Visit The Three Tumours website.
Written by Daniel at The Insurance Dog, with thanks to Protection Guru's medical panel and The Three Tumours project.
Need Insurance Help in Washington, North-East England?
If you're in Washington and thinking, "I need an insurance broker near me who actually gets this stuff," then give us a shout at The Insurance Dog.
As a Washington-based insurance adviser, I've helped countless local families ensure they're properly covered for life's what-ifs – including critical illness policies that provide meaningful coverage for conditions like brain tumours.
Whether you're in Washington town centre or just outside, our team knows the ins and outs of protection policies and can translate the complex insurance jargon into plain English.
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Looking for a friendly insurance broker near you in Washington? Our office is just down the road, and we're always happy to put the kettle on and chat through your protection needs. No pressure, no jargon – just honest advice from a Washington insurance adviser who cares about getting you properly covered.
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