A mother whose 17-year-old daughter died after being diagnosed with a brain tumour is pleading for better diagnosis and treatment to prevent other families from going through the same tragedy. Sarah Smith's daughter, Emily, was diagnosed with a brain tumour two weeks ago, but unfortunately, she passed away after a short battle with the disease. Sarah is now campaigning for better brain tumour diagnosis and treatment, saying her daughter's death must not be in vain.
According to the charity Brain Tumour Research, the UK has one of the lowest brain tumour diagnosis rates in Europe. The charity claims that this is due to a lack of dedicated neurosurgical units and a shortage of specialist brain tumour nurses. Brain Tumour Research estimates that only 42% of brain tumour patients in the UK are diagnosed correctly, compared to 73% in the US.
Sarah's story has sparked a national conversation about the need for better brain tumour diagnosis and treatment. She has launched a petition calling on the government to increase funding for brain tumour research and to improve diagnosis rates. The petition has already gained thousands of signatures, with many people sharing their own stories of loved ones who have been affected by brain tumours.
Shadow Health Secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, has responded to Sarah's story, saying: 'The tragic death of a young person due to a lack of effective diagnosis and treatment is a stark reminder of the need for urgent action. We need to see a significant increase in funding for brain tumour research and improved diagnosis rates.'
The government has been approached for comment, but so far, there has been no response.