Our Information and Support Days are free to attend for brain tumour patients and their friends, family and carers, thanks to funding from the Big Lottery Fund. As well as hearing talks from a range of health professionals, attendees appreciate talking to others who are able to identify with their situation, and finding out from one another about support and resources in their area.
We hold our information days away from hospitals, in hotels, to enable a relaxed and informal setting. Although the subject matter can be highly emotive, people often comment on enjoying the social aspect of the day and leave feeling positive and less alone. Here is what some previous attendees have said:
“Hugely beneficial and informative talks”, Nottingham 2011 information day attendee
“I liked the opportunity to meet others in similar position and being in a room where it’s “normal” to be living with a brain tumour”, Brighton 2011 information day attendee
“I really liked the atmosphere of the day”, London 2011 information day attendee
The days involve presentations by professionals in the brain tumour field, such as neurosurgeons, neuro-oncologists and specialist nurses, who generously donate their time to make these events such a success. Patients and carers also share their own experiences and the events give attendees a chance to meet and chat during lunch and coffee breaks.
Healthcare professionals are welcome to attend to support their learning and development. We charge a small fee to cover the cost of these places, currently £50 for non-London events and £70 for the London day.
Typical topics covered include:
- Epilepsy
- Memory loss
- Coping with a brain tumour diagnosis
- Treatments
- Financial advice and the help available
Future events (2012)
Just click on the links above to more information, venue details and draft programmes (when available).
If you would like to attend, simply either complete our simple registration form online or download a registration form, complete it and post/email it to us
Past events
2012 Information Days:
23rd March – Oxford
The Oxford information day concluded our series of information days held during Brain Tumour Awareness Month. The day was attended by patients and their carers, as well as health professionals. One person commented that they enjoyed “meeting people with personal experiences and learning from them as experts, as well as the professionals”. The day included talks on the psychological impacts of living with a brain tumour, neuro-imaging, gamma knife Stereotactic radiosurgery and clinical trials, and gave people the opportunity to ask questions and share their own experiences. The day finished with an inspiring talk from a patient, which one attendee described as “Life affirming. Amazing ending to the day!”
16th March – London
Around 50 people joined us in London for a supportive day and packed programme of information. Separate sessions ran that were relevant to both adult and childhood brain tumours and attendees heard specialists speak on managing epilepsy, clinical trials, neurosurgery and complementary therapy. Attendees commented on the day saying that it included “a good range of sessions”, “overall an excellent day – could not have been better”and “always good to understand more about the medical aspects of a brain tumour”. The audience also heard moving and inspirational perspectives from two patients that they were able to speak to in greater depth following their talks.
2nd March – Newcastle
We were joined by around 40 people in Newcastle on 2nd March for a day of support and information on both adult and childhood brain tumours. Those in the audience heard talks from neuro-surgeons, neuro-psychologists and a talk on developing resilience and living well after treatment from Macmillan reader, Dr. Karen Roberts.
Here is what some of the attendees said:
- “Just to say a big THANK YOU for the information day. We found it very helpful”
- “All the sessions were very good and well presented”
- “If you had another information day nearby, I would definitely attend”.
3 February – Bristol
30 people joined us in Bristol to hear informative talks on advances in chemotherapy, clinical trials, the role of the MDT and how to live well with cancer. We also heard inspiring stories from a carer’s perspective from David and Pippa Morton and a patient’s perspective from Gary Lines. Feedback included:
- “A very informative day. A good mix of inspirational technical input and real life stories.”
- “Excellent day with a good variety of speakers. Thank you.”
- “Broad picture from perspectives and a good overview of what is happening with brain tumours from the patient to cutting edge research.”
2011 Information and Support Days:
4 November 2011 – Coventry Information Day
Over 60 people joined us in Coventry for, as one attendee commented, “a very beneficial day for all”. Patients and their carers came together to hear talks on topics as diverse as surgery, epilepsy, welfare benefits and driving in the adult sessions. In the paediatric sessions, we heard from a play specialist who supports children through the radiotherapy process, a clinical director of children’s clinical trials, and a talk on opportunities to improve treatment for children. Those in attendance commented on what a positive experience they found the day to be. One person said it was “one of the most informative sessions I have attended”, while another appreciated “the opportunity to meet people local to us that had a brain tumour too”.
7 October 2011 – Brighton Information Day
Click here to read a round-up of the Brighton Information Day
24 June 2011 – Nottingham Information Day
The Nottingham information day was well attended and delegates appreciated a varied programme that gave them an opportunity to hear talks from health professionals, ranging from complementary therapists and neuro-psychologists to surgeons, oncologists and a researcher, as well as an inspirational talk by a patient. A parent from the paediatric sessions commented that there was “a good range of talks from different disciplines”. Several people also remarked on the pleasant atmosphere and “environment where people felt comfortable to talk”, and highly valued meeting others “walking a similar path”.
17 June 2011 - Leeds Information Day
Patients, their families and carers heard from a variety of health professionals at the Leeds information day, including Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Dr. Paul Hatfield, who gave a very informative talk on Gamma Knife radiosurgery as a treatment option. Psychological issues, research developments and advances in surgical treatments were also covered in a day that was described by one delegate as, “really informative, good variety of speaker topics. I have learnt a lot”. In addition, a patient gave an insightful talk on her experience of living with a brain tumour.
25 March 2011 – Cardiff Information Day
The Cardiff information day covered a broad range of topics including fatigue management, treatment options, and communication and psychology for families. As one individual who attended the paediatric sessions said: “There was a good combination of ‘medical’ oriented talks and perspectives from others like a parent and play therapist”. We were also fortunate in having two local Macmillan benefits advisors who gave a talk outlining the service and brought a wealth of useful information for patients and carers to take away. Attendees welcomed the opportunity to meet one another and to ask questions of the attending clinicians.
11 March 2011 – Glasgow Information Day
SDBTT landed in Glasgow for a day of useful information from locally-based brain tumour experts and the opportunity for patients, families and carers to meet one another. As usual, the day covered both adult and paediatric brain tumours, and included a range of topics, such as clinical trials, Macmillan benefits advice and developments in brain tumour surgery. Attendees commented on how informative the day was and that the speakers’ talks were pitched at a good level.
4 March 2011 – London Patient and Carer Information Day
Our London Brain Tumour Information Day was very successful with over 60 patients, carers and healthcare professionals coming together to hear from, and ask questions of, leading neuro-oncologists, neuro-surgeons and other experts in the brain tumour field. Those who attended appreciated the wide range of topics that were presented on, as well as the opportunity to meet one another and share experiences.
Previous venues:
19 November 2010 – Southampton
01 October 2010 – Belfast
19 March 2010 – Edinburgh
27 November 2009 – Liverpool
02 November 2009 – Leicester
08 June 2009 – Newcastle
11 May 2009 – London
In addition to our Information and Support Days, you can contact our national helpline on 0808 800 0004 between 9am and 5pm Monday-Friday. You can also email us at support@sdbtt.co.uk.