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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Curing Childhood Brain Cancer

  • Submitted by: Kenneth Gibson, Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Monday, 13 January 2020
  • Motion reference: S5M-20407

That the Parliament notes that Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), also known as brainstem cancer, is a type of brain tumour that forms in part of the brainstem known as the pons, a crucial part of the brain that controls vital functions such as breathing, which cannot be operated on due to its location within the brainstem and cannot be treated with chemotherapy; acknowledges that DIPG affects between 20 and 30 children in the UK each year, with a typical life expectancy of only nine to 12 months after diagnosis, yet no significant developments have been made in treatment since the 1960s and no new drugs have been licensed to treat brain cancer in adults or children for 20 years; applauds the work of Cancer Research UK, the Brain Tumor Charity and Abbie's Army; recognises that the Institute of Cancer Research has recently made some progress with its research but considers that much more funding is needed to help speed up the pace of developments leading to improved prospects for patients; highlights Public Petition PE1783, which "calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to raise public awareness of harder to treat childhood cancers and to provide additional funding to finding cures", which can be accessed via the Parliament's website and signed until 19 February 2020, and urges all Members to sign the petition and raise awareness of the petition and DIPG within their respective communities.


Supported by: Clare Adamson, Willie Coffey, Neil Findlay, Jenny Gilruth, Emma Harper, Bill Kidd, Richard Lyle, Fulton MacGregor, Rona Mackay, Ruth Maguire, Gillian Martin, Joan McAlpine, Mark McDonald, Stuart McMillan, Pauline McNeill, Alex Neil, Gil Paterson, Stewart Stevenson, David Torrance, Maureen Watt, Sandra White