A brain tumour is an abnormal growth or mass inside or on the lining of the brain. 

Brain tumours can be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).

Primary brain tumours develop from cells within the brain or in the linings of the brain.

Secondary brain tumours develop when cancer cells from another part of the body spread to the brain.

There are more than 130 different types of brain tumours, most of which are named after the cells where they arise from.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence in brain tumours in partnership with The Walton Centre and North Wales Cancer Centre. 

About brain tumours 

A brain tumour is a rare diagnosis. In the UK, around 12,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour every year. 

Brain tumours can cause different symptoms depending on where the tumour is, what size it is and how aggressive it is. 

  • Headaches – especially a headache that lasts for a long time, does not get better with simple pain relief and gets worse over time
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Changes to your vision
  • Weakness or unusual feelings in your face, hands, arms, feet or legs
  • Problems with communication or speech
  • Confusion
  • Personality changes
  • Dizziness
  • Seizures

See a GP if you have these types of symptoms, particularly if you have a headache that feels different from usual or if headaches are getting worse.

Having any of these symptoms does not mean you definitely have a brain tumour – they can be caused by other reasons – but you should get them checked. 

Treatment at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre 

Treatment depends on a range of factors including the type, size, grade and location of your tumour. It may also depend on your age, general health and genetic factors (linked to the DNA changes in your cells) that tell us how your tumour developed. 

Treatment options can include one or more of the following:

  • Surgery – this may be before, during or after other treatments
  • Drug therapies such as chemotherapy
  • Radiotherapy 

When you are diagnosed, your care will be discussed at a multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) where different specialists will consider the best treatment options for you. Your doctor will discuss this with you so you can decide what is right for you.

At The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, we provide specialist treatment for people with brain tumours. Our treatments include systemic anti-cancer therapies (such as chemotherapy) and radiotherapy. 

We also work closely with surgical teams in other hospitals to plan and coordinate your care every step of the way.

We are a Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence in brain tumours in partnership with The Walton Centre and North Wales Cancer Centre.

Systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) 

Chemotherapy – drugs that aim to kill cancer cells – can be used in the treatment of brain tumours.

Find out more about systemic anti-cancer therapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. 

Radiotherapy 

Radiotherapy uses high-dose x-ray beams that are targeted precisely at the tumour. When treating brain tumours, radiotherapy aims to destroy cells that are actively multiplying to prevent or slow down any further growth of the tumour.

There are different types of radiotherapy – your clinical team will discuss the most appropriate and effective for your tumour type with you.

The radiotherapy treatments we offer for brain tumours include:

  • Traditional external beam radiotherapy – where radiation is targeted and delivered from outside of the body directly to the tumour
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery – a very precise way of targeting radiotherapy at certain tumour types

Find out more about radiotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. 

Research and trials of new cancer treatments are an important part of our work. Your consultant will tell you about any clinical trials that may be suitable for you.

You are also very welcome to ask us about clinical trials during your appointments. We will be happy to answer any questions you have. 

Find out more about clinical trials. 

We have a multi-site model where we visit hospitals across Cheshire and Merseyside to provide treatment and consultations closer to patients’ homes. 

We provide systemic anti-cancer therapies at the following sites:

  • Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool
  • Outreach services to the Isle of Man

We provide radiotherapy for brain tumours at the following sites: 

  • Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool
  • Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Wirral

Clinical trials for brain tumours are delivered at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool.

Our new patient consultation appointments take place at The Walton Centre – your appointment will be with specialists from The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. 

Our team

The team consists of clinical oncologists, clinical nurse specialists, radiographers, pharmacy, research practitioners, administrative support and a cancer support worker. 

Our operational management team makes sure the service runs smoothly.

Clinical Oncologists

Dr Chloë May – Neuro-Oncology Site Reference Group Lead
Dr Shaveta Mehta – Deputy Director of Clinical Research
Dr Aditya Shenoy

Trainee Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Jillian Sokratous

Clinical Nurse Specialists

Jan Holding
Antonia Thorpe 

Cancer Support Workers

Ronda Verinder

Further information

Our Cancer Information and Support Centres  can provide individualised help and support for patients and families affected by cancer. The team’s main base is in Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool but they also work at our Aintree and Wirral hospitals.

There are also local Macmillan services in other hospitals across our region.

External sites that offer extra support and information about different types of brain tumours include:

Specialist support