What Are The Causes Of Brain Freeze Or ‘Ice Cream Headache’?

Brain freeze is the common name for sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, which is a severe head pain triggered by consuming cold foods or drinks. For this reason, it’s often referred to as the ‘ice cream headache.’ The pain hits when the cold substance comes into contact with the roof of the mouth (palate) at the back of the throat.

Here’s a look at the symptoms, why brain freeze happens, how it can be managed or treated, and what to do if you suspect you have this condition.

What causes brain freeze?

The exact causes of brain freeze are not fully understood, but it’s thought that it’s linked to the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for sensory communication between the brain and the face. When this nerve is activated by very cold temperatures, the blood vessels rapidly constrict and then dilate.

In some people, the sudden rush of blood is thought to be misinterpreted by the trigeminal nerve as pain. Not everyone has this reaction, so it’s likely that some people have more sensitive nerves than others. There’s some evidence to suggest a link between brain freeze and migraines.

The name sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia refers to the sphenopalatine ganglion, a group of nerve cells involved in facial sensation that are situated near to the roof of the mouth.

What are the symptoms of brain freeze?

Brain freeze is triggered by eating or drinking something cold, and is characterized by a brief intense pain in the forehead or temples. The pain occurs immediately after contact with the chilled substance, such as ice cream, an iced lolly, or a slushy iced drink. Occasionally, the pain may also be triggered by sudden exposure to very low environmental temperatures.

It is usually experienced as a sharp stabbing sensation that recedes quickly, typically within a minute or two and always within ten to 30 minutes after the cold stimulus has been removed. If it goes on for longer than that, this pain may have another cause and requires further investigation.

How is brain freeze treated?

Brain freeze is considered to be medically harmless, so treatment is not always necessary if the pain is very brief. Avoiding very cold foods is the most obvious way to manage the condition.

If you would still like to enjoy ice cream and other chilled foods, you could try warming your palate with a hot drink first, or warming the cold food in your mouth before swallowing it. Taking painkillers is not considered to be effective because of the sudden and temporary nature of the pain.

However, trigeminal neuralgia involves the trigeminal nerve, which is also implicated in brain freeze. Although brain freeze itself is harmless, persistent or unusual facial pain could indicate trigeminal neuralgia or another condition requiring professional attention.

Warning signs that you need to take further action

If you experience frequent sudden intense headaches that aren’t always triggered by cold, or are accompanied by other symptoms, it’s strongly recommended to seek medical advice. In rare cases, there may be another underlying cause for the pain, including a brain tumour, cluster headache or stroke.

For example, if you also notice eyesight changes such as blurred vision, it may be a migraine headache. You may also notice flashing lights, zig-zagging lights or a rainbow of lights, known as an aura, which often arrives before the headache and lasts for about 20 minutes. Other symptoms include light sensitivity, nausea and vomiting.

Occasionally, headaches and vision changes may be caused by a brain tumour. Other common symptoms include seizures, sickness, memory problems, behavioural changes or changes in personality, and progressive weakness or paralysis down one side of the body.

These symptoms should be checked by a GP, particularly if they are unusual for you or your headache feels different from any you have experienced before.

Repeated pain associated with the trigeminal nerve could signal conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia, which require specialised treatment.

If you would like further information about face pain, trigeminal neuralgia treatment and nerves damage, please contact Mr. Jonathan Hyam of Amethyst Radiotherapy.

Davina McCall Recovering in Care After Rare Brain Tumour Surgery

UK television presenter Davina McCall is currently recovering after undergoing surgery to remove a rare, benign brain tumour. Known for her roles in programmes such as Long Lost Family and Your Mum, My Dad, McCall revealed that the 14mm tumour, a colloid cyst, was discovered during a routine health scan offered after a menopause talk earlier this year.

Discovery of a Rare Condition: Colloid Cysts

McCall candidly shared her journey with her fans, explaining, “I thought I was in great health and would pass the scan with flying colours. Instead, they found a benign brain tumour called a colloid cyst, which is incredibly rare—only three in a million people are affected.”

Colloid cysts are fluid-filled growths located in the brain’s ventricular system, where they can obstruct the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). While benign, untreated growth may lead to complications such as headaches, dizziness, vision problems, and, in severe cases, loss of consciousness. According to experts, colloid cysts make up less than 2% of primary brain tumours, often discovered incidentally or during imaging for unrelated issues.

A Complex Surgery

To address the issue, McCall underwent a craniotomy, a surgical procedure involving the temporary removal of a portion of the skull. The surgery was described as “textbook” by her medical team. Sharing her optimism with followers, McCall said, “It’s a big tumour, and it needed to come out before it could cause any further problems. I have complete faith in my surgeon and his team. Now it’s my job to focus on recovery.”

Post-surgery, McCall is reported to be making significant progress. Her partner, Michael Douglas, provided updates via social media, stating: “She’s out of ICU and making enormous leaps in recovery. We’re so grateful for all the love and support from everyone—it means the world.”

The Recovery Journey

McCall is expected to spend about nine days in the hospital before returning home to continue her recovery. Douglas shared that McCall is “off-grid” for now to focus entirely on getting better. “She’s in great shape and excellent hands. The love and positivity coming her way is truly powerful, and we’re so thankful,” he said.

Despite being physically and emotionally exhausted, McCall has expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support and encouragement she’s received. She reassured fans that she will take the time needed to recover fully and hopes to read through the many kind messages sent her way.

Raising Awareness for Brain Tumours

By sharing her experience so openly, McCall has drawn attention to the importance of routine health checks and raised awareness about rare brain tumours like colloid cysts. Organisations like Brainstrust and The Brain Tumour Charity have praised her for shedding light on this little-known condition, which they believe will help others feel less isolated.

Will Jones, CEO of Brainstrust, commented: “Davina’s transparency and courage are invaluable to those living with similar diagnoses. Her story provides hope and a sense of community to many who may otherwise feel overlooked.”

A Legacy Beyond TV

Known as a vocal advocate for women’s health, McCall has contributed significantly to public discussions about issues such as menopause and contraception. Her 2022 book, Menopausing: The Positive Roadmap to Your Second Spring, aimed to dispel myths and stigma surrounding menopause.

In 2023, McCall received an MBE for her contributions to broadcasting and her advocacy efforts, cementing her place as a role model for health awareness and empowerment.

As McCall focuses on her recovery, she continues to inspire others with her strength, openness, and dedication to improving public understanding of rare health conditions.

For more information about brain tumour treatments and support, explore the services available at https://amethyst-radiotherapy.co.uk/.

Boston-London-Toronto Collaborative Clinical Neuroscience Meeting in London – 2nd Edition

On Friday 15th November, the Boston – London – Toronto Paediatric Neurovascular Collaboration Meeting will be taking place at Queen Square in London. This prestigious event will bring together three of the world’s leading children’s hospitals for a full day of debate, insights, and collaboration.

The morning session will be hosted at Great Ormond Street Hospital, while the afternoon session will take place at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, showcasing a seamless exchange of knowledge and innovation in paediatric neurovascular care.

Proud Supporters of Clinical Neuroscience

Amethyst Radiotherapy UK is proud to support the Boston–London–Toronto Collaborative Clinical Neuroscience Meeting, led by esteemed paediatric neurosurgeon Consultant Gregory James. Our continued sponsorship underscores our commitment to advancing research and clinical practices in this critical field.

Last year, we were honoured to sponsor the inaugural conference. More details about the collaboration can be found on the official BLT website.

Bringing Together Global Experts

The conference will feature leading specialists from:

  • Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard University (B)
  • Great Ormond Street Hospital UK and Children’s Charity (L)
  • SickKids Foundation, Toronto (T)

This gathering provides a platform for sharing cutting-edge research and clinical practices aimed at redefining paediatric neurovascular care.

Full Schedule

Morning Session

  • Venue: Leopard Seminar Room, Level 2, Premier Inn Clinical Building, Great Ormond Street Hospital
  • 10:00 AM: Welcome remarks – Greg James (L), Ed Smith (B), Peter Dirks (T)
  • 10:10 AM Neurovascular taxonomy – a proposed system Ed Smith (B)
  • 10:30 AM Oncogenes and vascular malformations Anoushka Alwis (L)
  • 10:50 AM Experience of our hyperacute stroke pathway – beware of the mimics! Samyami Chowdhury (T)
  • 11:10 AM Intervention for paediatric stroke – beyond structural lesions and into functional rehabilitation Alfred Pokmeng See (B)
  • 11:30 AM Metameric craniofacial AV malformations – a case series of individualised treatment and systematic review of treatment strategies in the literature Dulanka Silva
  • 11:50 AM Defining the “hungry brain” in moyamoya Laura Lehman (B)
  • 12:10 AM Lunch – Café @ 42-43 Queen Square

Afternoon Session

  • Venue: Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Queen Mary Wing, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
  • 1:00 PM Regulation of cerebral microvascular blood flow by the TMEM16A anion channel: implications for therapy Paolo Tammaro, Professor of Pharmacology, Oxford University
  • 2:00 PM Are brain AVMs congenital or developmental? Evidence from incidence in childhood Darren Orbach (B)
  • 2:20 PM The relationship between neuroimaging metrics and cognitive function in paediatric moyamoya disease Charlotte Malcolm (L)
  • 2:40 PM Cavernous malformations – current updates & guidelines from the Angioma Alliance and novel mechanistic targets from the lab Ed Smith (B)
  • 3:00 PM Break
  • 3:20 PM Intraoperative EEG in moyamoya surgery – can we predict early post-operative TIA/stroke? Greg James (L)
  • 3:40 PM Recurrent brain AVMs: the SickKids series Peter Dirks (T)
  • 4:00 PM Cerebral arteriopathy phenotypes in PHACES Vijeya Ganesan (L)
  • 4:20 PM The direction of intervention on cerebral proliferative angiopathy Alfred Pokmeng See (B)
  • 4:40 PM Challenging case discussion BLT
  • 5:30 PM Final remarks and thank you Greg James and London team
  • 5:30 PM Drinks reception – Café @ 42-43 Queen Square
  • 7:30 PM Drinks and fun – Sixes Cricket Fitzrovia, 170 Great Portland Street

 

At Amethyst Radiotherapy UK, we are proud to support this remarkable collaboration, fostering innovation and progress in paediatric neurovascular health. We look forward to the impactful discussions and future advancements this conference will inspire.

Virus Associated With Common Colds Could Treat Brain Tumours

A genetically engineered virus is being researched as a potential treatment for aggressive brain tumours. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have drawn promising results from a phase I clinical trial involving eight brain cancer patients with glioblastoma.

What is glioblastoma?

Glioblastoma is the most common high-grade brain tumour in adults. It grows quickly, is cancerous and is likely to come back even after it has been treated. The Brain Tumour Charity explains that glioblastomas can take many different forms and they are diffuse, which means that they have tendrils that spread into other parts of the brain.

The lack of defined edges and aggressive growth makes glioblastomas particularly challenging to treat, and sadly most patients survive just 14 months after diagnosis. The first line of treatment is usually neurosurgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, if the patient is well enough to undergo this invasive procedure.

Some patients may additionally be treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In some cases, a type of stereotactic radiotherapy called Gamma Knife surgery may be appropriate. This is a highly specialised non-invasive treatment that does not involve incisions, but is a method of directly highly targeted radiation beams at the tumour from multiple angles.

The precise focus of the radiation beams enables doctors to treat very small areas of the brain without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue. Most patients can be treated in a single session and are able to go home the same day. Compared to other forms of radiotherapy, Gamma Knife is considered to have fewer side effects.

Oncolytic virotherapy: a potential new brain cancer treatment

While Gamma Knife surgery is one potential treatment option, there is always research ongoing to help people recover from brain cancer and other such diseases.

For example, the research team from Queen Mary University of London, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Capital Medical University in Beijing, have developed a form of oncolytic virus, which is linked to the common cold.

These genetically engineered viruses (known as oncolytic virotherapy) are able to target and kill cancer cells while leaving the healthy surrounding cells unharmed, by restricting the release of the virus from the body’s cells. The virus is combined with immune boosting proteins that are then delivered directly to the cancerous cells.

Oncolytic virotherapy has previously been used to successfully treat skin cancer. However, finding the right balance is a difficult process: if the virus dose is too high, the risk of damaging side effects is too great. However, a weaker dose will not be able to tackle the cancer cells.

Professor Yaohe Wang, co-lead author of the study and inventor of the virus being tested, explained:“Most existing oncolytic viruses are ineffective at low doses and too toxic at higher doses. The key challenge is how to increase efficacy without causing harmful side effects. We believe our approach offers a way forward.”

He added: “I was introduced to the patient who had a complete response to the treatment, who shook my hand and thanked me. I was extremely touched by the experience, and it reinforced the potential of this therapy and the necessity to continue working hard on its development.”

“It’s like Yin and Yang. This virus enhances the positive signals that encourage the immune system to attack the tumour, but it could also be paired with treatments that block the tumour’s ability to suppress the immune system.”

Progression to phase II trials

After the phase I trial, one patient was in complete remission, and no serious side effects were observed. The treatment has been judged to be safe and effective for further development. The research team now plans to progress to phase II clinical trials on larger groups of patients, and will expand the research to include other cancer types.

However, while oncolytic virotherapy offers future potential, Gamma Knife surgery remains one of the most effective and minimally invasive treatments available today.

For further information about brain stem tumours glioblastoma treatment, please contact Mr Ciaran Hill of Amethyst Radiotherapy.

Understanding Employment Rights For Brain Tumour Patients

A brain tumour diagnosis is a distressing experience: as well as the physical and emotional impact, there are practicalities to consider, not least income and employment. It may be necessary to take medical leave from a job for example, with no clear timescale for when it will be safe to return due to the brain tumour treatment.

What are your employment rights after a brain tumour diagnosis?

According to Brain Tumour Support, it’s not obligatory to tell an employer about a brain tumour diagnosis unless it affects your ability to do your job. However, sometimes a brain tumour can cause symptoms such as memory loss, fatigue, eyesight problems, or changes in behaviour or thinking.

It is likely that you will also need to take time off to attend medical appointments even if you do not believe that your ability to work is impaired. Under the The Equality Act 2010, your legal rights to be treated without discrimination are protected.

A brain tumour may be classed as a disability, and your employer must put reasonable adjustments in place to support you. A disability is defined as “having a long-term physical or mental impairment which has a substantial adverse effect on your ability to carry out day-to-day activities.”

“Reasonable adjustments” could involve providing accessible equipment, and training staff members in how to deal with a seizure. You also have the right to be protected from unfair treatment, harassment and victimisation, and your employer should find ways to support you to continue working if you are classed as medically fit enough to do so.

If the time you need to take off exceeds the company’s sick leave allowance, you are entitled to claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). Some companies also have their own long-term sick pay schemes. Furthermore, if your partner or a family member needs to take time off work to support you, they may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance.

The importance of knowing your rights

Unfortunately, not all employers are aware or willing to comply with the regulations. The Brain Tumour Charity reports on the difficult experience of Grace, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was working as a hairdresser in Stockport, Greater Manchester, in October 2022, aged 28.

Grace’s mother Carmel is a former neurosurgical nurse, and was immediately worried when Grace was admitted to hospital following a seizure that left her lips blue.

Carmel said: “We now know that she’d had a tonic clinic seizure, and that she had been having nocturnal seizures for some time. When a consultant and a nurse came to talk to us about the scan results, I knew from my nursing days that things were serious.”

“Grace was diagnosed with epilepsy and a left frontal operculum brain tumour. It was the irritation of the mass that was causing her seizures.”

Following the diagnosis, Grace was signed off work for six weeks, and she took medication to control her seizures. Her GP recommended that she should make a phased return to work in January 2023, attending for two days per week.

Grace enjoyed her job and was looking forward to returning to the salon to catch up with her colleagues and clients. However, her manager was obstructive and did not accept the GP’s fit note.

Grace explained: “I felt like I was being a burden to the business and my manager and that every time I tried to go back to work, they kept putting barriers in place. I also felt like I was being an inconvenience as I was going to go back on sick leave again for my brain tumour operation.”

“They blamed everything on HR or health and safety advice and wouldn’t accept my GP’s fit for work return.”

Grievance and employment tribunals

Grace eventually launched a formal grievance, which was dismissed, as was the appeal. Eventually, she felt as though resigning was the only option, and she did so in May 2023. After seeking further advice, Grace decided to represent herself at an employment tribunal in April 2024.

Despite the stress of the experience in addition to the effects of the tumour, Grace found the strength to see it through. She said: “The tribunal was scary as I’ve never been in a situation like that before. It was also very upsetting as I thought my work colleagues were my friends. But I saw them in a completely different light following my diagnosis.”

She added: “I knew what they were doing was wrong but representing myself was daunting. The judge and the panel were very understanding and spoke in terms I would understand as I’m not a lawyer.”

“It was intense and upsetting but I’m so glad I did it and got the justice I deserved. Alongside that I wanted to become an advocate for anyone with hidden disabilities because we have rights and cannot be treated this way.”

The final outcome

Fortunately, Grace won her case and she was awarded compensation for lost earnings and injury to feelings, although the employer was found willing to make reasonable adjustments.

The judgement stated: “The respondent might have been better able to explain the approach that they took had they educated themselves about the claimant’s condition. They did not do so. They could have prepared for, and considered, the claimant’s return to work at an earlier stage, prior to immediately before the expiry of the claimant’s previous fit note.”

“They did not obtain occupational health advice about what was required, as they could have done.”

Grace’s story has a happy ending, following successful surgery to remove her brain tumour in October 2023. She’s also got married and found a new job where she feels welcomed and accepted by all of her colleagues.

If you would like more information about brain tumour treatment, please contact Mr Andrew McAvoy of Amethyst Radiotherapy.

Clinical Trial Set For ‘Revolutionary’ Brain Surgery Device

Treating brain tumours is one of the difficult challenges in medicine. In the UK, there are an average of 12,746 new cases diagnosed each year, resulting in 5,456 deaths. Currently, only 11 per cent of brain cancer patients live for ten years or more, and little progress has been made on survival rates for over two decades.

For certain types of brain tumour, one of the most effective methods is Gamma Knife surgery, a noninvasive procedure which involves using computer guided radiation therapy to deliver highly focused gamma rays to the cancer cells. This can target areas of the brain tumour that cannot be reached by traditional neurosurgery, and can target multiple tumours.

What is Gamma Knife surgery?

It’s often used in conjunction with regular surgery to remove the parts of the tumour that were inaccessible or too risky to remove physically. It can also be used as an alternative to surgery if the patient is not a suitable candidate. Traditional neurosurgery involving incisions can be very risky, with the potential for bleeding, infections, and damage to the brain tissue.

However, not all brain tumour patients may be suitable candidates for stereotactic radiosurgery such as Gamma Knife. In some cases the treatment may be focused on extending lifespan by controlling the spread of the malignant cells, rather than eliminating the cancer cells completely.

This may be particularly the case for people with glioblastomas, which are usually very fast growing and aggressive forms of brain tumour without any clear boundaries. This can make them very difficult to treat, and sadly the prognosis for most patients is just one to two years.

A potentially revolutionary approach to surgical brain cancer treatment

There have been no major new breakthroughs in the treatment of brain cancer in the last 20 years, despite ongoing clinical research. However, a groundbreaking new approach to brain cancer surgery is being trialled at Salford Royal Hospital in Greater Manchester, the Guardian reports.

The procedure involves using a chip about the size of a postage stamp that is made out of graphene. This material was invented by a team of scientists at Manchester University 20 years ago, and is only one atom thick, but many times stronger than steel with excellent conductive properties.

The chip is known as a brain-computer interface device, and has been created through an international collaboration of scientists. It is designed to differentiate between the cancer cells and the healthy cells in the brain by detecting electrical impulses, allowing for surgical treatments to be targeted with much greater accuracy.

What the experts have to say

Carolina Aguilar, CEO and Co-Founder of INBRAIN Neuroelectronics, who were involved in the research and development of the device, told Manchester University: “The world’s first human application of a graphene-based BCI highlights the transformative impact of graphene-based neural technologies in medicine.”

She added: “This clinical milestone opens a new era for BCI technology, paving the way for advancements in both neural decoding and its application as a therapeutic intervention,”

Dr. David Coope, the neurosurgeon who performed the breakthrough procedure at Salford Royal, said:

“We are capturing brain activity in areas where traditional metals and materials struggle with signal fidelity. Graphene provides ultra-high density for sensing and stimulating, which is critical to conduct high precision resections while preserving the patient’s functional capacities, such as movement, language or cognition.”

Kostas Kostarelos, a professor of nanomedicine at Manchester, was also one of the team involved in developing the BCI device. He explained to the Guardian: “This is the first ever clinical trial to be performed anywhere in the world with a graphene-based medical device.”

“Its first use will be to differentiate cancer cells from healthy cells to ensure that surgery on brain tumours is directed in a highly accurate way. We can study some electrical signals that are emitted by brain cells. However, those of very low and very high frequency are very difficult to detect in the living brain.”

“Only those in middle-range frequencies can be monitored at present. Crucially, the BCI chip can pinpoint a huge range of electrical signals in the brain, including those of very high and very low frequencies.”

It is hoped that the device can also be used to research and treat other conditions such as stroke and epilepsy.

If you would like some more information about Gamma Knife surgery and brain cancer, please contact Mr Neil Kitchen of Amethyst Radiotherapy.

Pioneering Trial To Test Multiple Brain Cancer Treatments

A groundbreaking new study has been launched to enable brain cancer patients to have their genome sequenced and switch between treatments if need be. The Institute for Cancer Research reports that the study, known as the ‘next-Generation aGile Genomically Guided Glioma platform trial’, also known as the 5G platform trial, is taking place across the UK.

The trial is being funded by Cancer Research UK and the Minderoo Foundation, an Australian charity dedicated to philanthropic causes. The participants in the trial are all living with glioblastoma, which is an aggressive and fast-growing form of brain tumour. 

They will have access to targeted treatments, and the treatment plans can be rapidly adapted during the trial if there are signs that one particular option is not effective. 

Why are glioblastomas difficult to treat?

Glioblastomas are difficult to treat with conventional surgery or radiotherapy, because the tumours do not have clearly defined edges. This makes it almost impossible to remove the whole tumour with physical neurosurgery. 

In some cases, a type of stereotactic radiosurgery called Gamma Knife surgery may be used to target the cancer cells. This involves using an external machine to direct precisely targeted gamma rays at the tumour from multiple angles. 

The accuracy of the machine and the multiple angles mean that high doses of radiation can be used with minimal risk to the surrounding healthy brain tissue. This means that the patient may only need one session of treatment, whereas other forms of radiosurgery may require multiple sessions over several weeks. 

However, in the case of glioblastoma, the cancer cells can unfortunately rapidly grow back. There have been several clinical trials to develop new and more effective treatments for this type of brain tumour over the past 20 years, but unfortunately few significant breakthroughs have been made. 

The 5G Platform trial could offer a long-awaited breakthrough

Dr Juanita Lopez, Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Group Leader in Early Phase Drug Development at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said:

“We have seen progress made in better treating many types of cancer in recent decades, but less so in brain cancers like glioblastoma. The 5G platform trial presents a unique opportunity to work in new and exciting ways to find better treatment options for this patient population.”

Dr Richard Mair, Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and co-lead of the Brain Cancer Virtual Institute at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, said: “Brain cancers like glioblastoma are notoriously difficult to treat. I am excited to co-lead this world-first trial designed with this cancer type in mind.

“The use of whole genome sequencing for every patient on the trial performed in ‘real time’ enables us to be both agile and precise in our drug targeting. We hope that this approach will help patients with this cancer of unmet need.”

Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell said: “Brain tumours are notoriously hard to treat because we still don’t know enough about the biology of the disease, and current treatments are not effective enough.

“This new trial offers something different because researchers will use the DNA of participants to help them target treatments. Whole genome sequencing tests can give clues about how a cancer may have developed, how it will behave and what treatment options would work best.”

“More research is needed, but it is hoped that the technology could one day be used within the NHS to improve the treatment and care of people with cancer.”

The first treatment sites for the 5G trial opened in August this year, and more sites are expected to be launched during the coming months. The trial is open to brain cancer patients aged 16 or above, and will offer the chance to have personalised and cutting edge treatment plans. 

If you would like more information about brain stem tumours and glioblastoma, please contact Mr. Ciaran Hill of Amethyst Radiotherapy. 

Netflix Actor Welcomes New Development In Brain Tumour Drug

The Netflix actor Craig Russell, who has undergone invasive meningioma treatment for a slow-growing brain tumour, has welcomed the news of groundbreaking research by scientists at the University of Plymouth that could potentially lead to less invasive brain tumour treatments.

BBC News reports that the team at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence have discovered that by targeting a protein called Mertk on the surface of the tumour cells with drugs, the tissue growth can be stopped in lab tests. The protein is known to be responsible for the development of other types of cancer.

Father of two Mr Russel, 47, is an actor, writer and producer from Cornwall who has starred in the Netflix series Queen Cleopatra. He was diagnosed with a meningioma last year after suffering months of migraine attacks and brain fog. He has undergone surgery to remove the tumour, which required his skull to be ‘rebuilt’ afterwards.

Commenting on the new research, Mr Russel said: “This development is huge. The surgery to remove my meningioma lasted nearly seven hours. I had to have my skull rebuilt and so even though the tumour is now a thing of the past, I’m still, 18 months later, recovering from surgery.”

He added: “To think that, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, people with low-grade tumours can be treated in this way, means that sufferers and their families won’t have to go through what we did.”

What is meningioma?

Meningiomas are  tumours that start in the layers of tissue that cover the brain and the spinal cord. They are mostly non-cancerous and do not always cause symptoms. They are the most common type of brain tumour diagnosed in the UK according to Cancer Research, accounting for 27 per cent of all diagnosis between 1995 and 2017.

In cases where symptoms are present, these might include seizures, loss of eyesight, hearing loss, and weakness in the arms and legs, but the specific symptoms will depend on the location of the brain tumour.

How are meningiomas treated?

The treatment will depend on whether the tumour is slow or fast growing, and the location of the tumour in the brain. Slow growing or low-grade tumours may be actively monitored with regular MRI scans, and treatment given if the tumour shows signs of growing.

Fast growing or high-grade tumours may be removed with neurosurgery, which involves physically opening up the skull to remove the tumour. If surgery is not possible or if not all of the tumour could be removed, the patient may be offered radiotherapy, or stereotactic radiosurgery.

This involves using highly targeted doses of gamma radiation to kill the tumour cells. The treatment may be delivered in one session, or across multiple sessions, depending on the size and location of the tumour.

Hope for less invasive tumour treatments

It is currently very difficult to treat brain tumours with drugs because of the difficulties in crossing the blood-brain barrier, which is a dense network of cells that lines the blood vessels of the brain. It is designed to prevent harmful substances from crossing into the brain, but it also blocks potentially helpful drugs from entering.

This means that brain tumour patients often have little alternative to highly invasive surgery that can be hugely challenging to recover physically and emotionally from. However, research is currently ongoing into innovative drug therapies that could one day successfully treat many types of brain tumour.

The latest exciting development by the team at the University of Plymouth is another example of the ongoing efforts that could transform the lives of thousands of patients and their families.

Dr Sylwia Ammoun, who led the research, said: “There are many drugs being developed to target MERTK, including some going through clinical trials for other cancer types. Thus, this research offers hope to patients with meningioma and schwannoma tumours that a new treatment may be on the horizon.”

“Research presented in this paper was possible due to the hard work and dedication of PhD students, Dr Foram Dave and Kevin Herrera.”

It is hoped that the next part of the research will involve clinical trials at locations around the UK.

One potentially effective and non-invasive treatment method for meningioma is Gamma Knife surgery, which has proven successful long-term outcomes as the standard of care for the last 40 years or so.

If you would like some more information about trigeminal neuralgia or meningioma treatment, please contact Mr Patrick Grover of Amethyst Radiotherapy.

Why Do Brain Tumours Sometimes Create Strange Symptoms?

The brain is a highly complex organ and sometimes we all have the odd moment when we think our minds are playing tricks on us. However, when a brain tumour begins to develop, it can cause a range of symptoms that can be strange and unsettling, especially before the cause has been identified.

Here’s a look at some unusual symptoms and the potential causes in relation to brain tumours.

Visual and sensory hallucinations

Visual and sensual hallucinations, such as bizarre images, odd sensations and phantom smells can be a symptom of a brain tumour.

This was the experience of Lucy Younger, 24, who was finally diagnosed with a brain tumour after a year of misdiagnosis and dismissals by doctors. Lucy began to have alarming visual hallucinations such as seeing pink elephants, and sensory hallucinations such as smelling bacon and tasting metal. She also had a pins and needles sensation in her face, News Shopper reports.

Factors that may cause unusual symptoms

The location of the tumour

The location of the tumour has an effect on the type of symptoms that are experienced. Tumours near to the occipital lobe are the most likely to create visual hallucinations, because this is the part of the brain that processes visual information. It may also cause changes in the vision, and patients may find it difficult to identify the colour and size of objects.

A tumour on the frontal lobe may cause changes in personality or behaviour, or affect reasoning and logical thinking. The frontal lobe also controls movement, so patients may experience difficulties walking or weakness on one side of the body. It may also cause loss of smell.

A tumour in the temporal lobe may cause problems with short term memory and speech, and the patient may hear voices in their head. This is because the temporal lobe is the part of the brain where we process sounds and store memories.

Pressure on the brain

The brain tumour may cause pressure inside the skull as it grows, which can affect several areas of the brain. For example, it may cause confusion or disorientation, blurred or double vision, headaches, or seizures. It can also disrupt the signalling between the brain and the central nervous system, which can cause sensory changes such as phantom smells.

Doctors dismissed symptoms as anxiety and depression

Unfortunately, Ms Younger had to make several visits to the doctors with her unusual symptoms before she was finally sent for a CAT scan.

She said: “I figured, they’re the GP – they know what they’re talking about, so I guess I’ll just do what they say. I had a couple of bigger seizures when I went home – I actually passed out with these ones. I started getting migraines so bad the entire right side of my body would go numb.”

She added: “I thought, I’m either going into psychosis or I’ve got a tumour – it definitely wasn’t depression or anxiety. They said ‘you’re too young’. ‘A girl like you wouldn’t have a brain tumour’.”

My pharmacist advocated for me – once he’d spoken to my GP, they arranged for me to have a CT scan. I went in the July – and finally got my diagnosis of a benign brain tumour.”

She said: “You do know your own body. If there is something wrong you need to advocate for yourself. I caught my brain tumour early. If I hadn’t there could have been a chance it wouldn’t have been removed and the ending would have been a different scenario. People think a brain tumour is a death sentence – it’s not always that way.”

Cases similar to Ms Younger’s can be diagnosed by Amethyst Radiotherapy and treated using Gamma Knife surgery, a well-established method of treating selected brain tumours or lesions in the brain.

For information about Gamma Knife surgery and brain tumours, please contact Mr Neil Kitchen of Amethyst Radiotherapy.

How We Can Treat Tumours That Threaten The Brain Stem

Cancer affects nearly one in two people in their lives and a not insignificant proportion of patients have brain tumours to deal with, which can be fatal but is not completely untreatable. However, not all tumours are cancerous.

The term ‘benign tumour’ is one you may have heard and could even have been diagnosed with. However, the word benign does not mean the same thing as harmless. It may not be cancerous, but it can cause problems of all sorts when it reaches a certain size and starts pressing on particular nerves, parts of the brain or the brain stem.

Tumours are, therefore, varied in nature. However, location can be critical in determining what kind of problems they pose and how they can be treated. Often, radiotherapy is the best option and more appropriate and effective than surgery or chemotherapy. On other occasions, different treatments may be effectively used in combination.

This is where our expert Mr George Samandouras comes to the fore, because one of the greatest dangers can come from brain stem tumours and his expertise is in dealing with these and glioblastoma, a specific kind of brain tumour.

Brain Stem Gliomas

Brain stems can be affected both directly and indirectly by tumour growth. The direct kind comes in the form of brain stem gliomas, which start in the brain stem. They can be cancerous, but are often not and while they are more common in children, they can often appear in adults too.

These come in three kinds that arise from different sorts of stem cells, which are astrocytomas, oligodendromas and ependymomas, which come from astrocyte, oligodendrocyte and ependymal cells respectively. All three include some tumours that are cancerous and some not.

The latter distinction is a key issue when it comes to the risk to life, as cancer in this area can spread easily, making treatment vital. A non-cancerous tumour typically causes severe headaches in adults and this, plus several other symptoms, in children.

Critically, because of its location, a brain stem glioma cannot always be excised with invasive surgery although this is sometimes possible. In any case, radiotherapy is a common means of treating it, as is chemotherapy.

The Survival Outlook

Because a brain stem glioma is incurable, it cannot be removed entirely, but treatment can extend life considerably, as well as provide some relief for symptoms.

According to a 2016 review published by Frontiers in Oncology, the average survival time for adults after diagnosis is 30-40 months. This worsens with age, with a median survival time of 34 months for those aged 22-59, but just 14.5 months for over 60s.

The other way the brain stem can be impacted by a tumour is if it starts elsewhere and then grows to the point where it spreads to the brain stem.

Acoustic Neuromas

A prime example of a tumour that does this is an acoustic neuroma. These tumours start off growing by the vestibulocochlear nerve, with the normal symptoms of these benign tumours being hearing loss in one ear, tinnitus and vertigo.

While those elements can be deeply troubling and may be treated with radiotherapy to relieve them, an acoustic neuroma is very slow growing and often it simply be monitored. It does not actually grow in the brain, but presses on it and can do so more as it grows. However, it can be deadly if this spreads and grows to press on the brain or cerebellum.

This particular kind of tumour is commonly treated by radiotherapy. This is preferable to invasive surgery because that can cause hearing loss and in one case, translabyrinthine surgery, it will definitely cause a loss of hearing as that requires removing a bone from the inner ear.

For acoustic neuroma, single fraction stereotactic radiosurgery can be used in a single session of multiple beams, or Multi-session fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy, which involves multiple daily sessions over a period of weeks, the latter being a better option for preserving hearing.

While these choices can be dictated by the risks to a patient’s hearing, if the tumour is growing and threatening the brain stem the choice is all about what can do the most to prevent it from pressing on the stem, be it excision of shrinkage through radiation therapy.

Because the brain stem is such a sensitive area, it certainly requires some very highly skilled work to reduce tumours in or near it, whether this be by radiotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy or any combination of these.

If you would like more information about brain tumour treatment, please contact Mr Ciaran Hill of Amethyst Radiotherapy.