What's New?
BNOS member Miss Caroline Hayhurst, Consultant Neurosurgeon in Cardiff, is inviting neurosurgeons and clinical oncologists to complete a short online research questionnaire. The aim of the survey is to assess the current UK attitudes to management of brain metastases, in light of increasing access to radiosurgery and a possible change in attitude to multiple metastases.
BNOS 2011 marked the occasion for Professor Charles Davis to step down as President, a role he has worked hard at for the past two years. Professor Geoff Pilkington has now assumed this role and we look forward to his leadership and initiatives over the next two years.
In 2008 BNOS was invited by the National Cancer Action Team to draw up guidelines for four rare brain and CNS tumours. This has been a signficant undertaking, involving a large team of experts working in different areas of neuro-oncology and related fields.
Please see our Rare Tumours Guidelines page where the guidelines can be downloaded.
The NCRI Cancer Conference is the major forum in the UK for showcasing the best British and international cancer research. The conference brings together the leading experts across all disciplines with a compelling mix of high-quality plenary speakers, symposia, parallel sessions, focussed satellite meetings and workshops.
An alliance which brings together a number of brain tumour research centres in the south of England has been launched at the University of Portsmouth.
The South of England Brain Tumour Alliance (SEBTA) draws together seven neuro-oncology centres spread across universities and hospitals involved in brain tumour diagnosis, therapy and research.
See full online article at ecancermedicalscience.com.
The National Cancer Intelligence Network has published details of the creation of a new national brain tumour registry on their website.
"Augmented cancer registration for CNS tumours has the potential to transform our knowledge for this group of patients."
In October 2010 the Department of Health launched a consultation exercise on the Cancer Drugs Fund and invited comments on their Consultation and Equality Assessment documents.
BNOS was keen to contribute to this - please click here to view our response.
In February 2011 BNOS welcomed the opportunity to respond to the DoH consultation on improving cancer outcomes - please click here to view our response.Proton Radiotherapy - The NHS Specialised Services Proton Overseas Programme
There is now sufficient confidence in the safety and outcomes of proton radiotherapy for treatment in highly selected indications, that the Cancer Reform Strategy (2007) recommended that the NHS National Commissioning Group set up a mechanism to centrally approve and manage the referral of patients for treatment abroad. The diagnostic and clinical criteria are very tight (evidence base, limited capacity available abroad, limitations on acceptance criteria by centres) so be sure to read the guidance carefully before thinking about referral. There is a range of paediatric diagnostic indications. The adult indications are skull base Chordoma and Chondrosarcoma and selected Spinal and Paraspinal Sarcomas. Patients should be assessed through specialist local MDTs. All details of surgery, histology and imaging on CD need to be available (post op scans within 8 weeks of referral) in addition to a referral form. It is very strongly recommended that a Clinical Oncologist sees and refers all patients. A National Clinical Reference Panel assesses the cases before approval is given. Funding for travel and accommodation abroad are covered for the patient.
The referral guidance document and referral forms are available on the NHS Specialised Services website.
The current programme has had 178 referrals and 102 patients have had approval for treatment in Villigen, Paris and Jacksonville. A business case is being prepared by the DH for the commissioning of at least one centre in the UK by 2015.
Dr Adrian Crellin
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
DH National Clinical Lead Proton Beam Therapy
Chairman Clinical Reference Panel
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