Hundreds of pairs of shoes donated by brain cancer patients have been displayed outside Parliament House in Canberra to encourage greater awareness about the condition. Brain cancer kills about 80 per cent of its victims within 5 years a mortality rate that's changed little in three decades.
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00:00 This morning was the inaugural Head to the Hill event, which aims to raise awareness
00:09 to government and on the back of that, come back next year and seek changes.
00:18 So the challenge has been that despite the horrific statistics, we still struggle to
00:25 see any significant changes.
00:27 So being the inaugural one was just sowing the seed.
00:31 It was an important event for us because there was about eight other foundations there showing
00:37 support and giving a good, strong message to government.
00:41 And there have been so many medical advances involving other cancers in recent years, Craig,
00:46 but the mortality rate for brain cancer virtually hasn't changed in 30 years.
00:50 Is it not getting enough funding, not enough focus?
00:53 Well, I think funding's always the key, Ros.
00:56 You know, we have some of the best research and treatment specialists in the world and
01:03 everybody knows the statistics.
01:06 It's clearly tough to crack the brain cancer issue from a treatment and options point of
01:14 view, but that doesn't mean we stop.
01:17 It means that we need to invest more.
01:20 That's all that that says to us.
01:22 The statistics are there, as I say.
01:25 So one percent increase in five-year survivability in over three decades is just, it's hard to
01:34 believe.
01:35 You know, every time you say that statistics, it just makes you shake your head.
01:40 This is a disease that's more common in children, is that right, than in adults?
01:45 It is.
01:46 It's more children die of brain cancer each year than any other disease and more people
01:53 under 40 die of brain cancer than any other cancer.
01:58 And the issue is, Ros, you know, that's horrific enough, but it's the other part to this is
02:06 that the people's lives and people around them are so heavily affected.
02:13 You know, the costs and total cost burden to support someone with brain tumours and
02:19 brain cancer is extremely high.
02:23 You know, they're devastated by cognitive, physical, social, psychosocial, psychological
02:30 impacts.
02:31 You know, there's a lot of disabilities associated with it.
02:35 So there's a couple of parts to this.
02:37 While they try and, you know, crack this brain cancer nut and improve survivability, we need
02:44 things in place now that are going to help support those people navigate support systems
02:52 and through mainstream health systems and so forth.
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