Letter from the Editor

Dear Friends,

As the world began to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year, our attention and efforts at the IBTA were refocussed on the catastrophic situation in Ukraine and the effect of the war there on Ukrainian citizens with brain tumours and other cancers . As one of our Ukrainian patient advocacy colleagues told us, Ukrainian cancer patients face two substantial challenges - surviving a brutal war and surviving their cancer . At the time of publishing this magazine, and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 300 attacks had taken place on healthcare in Ukraine, including health facilities, transport, personnel, patients, supplies and warehouses . In this edition of Brain Tumour magazine, we share news of an initiative from the Eurpopean Cancer Organisation and ASCO Special Network addressing the effects of the war in Ukraine on cancer, including brain tumours .

Also in this issue we look at a wide range of other news from the international pediatric and adult brain tumour community . We are also proud to reproduce in this year’s magazine, the entire catalogue for the IBTA’s “Brilliance!” virtual art exhibition which we launched in 2021 and which shines a bright, uplifting light on the talents of those in the international brain tumour community, sharing a little bit more of who we are, beyond the impact of a brain tumour in our lives .

As always, we trust that the articles in this magazine bring to our community a sense of collaboration, progress, camaraderie and, of course, hope .

With best wishes,

Kathy Oliver

Chair, International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA)

Articles in Brain Tumour magazine may be reproduced for the benefit of patients and caregivers as long as appropriate credit is given to the International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA) and originating authors . Please contact kathy@theibta .org for permission .

We wish to thank the following for their support of the IBTA’s work this year.

GW Pharmaceuticals (Part of Jazz Pharmaceuticals)

DISCLAIMER The International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA) has made every effort to be accurate regarding the information contained in this magazine. The IBTA accepts no liability for any inaccuracies or omissions herein nor can it accept liability for any loss or damage resulting from any inaccuracy in this information or third party information. The information contained in this magazine is for educational purposes only. The material in this magazine is in no way intended to replace professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor, specialist or healthcare professional. For medical help and advice please consult your doctor. Company sponsorship of the IBTA mentioned in this magazine does not necessarily imply the IBTA’s endorsement of any particular form or forms of therapy, devices, medical regimens, plans or behaviour referred to, promoted, manufactured or distributed by those companies. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the International Brain Tumour Alliance. It is not the intention to print any matter that discriminates on the grounds of race, sex, sexuality, belief or disability. The IBTA takes no responsibility for the content of third party websites mentioned in this magazine. With regard to any advertisements in this magazine (the spaces for all of which have been offered by the IBTA to companies and organisations gratis), the IBTA has included these advertisements in the magazine in good faith and on the basis that they have been cleared for acceptable content in a consumer magazine through the relevant company’s and organisation’s appropriate legal channels. The IBTA accepts no liability for or responsibility for the information/content appearing in such advertisements in this magazine. The IBTA welcomes the ABPI (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry) Code of Practice (effective in the UK), the CHF/MA (Consumer Health Forum/ Medicines Australia) Working Together Guide and Manual (effective in Australia), the EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations) Code of Practice on Relationships Between the Pharmaceutical Industry and Patients’ Organisations and the Healthcare Industry, and other relevant national and international industry-patient guidelines, and endeavours to work within their recommendations. Items in the magazine (except those with original copyright) may be reproduced for the benefit of patients and caregivers as long as appropriate credit is given to the IBTA. Please contact us for information on reproducing articles in this publication. For further information on the IBTA’s sponsorship and transparency policy, please see www.theibta.org. Funding organisations which support the IBTA’s work have no influence over the editorial content, preparation, design or production of this publication.

Articles in Brain Tumour magazine may be reproduced for the benefit of patients and caregivers as long as appropriate credit is given to the International Brain Tumour Alliance (IBTA) and originating authors. Please contact kathy@theibta.org for permission.