Leeds woman: '˜How I live with a brain tumour'

Play worker Kate Battye, 20, is among those whose experiences feature in the report out today from The Brain Tumour Charity. Her story highlights how people often struggle to understand what it is like for young people in this position.

She started having seizures when she was 13 and was diagnosed three years later with a low grade or non-cancerous brain tumour - sometimes referred to as benign.

Although Kate takes medication to control her seizures she is frustrated by the fact that her tumour is being monitored but not treated.

She feels other people don’t understand what life is like for her - and that they focus on the fact she ‘hasn’t got cancer.’

Kate said: “I took part in this report as it relates to my life and my experiences. I wanted to explain how I sometimes feel unimportant as I don’t have cancer; even though I still feel the terrible fear and side effects of living with a brain tumour. I hope that my contribution to this report will show young people with benign brain tumours that there are others who are fighting the same battles and who understand, when it feels like nobody else does.”

Losing My Place: The Reality of Childhood with a Brain Tumour is based on a survey of almost 300 young people and their parents. Sarah Lindsell, chief executive of the charity, said: “Our report shows the devastating impact of childhood brain tumours – not only for those who are diagnosed but in many cases for the whole family.”