36 The cost of a brain tumour: The Economic Case for Urgent Action

Abstract Introduction Each year over 13,000 people are diagnosed with brain tumours in the UK and 5,400 people lose their lives. Brain tumours have a substantial impact on individual health and on wider society; however, little research has been conducted to estimate the overall burden that brain tumours have on society in the UK. Methods The lifetime burden of illness from brain tumours diagnosed in 2025 was calculated from several sources. There were two categories of impact: (i) financial costs and (ii) health impacts. Financial costs included healthcare costs, income loss, excess welfare spending and additional care requirements (beyond treatment). Inputs were distinguished by adult or child and malignant or non-malignant tumour. The monetary value of health lost was calculated using the societal valuation of £70,000 per quality-adjusted life year (assigned by the Treasury Green Book). Results The burden of illness of brain tumours diagnosed in the UK in 2025 is estimated to be £18.7 billion over those people’s lifetime. This was based on 5,629 high-grade and 6,528 low-grade, non-malignant tumours diagnosed in adults, and 316 high-grade and 287 low-grade, non-malignant tumours diagnosed in children. High-grade tumours accounted for 86 percent of this burden. The burden of illness per tumour was £1.3 million for adults and £4.4 million for children. Premature mortality was the largest contributor to the overall burden, reflected in terms of health lost and future income lost. Conclusions The burden of illness of brain tumours in the UK is considerable and is largely driven by premature mortality and the associated loss in health and income. Interventions that extend life have the greatest potential to reduce the burden, including programmes to increase early diagnosis, or new innovative treatments.