Family of Scottish boy, 3, who died from incurable brain tumour reach 100,000 signatures on petition

The family of a young boy who died from an incurable brain tumour have welcomed an announcement that the UK Government will schedule a debate on research into childhood cancers.

Family of Logan Maclean who died of an incurable brain tumour welcome debate decision

Earlier this month, an e-petition set up by grandmother Fiona Govan of Dalry, Ayrshire, reached 100,000 signatures, the number required for a debate to be considered.

Fiona’s grandson Logan Maclean from Largs in Ayrshire was just three years old when he passed away from a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) – the deadliest of all childhood cancers just 11 months after first being diagnosed in 2016.

Fiona, 50, said: “This is obviously fantastic news, but to ensure it leads to something meaningful we need to continue to put pressure on our Government to make research funding transparent, to ringfence funds for research into childhood cancers and to factor in years lost when a child dies of cancer.

“I was shocked to learn on Tuesday this week during the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours (APPGBT), held online because of the coronavirus pandemic, that just £6 million of that £40 million has been allocated to brain cancer research almost half way into its five-year mission.

“Brain tumours continue to kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer with the type of incurable brain tumour my grandson, Logan, was diagnosed with being a death sentence for children, normally within just 12 months.”

She added: “Logan was diagnosed with a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) brain tumour in November 2016.

"We quickly learnt that it was incurable, that no child had ever survived a DIPG and that the only treatment was palliative radiotherapy.

"Logan passed away just 11 months later.

“I never imagined that in this day and age, there were childhood cancers that were untreatable and vowed then to do everything I could to make a difference for future generations.”

During his treatment, Logan spent time in Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children and Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.

His family say they are indebted to the work of the medical staff there who went above and beyond to make his final months as comfortable as possible.

The family are being supported in their mission to get more funding for research into childhood cancers by the charity Brain Tumour Research.

Hugh Adams, spokesman for the charity Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are delighted that Fiona and Logan’s family whose world has been shattered by this cruellest of cancers have received this news after all their efforts.

"We are very happy to have played a part in mustering support from the brain tumour community to drive signatures for the e-petition over the magic 100,000 number. It is vital that we continue to raise awareness of the shocking lack of investment for research into this disease and campaign for change.

“It is unbearable to think that, here in the UK, one child every fortnight is diagnosed with DIPG.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK.

It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.

The charity is calling for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director