Methods
We collected quantitative and qualitative patient questionnaire data from an international cohort, detailing individuals’ experiences receiving and coping with diagnoses of brain cancer. 

Results

Demographics
95 patients (56% female) from 10 countries in North America (50), Europe (7), Africa (5) and Asia (2) responded to this web-based survey. Patient respondents had received brain cancer diagnoses between 1983 and 2022.
Experiences after receiving diagosis
Thematic text analysis of 55 patient responses to the prompt “Initial thoughts/feelings after diagnosis” yielded several key themes: 1) emotional turmoil and despair 2) coping and resilience 3) medical experiences and mistrust 4) seeking support and information 5) impact on daily life and identity 6) concern for loved ones 7) seeking alternative healing 8) environmental and occupational factors. 
Experiences with health care team
Key themes identified from patient responses to the prompt “Tell us about your experience with the healthcare team” included: 1) seeking a second opinion 2) individual care vs. systemic limitations 3) communication is key 4) holistic and alternative approaches 5) varied experiences within the same system 6) the value of bedside manner 7) advocacy and autonomy 8) continuity of care 9) recognition of exceptional care 10) global experiences. 

Sentiment Analysis
Sentiment analysis revealed predominantly negative (76.36%) statements regarding the time of diagnosis, followed by mixed sentiments (14.55%), positive sentiments (7.27%) and neutral sentiments (5.45%). In contrast, sentiments regarding experiences with the healthcare team were coded as positive in 24/61 responses (39%), followed by negative (30%), neutral (15%) and mixed (16%) overall sentiments. 
Picture
Distribution of Tumour Types
Picture
Word cloud from patient reflections on interactions with the healthcare team.

Conclusion and Future Directions

The current data reflects common concerns for patients coping with the diagnosis of brain cancers worldwide. To better support our local patients, we intend to modify this survey to gather more tailored feedback from patients receiving care in BC. We aim to use the insights gleaned from this questionnaire to guide the development of new educational materials and support resources for brain cancer patients treated at BC Cancer.