'I wasn't drunk, it was a brain tumour'
It began in February 2022 when Mr Starns "suddenly felt unwell" commuting to London."It felt as though I was having a panic attack," he said. "I was disorientated and it became difficult to walk."Mr Starns got off his train at Sevenoaks.He said: "I found a bench and sat there for two hours, alone."No-one approached me, I suspect because they thought I was drunk."More than three years on, Mr Starns is monitored with a scan every two years.He said: "So far, scans have showed my tumour as stable, and I barely suffer with any side effects. "I am one of the lucky ones."
Mr Starns, a keen cyclist, is participating in a charity challenge to cycle 274 miles during August.He said: "My story could have ended differently. "My hope is that by supporting Brain Tumour Research, more people will benefit from the advances in research."Brain tumours kill more men under 70 than prostate cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002, according to Brain Tumour Research.Charlie Allsebrook, the charity's community development manager, said: "Brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age."
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The Guardian
13 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Depression, suicides, overdoses: broad impacts of US wildfires revealed in study
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A 2021 study found that breathing wildfire smoke during pregnancy raises the risk of premature birth. Research published earlier this year found the climate crisis contributed to about 15,000 deaths from exposure to small particulate matter from wildfires and cost about $160bn between 2006 and 2020. Another study, published in 2024, determined that wildfire smoke prematurely killed more than 50,000 people in California over a decade. Kristie Ebi of the University of Washington noted that there is a growing understanding that wildfire smoke can be more toxic than standard air pollution. 'It's not just leaves and branches and trees' that are burned, she said. 'It's buildings. It's gasoline stations. It's old houses that have asbestos in them. It's automobiles. There are lots of components of wildfire smoke.' She said the study of the Maui fire suggests 'this toxicity is affecting people's long-term lung function', but noted more research is needed to look at cause and effect. 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Reuters
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Times
17 minutes ago
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My flat is damp and mouldy. Can I take action?
Q. I moved into a basement studio flat which became damp the first night I stayed. It has been deteriorating ever since. There is now mould on the walls. Under what legislation can I claim? A. Many housing conditions can expose tenants to damp and mould. They may feel unable to open windows because of security or noise concerns, their properties may suffer from poor or inadequate insulation or ventilation, and damp-proofing may be damaged or non-existent. Private and public sector landlords must comply with several pieces of legislation, including the Defective Premises Act 1972, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, Minimum Level of Energy Efficiency standard (2018), the Housing Act 2004, the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Decent Homes Standard (2006). These fall into two categories. • Read more expert advice on property, interiors and home improvement First, there are the statutory rights tenants have against their landlords that supplement any obligations set out in their tenancy agreements. Of these the most important are landlords' obligations to repair the structure and exterior of rental properties under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the obligation to ensure properties are fit for human habitation under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. Also, landlords have duties to ensure tenants are reasonably safe from personal injury and damage under section 4 of the Defective Premises Act 1972. Tenants routinely bring county court claims for compensation under these provisions and obtain orders for specific performance requiring landlords to remedy damp. Second, there are the housing health and safety standards enforced by local housing authorities as part of their public health functions. If council officers inspect and find damp that poses a risk to tenants' health, they have a range of options. These include the service of Improvement Notices under the Housing Act 2004, more draconian prohibition orders and financial penalties (that is, fines). You can therefore take action yourself under the 1972 and 1985 acts or ask your council to enforce health and housing standards under the Housing Act 2004. Mark Loveday is a barrister with Tanfield Chambers. Email your questions to
