My husband died after accusing me of having an affair – his paranoia and midlife crisis were signs of hidden killer
But a scan later revealed they were signs of a lethal killer that two years later would sadly take his life.
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Andy Hampton, 55, passed away in May this year after being diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma.
In May 2023, his increasing paranoia, which involved suspecting his wife Gemma, 37, was having an affair, brain fog and overwhelming sense of depression led to a breakdown and the diagnosis of an infection.
But when the symptoms continued the dad-of-four went back to the GP and a scan revealed a mass on his brain the size of a satsuma, and he was initially given three months to live.
Gemma, from Sturminster Newton, Dorset, said: "I thought Andy was having a midlife crisis or a mental breakdown. His paranoia caused him to believe things that weren't true.
"He even suspected I was having an affair. He kept saying he knew it was all in his head, but he couldn't stop the thoughts."
Andy, who worked as a land agent for more than two decades, was misdiagnosed with an infection by his GP.
But after he began suffering headaches that made him physically sick, he was referred for a CT scan at Dorset County Hospital.
When the mass on his brain was revealed, he was urgently transferred to Southampton General for an MRI.
Scans showed the grade 4 glioblastoma - a fast-growing and lethal brain cancer - measured 7.5cm by 8.1cm.
Gemma said: "The initial prognosis was devastating, doctors told us that Andy only had three months to live, I was in shock, we were both speechless, they gave us leaflets but Andy didn't want to read them, he just shut down.
I was given a week to live after doctors found a decade-old tumour on my brain
"In some ways it was a relief to know what we were experiencing wasn't our imagination or a breakdown in our marriage. We were determined to fight it."
Andy had 95 per cent of the tumour surgically removed on May 31, 2023, followed by six weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
But he experienced complications following the operation - facial seizures, and a kidney infection.
Gemma said: "Recovery had its setbacks, but we were so pleased the surgery went well we felt that the worst was over, and we could somehow get back to normal.
"When we got back home Andy had changed. He wasn't the man I married, not because he didn't love us anymore, but because his brain no longer allowed him to show it."
But he began to slowly recover and had three monthly scans to monitor his condition.
Gemma said: "Everything was ok for a while, then during Christmas 2024 Andy started acting out of character again, every day was different, and we couldn't work out what was wrong."
A routine scan in January this year showed the tumour hadn't grown but fluid was building up on his brain, causing his personality changes.
He had a second operation in February to fit a shunt to relieve the pressure, but his health continued to decline.
Andy had a seizure that lasted three hours and an MRI scan revealed he had a bleed on his brain, two new tumours and blood clots in his lungs.
Gemma said: "That is when my whole world crashed, I didn't know what to say or do, I just felt helpless. I was holding it together the best I could to be there for Andy. But I knew I was losing him.
"We were naive to think that because they removed most of the tumour Andy would be OK. We were dreadfully wrong."
He died on May 6 this year - leaving behind Gemma and their four children - Finn, 26, Alisha, 23, Isabelle, five, and Henley, three.
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Gemma said: "Andy was fit, strong, and full of life. We should have been enjoying this chapter of parenthood together.
"A glioblastoma doesn't give families time, it steals futures. The government must do more; it is shocking to know that just 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002. We need more research, faster diagnoses, and real hope. People like Andy deserve more than a death sentence."
Gemma and the children are taking part in the Walk of Hope this year to raise money for Brain Tumour Research and campaign for more funding and earlier diagnoses.
Letty Greenfield, Community Development Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "Andy's story is heartbreakingly common. Glioblastoma is one of the most complex and underfunded areas in cancer research.
"We urgently need the government to increase investment so we can improve early diagnosis, develop better treatments, and ultimately find a cure.
"We're incredibly grateful to Gemma and the Hampton family for sharing their story and continuing to fundraise during such a difficult time."
The most common symptoms of a brain tumour
More than 12,000 Brits are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour every year — of which around half are cancerous — with 5,300 losing their lives.
The disease is the most deadly cancer in children and adults aged under 40, according to the Brain Tumour Charity.
Brain tumours reduce life expectancies by an average of 27 years, with just 12 per cent of adults surviving five years after diagnosis.
There are two main types, with non-cancerous benign tumours growing more slowly and being less likely to return after treatment.
Cancerous malignant brain tumours can either start in the brain or spread there from elsewhere in the body and are more likely to return.
Brain tumours can cause headaches, seizures, nausea, vomiting and memory problems, according to the NHS.
They can also lead to changes in personality weakness or paralysis on one side of the problem and problems with speech or vision.
The nine most common symptoms are:
Headaches
Seizures
Feeling sick
Being sick
Memory problems
Change in personality
Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
Vision problems
Speech problems
If you are suffering any of these symptoms, particularly a headache that feels different from the ones you normally get, you should visit your GP.
Source: NHS
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