Latest news with #Brain Tumour Research
BBC News
03-08-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Grandma writes book for grandson after brain tumour diagnosis
A grandmother who was diagnosed with a brain tumour has written and illustrated a book for her four-year-old from Stroud in Gloucestershire, said she went to hospital after suffering a seizure and a suspected stroke, but tests revealed she had a brain tumour the size of a receiving the diagnosis in February 2022, the 62-year-old said she was "terrified" she would not live to see her grandson Finn grow up, prompting her to write Finn's Wonderful World."I wanted to leave Finn something deeply personal, a message of wonder and joy, in case I wasn't there to share it with him myself," Jan said. Finn was one when Jan was diagnosed with the slow-growing tumour. To remove it, Jan underwent a craniotomy at Southmead Hospital in Bristol in May 2022. The surgery was successful, but she was left with partial vision. Shortly after the diagnosis, Jan returned to her hobby of drawing and painting after years of putting it aside while she "juggled everything" in her busy book, which explores themes of friendship and nature, features illustrations of a blonde child with blue eyes, just like said: "The diagnosis and the uncertainty about my future reignited that creativity in a deeply meaningful way. "This book has given me purpose and focus. "To see [Finn} enjoy the story I created for him, it's the most special gift," she added. Jan said all profits from the book would be donated to Brain Tumour Research."Without the knowledge and the skill, I wouldn't be here today," she said."They give people a chance of getting on with their lives."I poured my heart into [the book], and to know it's helping fund vital research means everything," she added.
BBC News
02-08-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'I wasn't drunk, it was a brain tumour'
A man who said he appeared drunk but was actually suffering from a brain tumour is helping to raise awareness of the Starns, from Sutton Valence, Kent, was initially told he had vertigo but when there was no improvement with medication, an MRI scan three months later revealed a brain 63-year-old freelance photographer described his diagnosis as a "scary process".But he said he will "never forget the emotional release when the nurse told me my tumour was benign". 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 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 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 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 Allsebrook, the charity's community development manager, said: "Brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age."
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bognor Regis woman mistakes tumour symptoms for perimenopause
A woman who mistook symptoms of a brain tumour for perimenopause is raising money to fund Hitchman, from Bognor Regis, West Sussex, had been struggling with headaches, jaw pain, fatigue, anxiety and double vision and said doctors thought the symptoms were due to a tube in her ear being blocked or not opening was only during a trip to the Republic of Ireland in April that a CT scan revealed a 5cm (1.97ins) meningioma on her Hitchman, who is doing 88 squats a day for Brain Tumour Research, said: "It was a horrendous time, but now I have a second chance to move forward, create a new normal, and raise awareness so others don't face the same uncertainty I did." The special educational needs coordinator at Eastergate Church of England Primary School was taken to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester and then General Hospital, where the tumour was removed."I honestly thought I was experiencing anxiety from perimenopause, even the dentist thought I was just grinding my teeth when I had jaw pain," the 43-year-old said."I had no idea it was something so serious. I left home for Easter and returned to someone else's horror story."Ms Hitchman has raised more than £800 for the charity by doing 88 squats every day in July. The total number of squats completed by the end of the month will represent the the cost of more than £2,700 to fund a single day of research at one of the charity's centres of excellence."We need more research, more support, and more hope," Ms Hitchman said.
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
TV star with brain tumour joins squats challenge to raise funds to find cure
A TV star living with a highly-aggressive brain tumour is doing 88 squats a day while undergoing chemotherapy in a fitness challenge to help fund research into brain tumours. Antiques Roadshow star Theo Burrell, of East Lothian, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in June 2022, a highly-aggressive form of brain tumour with a life expectancy of 12-18 months. Burrell, 38, is halfway through the 88 Squats A Day In July challenge, which she has taken on despite currently having treatment. Funds raised will go towards Brain Tumour Research, a charity dedicated to curing the disease. Despite an initial small target of £500, the TV star has so far raised more than £7,500 and still has two weeks left of the challenge. Burrell, who is a patron of the charity, said: 'I've been doing my squats and I'm actually enjoying it. I may do around 20 and then take a break and have a cup of tea, but I get them done. 'My son Jonah has been asking me what I'm doing so he's been joining in, doing two or three here and there and then he's done. 'I think I'll keep it up after the challenge has ended because it's supposed to be one of the best exercises you can do, particularly for the back.' This week marks Glioblastoma Awareness Week, which aims to shine a light on the disease and how it is the most commonly diagnosed high-grade brain tumour in adults. Glioblastoma is incurable and there has been no advance in treatments for two decades. Around 3,200 people are diagnosed with it a year in the UK, of which around 160 will live for five years or more. Burrell, whose son is four, said: 'I'm nearly 40 and I've seen just how devastating this has been for my parents. They never stop worrying about it, ever. 'This disease is stealing young people away from their families. I've seen lots of people lose their life to glioblastoma who are parents of young children, it's just so devastating for everyone involved. 'The idea that you will never see your children grow up. There are lots of things I've come to terms with on this journey, but I will never ever be okay with the fact that I'm going to miss out on a lot of Jonah's life. 'That will always make me feel completely grief stricken and I imagine it's the same for any other parent who finds themselves in this situation. No time will ever be long enough really.' Since her diagnosis, Burrell has undergone life-extending surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A scan in December 2024 showed some regrowth of the tumour but her latest scan in June showed there were no active cancer cells left. 'It means that some of those cells have been killed off, while others have been put to sleep and are dormant,' she said. 'But as we know with glioblastoma, they always wake up at some point and the tumour will start to grow again – but it's as good a situation as I could have hoped for given the nature of the disease.' Burrell played a pivotal role in the launch of the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence in January. The centre, a unique partnership between Brain Tumour Research and Beatson Cancer Charity, is the first of its kind in Scotland and focuses specifically on glioblastoma. She said: ' People need to know how damaging glioblastoma is and how desperate people like I am to increase the treatment options. 'What Brain Tumour Research and Beatson are doing at the Scottish centre is giving so many people in the community hope, and I think they will produce something really spectacular. 'But all of these things take time. How many lives are we going to lose before then?' Dan Knowles, chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: 'During Glioblastoma Awareness Week, we are shining a spotlight on this most devastating of brain tumours. 'We are incredibly fortunate to have such a passionate patron in Theo, who works tirelessly for the brain tumour community. 'The statistics around glioblastoma are shocking, and it is only through increased government funding into critical research that we will get closer to a cure.'
