Although brain tumors are relatively rare, around 12,000 people are diagnosed each year in the UK, including celebrities such as singer Russell Watson, musician, and actor Martin Kemp, and Tom Parker of the pop group The Wanted. research.
Johnny Irwin, the presenter of A Place in the Sun on Channel 4 and Escape to the Country on BBC, revealed on Sunday (13th of this month) that he had been diagnosed with the disease.
Irwin, 48, has confirmed that he has terminal cancer that has spread from his lungs to his brain, and that he does not know “how long he has left” to live. He said the first time he realized something was wrong was when his vision became blurry while driving his car in 2020 while filming an episode of his BBC show.
Irwin was told about a week after he got home after filming ended that, as he put it, he would “only have 6 months to live”. At first, he kept his diagnosis a secret, but decided to publish it “in order to inspire people who have few prospects in life to make the most of every day that remains.”
It should be noted that the late Baroness Tessa Jewell, who was a member of the planned ministerial group in the UK government, is another public figure who suffered from a brain tumor. She passed away in 2018 at the age of 70, about a year after she was diagnosed with the disease.
Before her death, she said she wanted to help transform brain tumor treatment, research, and survival, to ensure all patients receive the best possible care.
Nearly 4 years later, Baroness Jowell’s dream came true when the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM) – the organization that created and named her – awarded 9 neurological centers across the country the Tessa Jowell Center of Excellence. . Excellence in recognition of the exceptional care and treatment provided by these centers.
Joel’s daughter, Jess Mills, co-founder of TJBCM, explained that her mother’s goal was to tackle systemic inequality. She said: ‘It was therefore tragic that the campaign she launched to achieve universal equality for patients in access to the most exclusive level of medical care in the fight against cancer through NHS IT (a network that protects patient data from user negligence and cyberattacks) was her last step. But we are very proud that after only 3 years we were able to turn his vision into reality.”
She said: “It is appalling that the UK still has one of the worst cancer survival rates in Europe, but over time the Tessa Joel Centers will make the UK a world leader in the treatment and care of brain tumor patients.” We still have a long way to go, but this achievement can be considered a huge first step.”
Dr Catherine McBain, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Christie’s Hospital in Manchester, one of the hospitals to be named a Tessa Joel Center of Excellence, said that “despite all the neurology centers providing high-quality care, only nine women chose to become pregnant. Her name is known. ” . With its superior development in quality in the treatment of its patients.
Sarah Lindsell, chief executive of the Brain Tumor Charitable Trust (which funds global research in this area), called the Tessa Joel Awards “a huge step forward in improving standards of care for brain tumor patients”. “Early detection of these tumors remains an important and unique challenge in brain tumors,” she added.
She explained: ‘Signs can sometimes be vague. A number of the most common symptoms, such as persistent headaches or problems coordinating movements, can have various other causes, which may or may not be serious. But we would urge anyone who suffers if they are Doing with unusual symptoms – especially if he is experiencing a pattern of symptoms, or if these indications are persistent or unexplained – he should go to the GP for the necessary examinations.
Dr. McBain notes that symptoms that could indicate a brain tumor can be a group of changes that can develop and worsen over weeks or months, with additional symptoms also appearing over the same period.
She adds: “Unlike seizures, which can occur on their own, most people experience a range of symptoms that can develop and become more noticeable over a period of two to three months. In this case, you should go to the clinic and consult a GP. Practicing the profession.
So what are these possible symptoms?
Remember that any of the above symptoms can automatically mean that you have a brain tumor. However, if you have any doubts or concerns, consult your GP.
1- Convulsive seizures
If you are having a seizure, you should go to an accident and emergency unit, where you may have an urgent brain scan.
2- It is on the face, arm or leg on one side of the body
You may experience sudden weakness, such as feeling like you’re having a stroke, or you may develop increasingly noticeable symptoms over the weeks, such as dragging your leg or tripping over hurdles, for example, because you can’t lift your foot properly.
3- Noticeable weakness in speech
You may find yourself muttering your words, having difficulty with words, or saying the wrong words. It is normal to sometimes have difficulty finding a word, but it can become worrisome in the case of a brain tumor, if it has steadily worsened over weeks or months, and is accompanied by other symptoms.
4-Change of personality
People with a brain tumor may become more withdrawn or disoriented over the course of a few months, or have difficulty doing things they used to do, such as playing a musical instrument or doing online banking.
5- A change in vision
Sometimes brain tumors reduce our ability to see things from one side. This can cause people to hit door frames, not see someone sitting on the left or right side, or to hit the side mirrors of parked cars while driving. If you are concerned about changes in your vision, see an ophthalmologist, who can perform a full eye examination and refer you to hospital if necessary.
6- Difficulty reading or interpreting words
You may notice that as the weeks go by, you find it increasingly difficult to write emails, send texts, understand translated movie subtitles, or understand the meaning of words. In a book – perhaps you can clearly see the words, but the mind refuses to interpret or comprehend them.
7- Headache
Headache is a symptom most people associate with a brain tumor, but it is relatively rare for it to be the only symptom of a brain tumor.
When it comes to worrying about a brain tumor, doctors call it an “extra headache,” which means that the headache is accompanied by other symptoms. Worrying headaches are those that get “significantly and permanently” worse within two to three months and are associated with other symptoms.
If a headache is the only symptom, it is usually different from any headache you’ve had before and gets worse very quickly over a few weeks. You may feel it in the morning and it may wake you up or be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and drowsiness.
Leave a Reply