Terminal Mansfield man could have had brain tumour for 10 years

Sandy Marshall’s son, Jack, was given the devastating news last year that doctors could no longer operate on a tumour deep in his skull.

And while she says they now have to simply wait for nature to take its course, she is pushing for other patients to receive a quicker diagnosis and a greater chance of survival.

Jack, 33, had previously collapsed and doctors struggled to diagnose the problem before finding a benign tumour.

This was removed, but it later grew back as an aggressive malignant tumour.

Sandy, of Chesterfield Road North, said: “If you go to the doctors with a headache, they give you paracetamol, but if you go with one other symptom, they will be able to send you for a scan.

“You can get a quicker diagnosis and quicker treatment, so people need to know the signs.

“Jack was as fit as a fiddle, he just had headaches and a few nose bleeds but he never went to the doctors.

“He could have it for 10 years and never knew. He’s been stable for 14 months, but it’s like living on a knife edge.

“This is what killed Paul Daniels in a month. For us it’s just a case of waiting and that’s heartbreaking.

“People need to be aware because there are symptoms they need to know.

“There are more and more people suffering from the symptoms for some strange reason, and I would not wish it on my worst enemy.”

Sandy took part in the Race for Life earlier this year and raised more than £2,280 which she will be donating to the Brain Cancer Trust and wants the money to be used to promote symptom awareness.

The most common symptom of a brain tumour is of course persistent headaches.

They are usually severe, throbbing, worse in the morning and aggravated by straining or coughing.

Quite often, taking pain killers will have little or no effect.

Your vision may also become blurred or doubled, making it difficult to read and watch TV.

Other symptoms can include nausea, drowsiness and frequent nose bleeds.

However, depending on where a tumour may exist in the brain could cause other symptoms, including speech problems, balance and a stiff neck.

In children, it could also cause persistent vomiting, abnormal eye movements or head position.