A dad who began “talking nonsense” tragically passed away just three months after being diagnosed with a terminal brain cancer. Philip Brooks, 67, succumbed to his illness in March 2022 after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) – the most common type of malignant brain tumour in adults.
Every year, 3,200 people are diagnosed with a GBM which has an average survival time of just 12-18 months. The avid cyclist from Stevenage, Herts, was initially suspected to have suffered a stroke before a CT scan revealed a lesion on Philip’s brain.
His daughter Nikky Vass shared: “Dad began saying things that didn’t make sense during conversations with my mum. One time after being with friends, he talked about needing to pay for some fruit, which had no context. Dad had a lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), other than that he was fit and healthy.”
“His consultant said surgery on his brain tumour was going to be too much of a risk compared to the reward. This combined with Dad’s age ruled out treatment such as radiotherapy and chemo. I asked if there were any other options to try and save my dad which were met with a lack of enthusiasm, and we were told he had six months to live.”
Nikky, 34, is now campaigning with the charity, Brain Tumour Research to raise awareness about the disease. Treatments for GBM have not changed in two decades and there is no cure, reports Wales Online.
Nikky and her 63 year old mother, Vanessa, are gearing up for a charity cycle ride from London to Paris in September. Nikky expressed her frustration, saying: “I am struggling to comprehend the lack of treatment options for brain cancer patients. Now, when we have seen advances in other diseases, kinder treatments and a cure for brain tumours seem to have been left behind.”
She continued: “Our family has been devastated by brain tumours. Dad never got to meet his newest grandson Noah who was born four months later. He never got to enjoy retirement and sadly won’t get to watch Mum and I cycle in a couple of months’ time.” Charlie Allsebrook, a representative from Brain Tumour Research, commented on the situation: “Philip’s story is desperately sad; however, it is not unusual. Brain tumours kill more men under 70 than prostate cancer, yet just 12% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 54% across all cancers.”