22 September 2023 , 11:35
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A woman who became very tired and began bumping into things eventually sought medical help - and then received life-shattering news that she'd a fatal condition.
Worried about her symptoms, Alina Hunter underwent an MRI scan at Stepping Hill Hospital in January last year, which revealed a Glioblastoma brain tumour (GBM) - a type described as ‘fast growing’ and ‘aggressive.’ In May last year, Alina underwent surgery at Salford Royal Hospital, followed up with a ten-week strenuous course of radiotherapy and then six months of chemotherapy at the Christie Cancer Centre, both in Manchester.
Unfortunately, a check-up scan in December 2022 revealed that Alina had developed a second tumour on her brain as it had grown back. Alina, 55, was placed on palliative care at home before she sadly passed away on August 28 this year.
Her close friend of ten years, Helen Wilson, 54, describes Alina as a ‘lovely person,’ who was ‘so positive.’ Helen is now becoming an advocate for this particular type of brain tumour by leading a ‘Walk of Hope,’ in memory of Alina, alongside Alina’s husband, Chris, and their two children, Joseph and Daniel, and spreading awareness of the condition with the intent to potentially find a cure.
Helen Wilson, a close friend of Alina (Brain Tumour Research WS)What happened to Alina was so sad,” Helen said, “I was in awe of her.” Alina was scheduled for another operation but it would have done her more harm than good.
Currently, brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, however just one percent of the national spend on cancer has been allocated to such a fatal condition. To to the cause or find out more about the can be found here.