04 April 2023 , 15:07
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A dad had his “entire world turned upside down” in a horror brain tumour diagnosis - whilst his daughter battled leukaemia.
Richard Brown, 46, had long been excited to watch his young daughter Mabel, now five, ring the bell to signify the end of her cancer treatment in August 2022.
However when that day finally came, Richard was in another ward in the same hospital, being treated for his own cancer diagnosis.
The dad-of-two was diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM) just a few months earlier, in May 2022, which carries a typical life expectancy of up to 18 months.
It only became apparent when Richard had an unexpected seizure the same month, and an MRI scan revealed a mass on his brain.
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Following his diagnosis, he had an awake craniotomy - a surgery to remove part of his skull during which he had to keep talking to surgeons to reduce the risk of damaging healthy areas of his brain.
The dad undergoing radiotherapy (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)
The family were thrown from one cancer strife to the next (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)As he underwent this, Mabel finished her treatment in August last year, but her dad continues to battle his own cancer diagnosis - having started cutting edge immunotherapy treatment in Germany last November.
Richard's wife Holly, 43, from Dorking, Surrey said: "Finding out Richard had an inoperable brain tumour while Mabel was still receiving cancer treatment was beyond comprehension.
"Our entire world turned upside down once again.
Richard with daughters Evie and Mabel and wife Holly (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)"For cancer to strike our family twice like this was devastating and frightening."
Mabel was diagnosed with leukaemia when she was just two-and-a-half years old and endured over two years of gruelling treatment.
But now aged five, she’s in school and has been given the all-clear.
The youngster was given the all clear in August last year (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)
Mabel in hospital undergoing a blood transfusion (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)Her family had been planning a summer of celebration following her treatment but instead they found themselves plunged from one cancer strife to the next.
Richard had started experiencing sudden, full body and loss of consciousness seizures, and was told treatment might buy him time, but would not cure him.
Holly said: "It is shocking how starkly differently Mabel and Richard's journeys have been - based on the type of cancer they have.
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"He was told to go away and live the best life he could with whatever time he had left.
"I cannot believe how ineffective brain tumour treatments are, or that they haven't changed in over two decades."
The dad undergoing his immunotherapy (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)After exhausting the NHS standard of care Richard's tumour continued to grow and all treatment was stopped, with talks turning to palliative care.
But Richard would not accept his prognosis, and later started immunotherapy treatment in Germany last year and his tumour started shrinking.
Holly added: "Starting immunotherapy was an incredibly positive step for Richard. For the first time, he felt as though he was taking some control of his treatment.
"Eight weeks later we got the most amazing news - the tumour was getting smaller.
The mass on Richard's brain (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)"The immunotherapy treatment in Germany was working and we were blown away - this was beyond all expectations of his doctors at home.”
But with Richard’s only option being travelling abroad every month, his family have turned to fundraising to be able to pay for the treatment.
The immunotherapy, plus additional prescription drugs, supplements and travel expenses cost £9,000 every month.
You can donate to the family’s campaign here.