Andrew Crowe is in his early 40s and lives in Swindon. He has a brain tumour and has been through numerous operations and is trying hard to regain his normal life.
I’m doing OK - I feel better than I did this time last year and that was better than 2007. I’m improving all the time.
So much has happened to me, but, in a strange way, I can say that, after all I’ve been through I now feel I have hope.
I first had symptoms in 2001 – excruciating headaches which were variously diagnosed as migraines or depression. After many operations I’m doing OK for now, although I do have problems with my vision. I suffer from blind spots, speech issues and short term memory loss.
I knew nothing about brain tumours before. I never had any contact with anyone who had one. How that has changed!
When I was diagnosed I did look on the internet to satisfy my own curiosity rather than to gain knowledge. I’m very matter of fact, and the fact is I have a brain tumour and I decided to go along with all the experts.
I’m now back at work, even though at one time my neuro-surgeon thought it was very unlikely I would ever be able to return and it is nice. I have never been away really - I have always popped in to keep in contact with everyone. Going back to work proved more difficult than I thought. There was lots of red tape and I’m a lot slower than I used to be.
I first found out about the brain tumour when I was shown a scan and the bits that could be operated on were pointed out and also those bad bits that couldn’t. I simply thought ‘I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to see this’.
Brain tumours are so complicated and the numbers of people that have them are increasing. It is terrible and it is quite mind-boggling.
I don’t know what to try next. I have had help and guidance from Brainstrust and I’ve had around 30 procedures. I’ve tried all I can.
All these charities are of a similar nature so they should join together and pool their expertise and ideas. It is great for all these charities to come together -they can share their ideas, and one idea will spark off another idea. Let’s hope between them they get there.
Andrew Crowe - April 2009
So much has happened to me, but, in a strange way, I can say that, after all I’ve been through I now feel I have hope.
I first had symptoms in 2001 – excruciating headaches which were variously diagnosed as migraines or depression. After many operations I’m doing OK for now, although I do have problems with my vision. I suffer from blind spots, speech issues and short term memory loss.
I knew nothing about brain tumours before. I never had any contact with anyone who had one. How that has changed!
When I was diagnosed I did look on the internet to satisfy my own curiosity rather than to gain knowledge. I’m very matter of fact, and the fact is I have a brain tumour and I decided to go along with all the experts.
I’m now back at work, even though at one time my neuro-surgeon thought it was very unlikely I would ever be able to return and it is nice. I have never been away really - I have always popped in to keep in contact with everyone. Going back to work proved more difficult than I thought. There was lots of red tape and I’m a lot slower than I used to be.
I first found out about the brain tumour when I was shown a scan and the bits that could be operated on were pointed out and also those bad bits that couldn’t. I simply thought ‘I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to see this’.
Brain tumours are so complicated and the numbers of people that have them are increasing. It is terrible and it is quite mind-boggling.
I don’t know what to try next. I have had help and guidance from Brainstrust and I’ve had around 30 procedures. I’ve tried all I can.
All these charities are of a similar nature so they should join together and pool their expertise and ideas. It is great for all these charities to come together -they can share their ideas, and one idea will spark off another idea. Let’s hope between them they get there.
Andrew Crowe - April 2009