Andrew is the brother of Liz Fussey, who works for Brain Tumour Research. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2002, having suffered with severe headaches and vomiting. He is now in his early 40s and lives alone in Swindon. Andrew has been through numerous operations and is trying hard to regain some semblance of normal life, although he is now registered as disabled and has had to give up work. His brain tumour cannot be completely removed and, like many other brain tumour patients, he lives between scans.
Andrew tells us his story…
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
One in three people in the UK knows someone affected by a brain tumour. This disease is indiscriminate; it can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, brain tumours continue to kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, to date, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002.
Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this.
If you have been touched by Andrew's story, you may like to make a donation via https://braintumourresearch.org/donate or leave a gift in your will via www.braintumourresearch.org/legacy.
Together we will find a cure.