To mark the beginning of Glioblastoma Awareness Week (14ᵗʰ-20ᵗʰ July), members of our community have shared their stories in hope of furthering progress to a cure.
The most commonly diagnosed high-grade primary brain tumour, a glioblastoma diagnosis carries an average prognosis of just 12-18 months. Only 160 of the 3,200 diagnosed annually will survive five years or more. Furthermore, there have been no advances in treatment for two decades.
One of those facing these heartbreaking statistics is Glenn Pearce, a 53-year-old father whose mobility and vision have been left severely impaired by a grapefruit-sized glioblastoma. Now requiring a support team to take care of him, Glenn’s diagnosis has changed his life forever.
Brain tumours are indiscriminate, a fact Indi Powell, 18, lives with every day. She was just 14 at the time of her diagnosis, when she was found to have a large glioblastoma on her right hemisphere and underwent an astounding 35 rounds of chemotherapy.
After his diagnosis, 24-year-old Max Vardy took to social media in order to raise awareness. His glioblastoma was deemed inoperable, meaning Max was faced with weeks of gruelling radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He described glioblastoma treatment as “physically and emotionally exhausting, but I knew it was the best course of action”.
Andy Rose faced similar treatments after he was told of a glioblastoma in 2020. Initially thought to be responding to treatment, Andy’s brain tumour returned and killed him a little more than two years later. He left behind a wife and two children.
Devastatingly, many faced with a glioblastoma diagnosis are given very little time at all. Nicolette Richardson was a business owner and young mother whose migraines were caused by a golf-ball sized tumour. Just two weeks after first complaining of her symptoms, Nicolette died at the age of 41 – leaving her partner Austen to raise their young daughter, Isabella, by himself.
Shockingly, there are many more patients whose glioblastoma is found too late. David Bicker-Caarten was 58 and had just started a new job as a headteacher when he was diagnosed and given six months to live. Nine days later, David died surrounded by family – having already undergone two surgeries.
You can read our supporters’ full stories and learn about Glioblastoma Awareness Week here. Alternatively, you can donate today and help fund sustainable research into the breakthroughs that are desperately needed.
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