Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has promised to review the case of a brain tumour patient whose chemotherapy has been stopped because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The move comes after Brain Tumour Research highlighted the plight of David McCulloch who started radiotherapy last November having already lost his aunt and cousin to the disease.
David, whose tumour is inoperable, started chemotherapy in January and should have been having five rounds every month for a year. He has just been told that, because of Covid-19, this was now being stopped and the situation would be reviewed in July.
He said: “It’s very scary wondering what’s happening, whether the tumour is growing, and what the consequences of stopping the chemotherapy will be. All the while I am conscious that, although my tumour isn’t hereditary, two family members didn’t survive their battles with brain cancer. I haven’t to go back to see anyone until July. I will probably be sent for an MRI then to see if the tumour has grown. The chemo gives you hope about shrinking the tumour, but now I am just worried that it may grow bigger while I am not having it.”
Brain Tumour Research has worked with David to share his story in the media and now First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has promised to look into his case to see what “help, support and advice we can give him.”
She said: “It is really important that people get support and advice but also that we get these kinds of procedures resumed as early as possible. And that work is underway right now.”
Related reading:
- David’s story in the Daily Record
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