A woman whose husband died from brain cancer says the disease “doesn’t have to be a death sentence” and called for further research funding.
Anne McEntee, from Epsom in Surrey, lost her husband Tom in 2015 to glioblastoma – an aggressive type of brain tumour.
She has since raised more than £37,000 for Brain Tumour Research, according to the charity.
“Ongoing, properly funded research is the only answer to this disease,” she said. “We can’t let up on that.”
Mr McEntee, who had five grandchildren, died two years after his diagnosis following chemotherapy, radiotherapy and five operations.
“We didn’t have a clue what a glioblastoma was, but we soon discovered it was a death sentence for Tom,” Ms McEntee said.
Tom McEntee gained five stone after being prescribed steroids and at one stage lost his sight, according to his wife [Anne McEntee]
Her husband “went from being a very fit man who played golf, worked on his allotment and went everywhere with his grandchildren” to somebody “who would have hated to see himself as he was”.
He gained five stone after being prescribed steroids and at one stage lost his sight, according to Ms McEntee.
She said: “For those of us who have lost people to this disease it’s too late but if the research turns up anything that eases this horrendous journey for people with brain tumours, then it is worth it.”
Brain Tumour Research said her fundraising has contributed to its studies at Queen Mary University of London into personalised glioblastoma treatments for adults and gentler therapies for childhood brain tumours.
Ms McEntee has paid tribute to Tom by placing commemorative tiles on a “wall of hope” at the research centre, according to the charity.
“To see where the money we have raised goes was just wonderful,” she said.
“Any tiny little flicker of hope that comes out of research is incredible.”
If you, or someone you know, has been affected by cancer, BBC Action Line has a list of organisations that may be able to help.
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