Young couple hit with double blow after they are BOTH diagnosed with brain tumours
A TRAGIC young couple have been dealt a double blow after both being diagnosed with brain tumours.
Dean Goddard, 29, and Francesca Bryant, 28, from Hertfordshire, are fighting their severe conditions together and have both recently undergone major surgery.
Francesca is battling Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, which can lead to the growth of malignant and benign tumours across the body.
She was diagnosed at the age of 15, however it was last year when doctors found a tumour on her brain.
And then just weeks after Francesca's surgery, her boyfriend Dean was diagnosed with a tumour in his optic nerve.
He told the "I was seeing patches over my eyes.
"I knew something wasn’t right.
"I was having lots of tests and the doctors thought that it might be MS.
RAISING AWARENESS What is a brain tumour and what are the signs and symptoms to watch out for?
"But when my results got back they had a consultants meeting, and that’s when they realised it was a tumour.
"Where it is in my eye they can’t operate, because it would mean I’d lose my sight.
"It’s also just too risky. They also told me that if I didn’t do anything, I would be dead in two or three years.
"I’ve had six weeks of radiotherapy which has worked to some extent although my eyesight is damaged.
"I know I’m stuck with the tumour now, but take each day as it comes.”
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The couple have been together for nine years.
As they continue their recovery together, the couple are raising money for charities which have supported them - including VHL and Macmillan Cancer Support.
Dean added: "We received a lot of help and now want to raise money for these causes.
"We’ve had a really good response but the more people who can come, the better.
"It’s been a tough year, but hopefully things are looking up."
What is a brain tumour and what are the signs and symptons to look out for?
A brain tumour is a growth of abnormal cells that grow on the organ and multiply and spread in an uncontrollable way.
The growths can be benign, non-cancerous, which grow slowly and if treated are unlikely to reappear.
However, cancerous brain tumours are more serious and some can start in the brain or spread there from cancer elsewhere in the body.
Brain tumours are also graded on their seriousness, with grade one and two tumours being seen as low risk.
While grade three and four tumours are seen as high risk and likely to return after treatment.
According the the NHS, the symptoms of a brain tumour depend on its severity and which part of the brain is affected.
But there are common signs that people can look out for if they are worried.
These include severe, non-stop headaches, seizures as well as nausea, vomiting and drowsiness.
Other signs can include vision or speech problems, paralysis and even changes to a person’s behaviour such as having difficult remembering things.
These symptoms can appear suddenly or develop slowly over time.
The brain tumour charity have more information on symptoms on their website.
Anybody can develop a brain tumour but research has shown that there are factors that can increase the chances of developing one.
People who have previously suffered from cancer are more at risk as are the elderly and people who have a family history of brain tumours.
HIV/AIDS sufferers are also twice as likely to develop a brain tumour and exposure to certain types of radiation also account for some growths.
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