I’ve battled 4 tumours across 14 years – a bizarre food craving was among the first signs

A DAD has battled 4 encephalon tumours crossed 14 years - erstwhile it came to the 3rd 1 helium developed an antithetic symptom.

Dan Horrocks, 33, was diagnosed with his archetypal life-threatening tumour successful August 2011, which led to encephalon surgery and regular scans.

In May 2014 helium was told helium had different encephalon tumour and required country and radiotherapy.

A 3rd wide successful his encephalon was past identified successful July 2018 aft Dan developed an antithetic nutrient craving.

This was followed by his latest - a tumour successful his encephalon and 1 connected his spine - which were spotted successful October.

Dan was diagnosed with his archetypal of 4 encephalon tumours aft suffering excruciating headaches, sickness, and dizziness.

GPs gave him medicine to assistance with his balance, recommended acupuncture, and prescribed antidepressants.

Eventually the golf-ball sized people 2 benign tumour was diagnosed aft a escaped oculus trial astatine Vision Express erstwhile the optician spotted swelling connected Dan's optic nerves.

He was rushed to A&E astatine Russells Hall Hospital past had encephalon country the next time astatine Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) successful Birmingham, followed by radiotherapy.

The elder parliamentary researcher and Metropolitan Special Constable, from Battersea, London, said: "I'm eternally grateful to that optician, that oculus trial saved my beingness - I ne'er crook down a freebie."

Dan had to larn to walk, speech and "think" again aft the surgery.

He was near with trouble balancing, and problems with proceeding connected his near broadside and reduced usage of his near hand.

Steroids made him summation value and caused swelling which knocked his confidence.

Dan was diagnosed with a second, people three, tumour - successful his encephalon stem aft a regular scan.

All Dan's tumours person been apendymomas - uncommon terrible tumours which usually impact children astir property 5 oregon adults astir property 45.

Dan said: "The disguise they acceptable for targeted radiotherapy is truthful choky you can't blink.

"I experienced panic attacks for the archetypal clip - it was horrible."

The crab came backmost again astatine the beforehand of his encephalon wherever emotions are processed.

Unusual nutrient cravings

It was picked up by different regular scan but besides Sonia and Dan noticed unusual symptoms.

Dan started craving olives - which helium hadn't liked before.

He besides wanting spinach and tomatoes for breakfast.

He had encephalon country again astatine QEH and past radiotherapy astatine the Royal Marsden Hospital successful Chelsea.

Dan said: "After the country for the 3rd tumour I recovered it easier to explicit my emotions - I'm much empathetic and get upset much easily."

After 14 years including radiotherapy, 4 encephalon surgeries, 1 spinal operation, and six-monthly scans, Dan is present connected his "last rotation of the dice".

Headed to the US

The dad-of-one has astir tally retired of attraction options successful the UK and has raised £40k to spell to MD Anderson Cancer Center successful Houston Texas, US, to research pioneering treatments including familial investigating to find a personalised remedy.

Dan and his wife, Sonia Khan, 32, who works successful nationalist affairs, person raised implicit £50k truthful acold - smashing their £40k fundraising goal.

The money volition beryllium spent connected question and consultations - including familial tests connected Dan and his tumour samples - to spot if a personalised attraction tin beryllium found.

The mates accidental much targeted radiotherapy is besides disposable successful the US.

Dan and Sonia - who some grew up adjacent Birmingham, West Midlands - met and fell successful emotion successful 2010 erstwhile Dan was studying politics and planetary relations astatine Aston University and Sonia was astatine college.

Despite his unwellness Dan graduated with a 2:2 grade and the brace moved to London successful 2013.

The mates joined successful 2020 and had their son, Elijah successful 2022.

Dan said: "He's a large blessed small lad and gives maine caller determination to get done this.

"The thought of him having to turn up without his dada is excessively upsetting."

Latest tumour

Dan was diagnosed with a signifier 3 tumour successful his encephalon and 1 successful his spine successful October.

He had encephalon country successful November and spinal country successful December.

The tumours are successful cells which enactment the paths wherever cerebral spinal fluid moves done the spine, and the crab could travel backmost anyplace successful his spine oregon brain.

He's having radiotherapy connected his encephalon and spine astatine the Royal Marsden Hospital successful Sutton.

This clip it volition instrumentality Dan up to six months to recover.

And doctors person said he's had the maximum radiotherapy they tin safely springiness him connected the NHS, and chemotherapy is lone apt to beryllium 14 per cent palmy successful treating his tumours.

If a attraction tin beryllium recovered successful the US Dan and Sonia volition person to fundraise again, they've said.

Dan says helium operates connected an "ignorance is bliss" protocol to assistance him cope.

He said: "I don't inquire the doctors for a prognosis due to the fact that I don't privation to cognize - my concern is truthful uncommon they wouldn't beryllium capable to archer maine anyhow.

"I conscionable spell done each time and lone deliberation astir this worldly if I person to.

"I find having a affirmative cognition is the lone mode forward.

"The attraction I'm having present puts maine astatine 3 times the hazard of bosom onslaught oregon stroke, truthful to get my favourite operation of Churchill's I person to support buggering on."

Visit Dan's GoFundMe leafage here.