Brenda Bateman loses bone cancer battle (From Gazette)

Brenda Bateman loses bone cancer battle

12:20pm Friday 10th July 2009 in

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A POPULAR care assistant has lost her battle against a rare bone disease.

Brenda Bateman, of Firs Caravan Park, Little Clacton, suffered from a form of bone cancer called sacral chordoma, which affects about one person in a million.

Mrs Bateman, who worked at Woodboro Care Home, Clacton, was diagnosed with cancer in her spine after complaining of back pain.

She went through an operation to remove a tumour on her spine and had pins placed in her spinal cord.

Though she seemed to be recovering well, the area where she had her operation became infected and the pins were dislodged while she was gardening.

She subsequently underwent more urgent surgery and struggled on for another two years, beating the hospital infections MRSA and c.diff along the way.

She died on July 1 in St Helena Hospice, Colchester, aged 68.

Her son, Steven, paid tribute to her brave fight against the illness.

He said: “She was very happy-go-lucky and had a great sense of humour.

“It is a credit to my mum such a brave and wonderful woman was able to last so long on this earth, having endured suffering the like of which I would not wish upon my worst enemy.”

Mrs Bateman is survived by her husband David, and Steven, her only child.

Her funeral will be held at Weeley Crematorium on Friday, July 17, at 2.45pm, followed by a gathering at Clacton Snooker Centre.

Anyone who knew her will be welcome to both. Casual dress is encouraged.

The family have requested no flowers, since her relapse was triggered by her gardening.

Instead, donations can be sent to St Helena Hospice, or handed to the family at the funeral for Chordoma Research.