An Essex widow who thought symptoms of her husband's deadly brain tumour was just him being 'grumpy' is trying to raise awareness for the disease.
Mark Gurrey, from Chelmsford, Essex, died of glioblastoma, a type of cancer which affects the spinal cord and brain, in February last year.
His wife, Jean, put down her husband's short temper and irritability down to his age and him 'just liking a good moan.'
Jean, who had been with Mark for 25 years, said: "Looking back, I can see the signs were there, but they were so subtle.
"His good-natured complaining became part of the family’s humour, and we all took joy in it together.
"But what had once been light-hearted and affectionate became sharper; he grew more critical and short-tempered.
"Although it concerned me in particular, we put it down to age, never imagining it could be something more sinister."
But Mark's condition grew worse when he began experiencing auditory disturbances which were later diagnosed as mini seizures.
Jean is now working with the charity Brain Tumour Research (BTR) to spread awareness about the disease.
She said: “Mark mentioned hearing music in his head. It happened in short bursts, perhaps two or three times a week.
"He could never place the tune and sometimes it was a voice that lasted just a few seconds.
"He insisted it didn’t trouble him and even admitted he quite liked it.”
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A CT scan revealed a brain tumour as the cause.
Mark underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which left him with debilitating side effects including chronic fatigue.
Jean said: “Just a month after being told treatment had shrunk Mark’s tumour and his personality returning to something closer to his old self, his symptoms started again.
"The oncologist spoke to us about trials, but there was nothing Mark qualified for. We trusted her, and she explained that his tumour had recurred very aggressively.
“I know a lot of people get brain tumours and live with them for years, but the unrelenting nature of Mark's particular type of tumour is devastating. It sneaks up like an assassin in the night and takes no prisoners."
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK.
It also campaigns for the government and larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and to find a cure.
Jean said: “Greater understanding and awareness of this disease, even of its subtlest warning signs, is vital.
"With more investment in research, we can find kinder treatments that extend lives and give families hope.”
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at BTR, said: “Mark’s story is sadly not uncommon.
"There are more than 100 different types of brain tumour, making them notoriously difficult to find effective treatments for.
"Despite this complexity, treatment options have barely changed in decades.
"As a charity, we’re working hard to drive the innovation needed to bring new treatments to patients faster — but to do this, we urgently need greater investment.
"With the support of people like Jean, we’re pushing for change."
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