THE fiancée of a man who was given just 18 months to live after it was discovered that he has a fast-growing brain tumour is rallying support to get him treatment abroad.
Dylan Bearns from Parr was abroad in Tunisia in April this year with fiancée Hayley Redfern when he started getting head aches and was unable to read.
Once they got home, he went to St Helens Walk in Centre who immediately referred him to Whiston Hospital where he underwent a CT scan which uncovered a mass. Later MRI scans revealed he has grade 4 astrocytoma.
Astrocytoma tumours are a form of glioma with star-shaped cells. General symptoms of an astrocytoma tumour are a result of growing pressure inside the skull. These symptoms include headache, vomiting and mental status changes.
Treatment of a brain tumour depends on the nature of the tumour, how rapidly it is growing, what symptoms it is causing and where it is located.
Hayley, 37, who herself is a cancer survivor, said: “He was completely fine in himself until the headaches on holiday then just before his 39th birthday we get told he has terminal brain cancer.
“I just felt numb. After surviving cancer myself a few years ago I just feel cursed. Dylan and I have hopes and dreams of growing old together and getting married but to get this diagnosis is devastating.”
In May, Dylan had the tumour removed and started on a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but due to the aggressive nature of his tumour he has been told it will come back.
Hayley, from Sutton Leach, added: “He’s been told that even with the surgery and all the chemo and radio that he only has at best 18 months to live, the treatment will give him as much time as he can and its all that is available on the NHS.
“After what happened to me a few years ago my family often look into cancer treatments abroad and my dad and sister found this doctor in Germany who performs a ground breaking treatment called immunotherapy, but it costs around €60,000.
“So, my sister launched a fundraising page which has already got us £21,000 in donations and we are holding a fundraising day to do more.
“I can’t believe after surviving cancer, I reconnect with Dyl and now he’s going through this.
“We just want our lives together. This treatment could be his only chance.”
The family fundraiser will take place on Sunday, July 30 at Clock Face Recreation Club on Crawford Street and will include live music from Ash Welding, Olivia Parr, Jack Bennett, Sam Caldwell, Gracie Musgrove and Kieran Gilmartin.
As well as a fundraiser football match, bouncy castle, raffle, face painting, mascots from A&E Entertainment and food by Lily’s Victorian Tea Rooms.
Tickets are £5 for adults and £3 for children.
To donate to the fundraising page, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/emma-redfern
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