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Antiques Roadshow expert shares ‘heartbreak' as she reveals brain tumour is regrowing

Antiques Roadshow expert shares ‘heartbreak' as she reveals brain tumour is regrowing

Independent02-10-2024
Antiques Roadshow expert Theo Burrell has shared the 'heartbreaking' news that her brain tumour is regrowing.
Burrell, 38, who has appeared as an antiques specialist on the long-running BBC show since 2018, was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma – a type of fast-growing brain tumour – in June 2022.
In a health update shared online on Wednesday (2 October), Burrell wrote: 'It's with some heartbreak that I can confirm my glioblastoma has started regrowing.
'Although this was always an inevitability it has been a difficult couple of weeks for me and my family, as we deal with the news and await a treatment plan.'
She added that she is 'extremely grateful' for the 'good quality of life' she has had over the past two years and the news has 'fuelled' her to keep 'fighting'.
'I intend to take on the next step of my journey with everything I've got,' she continued.
'If anything this has just fueled my fire to keep fighting for us all. We, as a community, as patients, as carers, as family and friends of those who have or have had a brain tumour, quite frankly deserve a lot better!'
Last year the ceramics expert, who joined the long-running BBC series in 2018, spoke about the devastation of receiving her diagnosis just a year after welcoming her son Jonah.
'Receiving my diagnosis, at the age of 35, when my son was just one year old, was devastating. Overnight everything had changed,' she told the The Daily Mail.
'Suddenly I'd gone from being a healthy person in the middle of my life with a new baby to having incurable cancer with maybe one or two years left to live.'
She said on Instagram in January that her brain tumour was 'missed' by doctors but she eventually had a CT scan at her local A&E.
'My symptoms included pressurised headaches, sickness, problems with my vision, pulsating tinnitus and pins and needles,' she said. 'These were all as a result of a 5cm tumour in my temporal lobe, on the right hand side of my brain.'
She said she underwent brain surgery six days after the tumour was located, and 90 per cent of her tumour was removed. She then underwent six weeks of radiotherapy alongside chemotherapy before starting six rounds of adjuvant chemotherapy. She finished her initial treatment in March 2023.
Since her initial diagnosis, Burrell has become a patron of Brain Tumour Research, a charity focused on finding a cure for all types of brain tumours and increasing the UK investment in brain tumour research.
Dan Knowles, the charity's CEO, said: 'Theo is a fantastic Patron who has developed a deep bond with countless patients and families. Our hearts go out to Theo and her family and friends as she takes this next step in her journey.'
Burrell has worked for Lyon & Turnbull as an auctioneer and specialist in decorative arts and fine antiques since 2011.
According to the Antiques Roadshow site, her expertise extends to European ceramics and glass, fine furniture, design objects of the late 19th and 20th centuries as well as works of art and taxidermy. She has an MA in History and an MLitt in Decorative Arts, both from the University of Glasgow.
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Grange Hill's Zammo star shaken by cancer scare after 'really common' symptom many consider harmless - issuing stern warning to fans
Grange Hill's Zammo star shaken by cancer scare after 'really common' symptom many consider harmless - issuing stern warning to fans

Daily Mail​

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Grange Hill's Zammo star shaken by cancer scare after 'really common' symptom many consider harmless - issuing stern warning to fans

Grange Hill's Zammo McGuire star Lee Macdonald opened up about how he was left shaken by his recent cancer scare during an appearance on Monday's episode of Good Morning Britain. The actor - who played the beloved character between 1982 and 1987 on the BBC show - revealed his 'really common' symptom that many consider harmless and issued a stern warning to fans while chatting with hosts Susanna Reid, 54, and Richard Madeley, 69. 'Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other areas of the body,' according to the NHS. Non-melanoma is 'more common and usually less serious'. Talking on GMB, Lee said: 'I had a scare a year ago, which was found to be non-cancerous. 'O2 are now doing a campaign for skin cancer and awareness, and on the back of that, I booked an appointment for the doctors, I got a little rash there [pointed at his cheek] and it turns out it's a keratosis, which is a pre-cancerous spot. 'So I'm going to have to get it burnt out.' He added: 'It could turn cancerous. It was just off the back of going and getting it checked out. 'I think we really need to concentrate on putting skincare on and looking at blemishes on your face. Go and get them checked out.' Susanna pointed out that skin cancer is something that the star is aware of because it happened to his dad. Lee explained: 'My dad was a driver, and for years he would sit with his arm out the window and my mum would go about his arm saying it's getting burnt all the time. 'Later in life he had skin cancer cut out from that arm.' Richard went on point out that back in the day Lee used to use sunbeds, and he thinks that contributed to his diagnosis. Lee said: 'Before I went to nightclubs years ago, I would lay on sun bed for an hour a week. That was from... I'd do a Tuesday and a Thursday from 17, up until I was about 26. 'That's what the doctor said it is. 'It's probably the sunbeds, rather than the sun, because I don't go out in the sun that much because of being aware of the risks.' The actor went on to confess that he goes fishing with his son every Sunday and he makes sure that he's wearing sun cream. Richard asked: 'Even if it's cloudy?' 'Yeah, funnily enough, he got told off by his step-mum because he went home burnt and it wasn't even that sunny,' Lee said. 'But the rays were coming through! So cover up at all times.' It comes after Lee spoke out being diagnosed with skin cancer on X, formerly known as Twitter, back in June 2024. He said: 'Went to the doctors today to check an unusual spot on my face! Doctor says it's cancer! 'As we older please keep an eye on anything unusual and hopefully get it looked at early!!! Booked in to get it sorted over the next couple of days!' During the interview, Susanna also asked about a possible Grange Hill reunion. Lee said: 'There's been a few whispers in the background, but it's still in the background. 'But I'd definitely be up for that! Absolutely.' Lee has also starred in various other TV shows over the years. He has landed roles in the likes of Birds of a Feather, The Bill, EastEnders and Anna and the Dead. Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX. What is malignant melanoma? Malignant melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that begins in melanocytes, cells found in the upper layer of skin that produce melanin, which gives skin its colour. While less common that other types of skin cancer, it is more dangerous because of its ability to spread to other organs more rapidly if it is not treated at an early stage. Symptoms A new mole or a change in an existing mole may be signs of melanoma. Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, but they're more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun. Some rarer types can affect the eyes, soles of the feet, palms of the hands or genitals. Check your skin for any unusual changes. Use a mirror or ask a partner or friend to check any areas you cannot see. In particular, look for: Moles with an uneven shape or edges Moles with a mix of colours Large moles - melanomas often tend to be more than 6mm wide Moles that change size, shape or colour over time Causes Ultraviolet (UV) light is the most common cause of melanoma. It comes from the sun and is used in sunbeds. Melanoma is more common in older people, but younger people can also get it. You're also more likely to get melanoma if you have: Pale skin that burns easily in the sun Red or blonde hair Blue or green eyes A large number of freckles or moles Had a lot of sun exposure and you've had sunburn a lot in the past Used sunbeds a lot A history of skin cancer in your family or you've had skin cancer before If you have black or brown skin, you have a lower chance of getting melanoma, but you can still get it. Prevention Staying safe in the sun is the best way to lower your chance of getting skin cancer (both melanoma and non-melanoma). Do the following: Stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day (11am to 3pm in the UK) Keep your arms and legs covered and wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that provide protection against ultraviolet (UV) rays Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and at least 4-star UVA protection – make sure you reapply it regularly Make sure babies and children are protected from the sun – their skin is much more sensitive than adult skin Treatment Melanoma skin cancer can often be treated. The treatment you have will depend on where it is, if it has spread and your general health. Surgery is the main treatment for melanoma. Radiotherapy, medicines and chemotherapy are also sometimes used. Surgery could involve removing the melanoma and an area of healthy skin around it, swollen lymph nodes if the cancer has spread to them and other parts of the body if it has spread to them. If a large part of skin has to be removed, a skin graft might be needed which could see kin taken from another part of the body to cover the area where the melanoma was. Radiotherpay is sometimes used to reduce the size of large melanomas and help control and relieve symptoms. Targeted medicines and immotherapy are used to treat melanomas that can't be dealt with by surgery, or have spread to lymph glands or other parts of the body. Chemotherapy, which kills cancer cells, is sometimes used to treat advanced melanoma when it has spread to another part of the body. It does not work as well as other treatments, but can be used if you are unable to have them. How dangerous is it? Generally for people with melanoma in England: almost all people (almost 100%) will survive their melanoma for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed around 90 out of every 100 people (around 90%) will survive their melanoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis more than 85 out of every 100 people (more than 85%) will survive their melanoma for 10 years or more after they are diagnosed

Dad told headaches were sinusitis before his 'whole world fell apart'
Dad told headaches were sinusitis before his 'whole world fell apart'

Daily Record

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Record

Dad told headaches were sinusitis before his 'whole world fell apart'

Charlie Broadhurst first noticed symptoms back in 2011 - but when he went to hospital for an MRI scan, he was told his headaches were due to sinusitis and advised to visit his optician. A man who was suffering from headaches was told to go to the opticians before medics discovered he'd had a brain tumour for more than 10 years. Charlie Broadhurst, 36, first noticed symptoms back in 2011 - but when he went to hospital for an MRI scan, he was told his headaches were due to sinusitis and advised to visit his optician. ‌ The married father-of-two, from West Hanney in Oxfordshire, went on with his life - until January 2022 when he was resting in bed whilst recovering from a mild sickness bug and experienced a tingling in his lip. ‌ Charlie, who said he remembered the familiar feeling from childhood when he had febrile convulsions, then suffered a seizure. As reported by Wales Online, he was later diagnosed with a grade 2 astrocytoma - a brain tumour that had grown undetected for over a decade. Charlie's wife, Siobhan, 34, said: 'Our whole world fell apart, it was terrifying, we didn't know how severe it was, but you hear the words 'brain tumour' and we just knew it wasn't good.' Charlie, who was given a life expectancy of 10 to 20 years, said: 'I crumbled and was horrified. So many thoughts flooded my brain, I had already lost 11 years due to misdiagnosis. I was so angry. "Had I known in 2011 what I was up against, I would never have done this to my children or wife. Knowing now what they must face, I would have saved them from all of this." Speaking of the advice to visit opticians, he said: "I kind of left it and, when I did have a headache, made sure I was wearing my glasses a little bit more." ‌ Charlie has since undergone brain surgery twice since his diagnosis and a good amount of the tumour has been successfully removed. He also had six weeks of daily radiotherapy and six months of chemotherapy, which he said was "really hard going". Despite intense fatigue and hair loss, Charlie explained how he found a sense of stability in continuing to work between treatment sessions. He is currently under active surveillance, with scans every six months to monitor the tumour. ‌ Siobhan began raising money for Brain Tumour Research to channel the fear that came with Charlie's diagnosis. She has since raised more than £25,000 - with no plans to stop. Siobhan, an Early Years Foundation Stage teaching assistant, said: "If Charlie's symptoms had been recognised sooner, things could have been very different. I'm doing this for him, for our family, and for everyone going through a brain tumour diagnosis. Brain tumours don't care who you are, they're indiscriminate and relentless. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. ‌ "They kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer in the UK, yet research is still so underfunded. That's why I'm taking on the 88 Squats a Day in July Challenge to raise money and awareness, and to help find a cure. "Since 2022, I've raised over £25,000 for Brain Tumour Research, but I won't stop until families like ours stop hearing the words 'you have a brain tumour ''. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, and they kill more men under 70 than prostate cancer.

All the places in Europe where it IS safe to drink tap water – after one French region banned it
All the places in Europe where it IS safe to drink tap water – after one French region banned it

Scottish Sun

time4 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

All the places in Europe where it IS safe to drink tap water – after one French region banned it

Plus, the foods to avoid at the all inclusive buffet THIRST TRAP All the places in Europe where it IS safe to drink tap water – after one French region banned it Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FRENCH region recently banned residents from drinking tap water over chemicals found in the water. Alsace in eastern France sent 60,000 residents a letter back in April telling them that their water was contaminated and as a result from May, at risk groups should not drink tap water. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 A French region recently banned residents from drinking tap water due to chemicals found in the water - but it has revealed a wider water issue across Europe Credit: Getty The chemicals found were PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals,' which originated from the Euro-Airport Basel-Mulhouse. Whilst most won't know the name of these chemicals, we use them in our everyday lives for things like non-stick frying pans, waterproof jackets, and food packaging. But there has been some evidence that PFAS can cause some cancers, kidney disease, high cholesterol, fertility issues, birth defects, and issues with the immune system. PFAS can be found in all water - so technically no where is safe from these forever chemicals. The Guardian's Phoebe Weston recently revealed that said: "There's more than 23,000 sites across Europe contaminated with PFAS, and in more than 2,300 of those - the levels were considered hazardous." You can check the Forever Pollution Map to see where contaminated sites are. But PFAS aren't the only thing that can make water unsafe to drink - for tap water to be deemed drinkable, it must be cleaned of all germs, pollutants and parasites that can cause us to become unwell. Here are the countries in Europe where tap water is considered safe and unsafe to drink... Places where tap water IS safe in Europe Vivid Maps found that only 50 countries around the world offer drinkable tap water, with the majority in Europe. Typically, tap water is safe to drink in the following European destinations: Andorra Austria Belgium Czech Republic Croatia Denmark Finland France Germany Gibraltar Greece - the mainland Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Monaco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal San Marino Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland UK Vatican City 5 Alsace in eastern France sent 60,000 residents a letter back in April telling them that their water was contaminated Credit: Getty Places in Europe where it is sometimes safe There are a few countries only with certain areas it is safe to drink in. In Greece, the mainland is generally safe to drink tap water from. However, according to Hidropoliti Kakademi, visitors should avoid drinking water on the islands as: "it's rarely safe there - if in doubt, ask a local". Meanwhile, in Georgia, in urban areas like Tbilisi, tap water is typically safe to drink but in rural areas, travellers are advised to drink bottled water. Also in Hungary, the tap water is typically safe to drink in Budapest but it should be avoid outside of the country's major cities. Sites are more mixed about Cyprus though, with some saying tap water isn't safe to drink at all such as All Clear Travel Insurance and others saying it is absolutely safe, such as Visit Cyprus. If you are travelling to Cyprus, it is best to check local reports to find out whether the tap water is safe to consume. In Estonia, tap water is clean and safe to consume in Tallinn, according to Visit Tallinn. The site adds: "From spring until autumn, public drinking water taps can be used in various locations around the city." 5 There are some countries with areas that are safe, but other areas that are not Credit: PA Places where tap water ISN'T safe in Europe There are some destinations in Europe where it isn't safe to drink tap water, according to to multiple sources. The countries where visitors are recommended to drink bottled water include: Albania Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Kazakhstan Kosovo Lithuania Moldova Montenegro Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Turkey Ukraine 5 The chemicals found were PFAS - also known as 'forever chemicals' Credit: Reuters What should you do when travelling? If you are going on holiday and are worried about the levels of PFAS in the water or how clean the water is around where you are staying, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, it is worth checking local reports to see if your area has high levels of PFAS in the water or if the water has recently been contaminated. Alternatively, you can purchase bottled water. Water cleanliness can change over time, with some countries having cleaner water in some areas compared to others - so it is important to always check the tap water at your destination ahead of travelling. If you do fall ill when travelling and suspect it is from tap water, then stop drinking the tap water and opt for bottled or purified water. It is important to stay hydrated, so avoid alcohol and caffeine too. Keep and eye on your symptoms - such as chills, aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea - and if they worse, seek medical attention. Travellers have also been warned to never visit a hotel buffet during 'quiet' times on all-inclusive holidays. Plus, eight travel insurance mistakes to avoid that could cost thousands – including tricks to buying cover and what to pay. Foods to avoid at the all-inclusive buffet Cooked rice and pasta can also cause issues – starchy foods left at room temperature are ideal for bacteria growth. Cold meats and soft cheeses pose a risk if they are not properly chilled, then they're a common cause of illness. If sauces and gravies in hot trays are not kept piping hot, they can become bacterial breeding grounds. Any creamy desserts like custard tarts or tiramisu can spoil quickly in heat.

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