Dad accused of faking brain tumor symptoms by doctor dies less than a year later after aggressive tumor found

A dad’s cancerous brain tumor symptoms were dismissed as stress by a GP who even accused him of “faking.”Stephen Blakeston, 53 when he died, began experiencing troubling symptoms in October 2010, including jumbled speech, severe headaches, and distress, which were completely out of character for him.But a CT scan later revealed a glioblastoma – an aggressive brain tumor which leaves sufferers with a typical lifespan of 12-18 months.  But Stephen, a former council grounds worker, died suddenly on 13 July 2011.Daughter Hollie Rhodes, 37, a PE teacher and mom-of-two from Hull, is running the London Marathon in his memory, to raise money for Brain Tumor Research.She said: “In October 2010, Mum called me saying he was jumbling up his sentences and not making any sense.He also had a massive headache and was really distressed, which wasn’t like him at all.“I couldn’t believe it when we visited the GP, who dismissed his symptoms as stress-related and even said he was faking, something I know my dad wouldn’t do. “It was a CT scan at Hull Royal Infirmary that showed he wasn’t faking anything.

The scan found a tumor growing on the left side of his brain, affecting his speech. “He had surgery the next week, which was successful, but the biopsy confirmed our worst fear – it was incurable and cancerous.”Stephen, survived by his wife, Elaine, daughters Hollie and Lauren, and five grandchildren, underwent one round of intensive radiotherapy and two rounds of chemotherapy to halt the tumor’s growth. Despite experiencing fatigue, his mood remained positive, his family say, and scans showed no signs of further tumor regrowth. But he died after collapsing at home, after a blood clot travelled to his heart – related to his treatment or the tumor.  Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.Please provide a valid email address.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use ...