A WOMAN whose husband died from a brain tumour was at Westminster as MPs were hearing of the unbearable burden of the disease.

Wendy Fulcher, from Ealing, was at Tuesday’s meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours as it published a report on the economic and social impacts faced by patients and their families.

 Her husband, John, was taken ill on a business trip to Canada and subsequently diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.

John was flown home to the UK where he underwent surgery, but he died 10 months later in 2001, aged 52. Since his death, Wendy has launched her own charity, Brain Tumour Research Campaign, in his memory.

 Wendy, 66, who is also chairman of trustees of the national charity Brain Tumour Research, said: “We owned a company employing 20 staff and John’s illness meant neither of us could fulfil our work commitments as I was his sole carer, chauffeur and nurse.

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“To add to all this, John’s personality changed and he suffered seizures, hallucinations and mood swings in addition to his physical conditions. After his death, I suffered depression and emotional trauma for more than two years.”

Brain tumours – a cost too much to bear? is the report of a Parliamentary inquiry into the economic and social impacts of brain tumours, which received more than 200 online submissions from patients and their families.

Sue Farrington Smith, chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are extremely grateful to Wendy for sharing her personal story, which demonstrates why we must continue to highlight this issue.

 “Understanding the very high ongoing costs of brain tumours is vital and the Government must find additional ways to minimise these costs.” 

www.braintumourresearch.org