Doctors told Birmingham grandad to ‘chew gum’ for unusual symptom before shocking diagnosis

A grandad was told to ‘chew gum’ by doctors after hearing a ringing in his ear - which was actually being caused by a fatal brain tumour.

Doctors said grandad-of-fifteen Brian Goldie, 68, should use gum to ease symptoms - which they thought was tinnitus.

But months later Brian, from Birmingham, lost all feeling in the right side of his body and was revealed to have a high-grade glioma on his brain stem. He died just months after he received the devastating diagnosis - despite receiving 15 sessions of radiotherapy.

One of Brian’s six children Tony, 33 said: “Dad was slurring his speech and seemed confused.

‘’We were told that the tumour was inoperable due to where it was growing, and it was aggressive. We were desperate to improve his outcome and asked if there was a clinical trial he could try but there was nothing. His only option was radiotherapy.”

Despite the radiotherapy successfully shrinking the tumour, Brian lost his mobility in December 2021 and became bed-bound. He soon became forgetful and grew too weak for further treatment, despite the support of his wife Maryann.

Tony said: “The doctors did various tests and found Dad’s platelet count was low which was a concern.

“However, in the same breath we were given positive results of a follow up scan in which showed the tumour and surrounding area had shrunk.

“Doctors shared their surprise with us, they said this was most unusual for someone with dad’s type of tumour. Dad couldn’t remember what he’d eaten or even if he’d had a meal. His memory travelled back in time to when he was a child.

“He’d ask: ‘what time am I going to school?’ Other days he woke up thinking he was late for work, as he tried to get out of bed, he soon realised he couldn’t stand or walk. We used to tell him they had given him the day off so he could just relax.”

Since Brian’s death, Tony and his family have raised more than £3,000 for Brain Tumour Research - and are campaigning alongside the charity to petition the Government to raise funding the disease. Brian’s daughter Jade, 30, said: “As a family we have learnt the hard way how we desperately need more funding to research brain tumours.

‘’We have so many unanswered questions.

“There must be kinder treatment options, more treatment options, life-saving treatment options.

“We believe more can be done and our hope by supporting Brain Tumour Research, is that no other family has to experience the loss of a family member to this horrendous disease.”

Brain Tumour Research wants the Government to recognise brain tumour research as a critical priority - as currently the condition receives less funding than other cancers.

In November, they will submit a petition aiming to start a Parliamentary debate on funding for the condition.

Mel Tiley, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are grateful to Tony and his family for supporting our petition and helping to raise awareness.

“For too long governments have put brain tumours on the ‘too difficult to think about’ pile. Five years after the Government announced £40 million for brain cancer research, less than £11 million has been spent.

“Patients and families continue to be let down by a funding system that is built in silos and not fit for purpose.”

To sign and share the petition before it closes at the end of October, go to www.braintumourresearch.org/petition