A father who has battled four brain tumors over the past 14 years has shared a peculiar symptom he experienced prior to his diagnosis.
In August 2011, Dan Horrocks, 33, discovered he had a brain tumor after undergoing a complimentary eye examination at an optician’s.
The eye test revealed swelling on Dan’s optic nerves, prompting immediate brain surgery at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and a subsequent round of radiotherapy.
Unfortunately, Dan’s ordeal was far from over; he faced another tumor diagnosis in 2014, followed by a third in 2018, and a fourth one last October.
After his most recent treatment, Dan disclosed an odd symptom he noticed before one of his diagnoses that he found quite unusual.
Before his third tumor was identified, Dan experienced sudden cravings for olives, despite never having liked them. He also craved spinach and tomatoes for breakfast.
The third tumor was detected during a routine scan, but Dan and his wife, Sonia Khan, had already observed the peculiar cravings.
Dan’s tumors are ependymomas, which are uncommon tumors typically found in children around five years old or adults around 45.
He underwent brain surgery in November and spinal surgery in December after his latest diagnosis. These tumors are located in cells lining the pathways of cerebral spinal fluid through the spine, leaving the potential for recurrence anywhere in the spine or brain.
Doctors have indicated that Dan has received the maximum amount of radiation therapy that can be safely administered by the NHS, and chemotherapy is only expected to have a 14 percent success rate in treating his tumors.
Now seeking a final option, Dan is raising funds to visit MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, where he hopes to explore new treatments, including genetic testing for a customized treatment.
He and his wife have successfully raised over $60,000 (£50,000), surpassing their goal by more than $10,000.
These funds will cover travel expenses and consultations, including genetic tests on Dan and his tumor samples, in the hopes of finding a targeted treatment.
Dan was first diagnosed with a brain tumor after suffering from severe headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Following his initial surgery, he had to relearn basic functions such as walking, talking, and thinking.
In response to the overwhelming support for his fundraising efforts, Mr. Horrocks expressed his gratitude.
He said: “I’m so shocked and overwhelmed with how quickly the money has come in. This could be the first step towards an innovative new treatment we can bring to the UK.
“The NHS staff have all been amazing – they said they can do surgeries but not much else more. That felt a bit like the end of a road and I’ve always tried to avoid that.”
If you’d like to donate to Dan’s GoFundMe, you can do so here.