A Berkshire man has called for more government funding into brain tumour research after his wife died from the disease.
Mother-of-three Lisa Flanagan, from Hungerford, was 46 years old when she was diagnosed with a low-grade astrocytoma in 2018 after suffering from severe bouts of fatigue.
Her condition worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she eventually lost the ability to speak and move.
Her husband, Simon Flanagan, 56, said: "Having lived through this first-hand, it’s appalling that just 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002.
"It’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely vital the government follows through on its promise to spend £40 million on research into brain tumours."
During the pandemic, Mr Flanagan was adamant Mrs Flanagan needed more urgent support, and says he pleaded with consultants to carry out further tests.
It was only after Mrs Flanagan was admitted to a Sue Ryder palliative care centre in Newbury that she underwent another MRI scan, which revealed the true extent of the swelling.
The family had been exploring alternative treatments, but Mrs Flanagan died just four days after the scan.
Mr Flanagan said: "I just wish we had been given the full story.
"To be told she had a couple of days to live and have the rug pulled out from underneath you was devastating.
"The light in the tunnel was extinguished so quickly.
"The only glimmer of good was that we got to be there with her at the end."
Mr Flanagan and the youngest of his and Mrs Flanagan's three sons, Aidan, who was 13 at the time, decided to fundraise with a daring 200km kayak from Hungerford to Bristol and back.
The week-long trip which saw them wild camp in tempestuous conditions, raised £6,000 for the charity Brain Tumour Research.
On September 28, 2024, Mr Flanagan, his sons and their partners, as well as Mrs Flanagan’s parents, took part in the charity’s Walk of Hope in Chatsworth House.
Mr Flanagan said: "It's not just the individual you lose. It’s the ramifications of that loss and the ripples that are felt by everyone who loves them, so the more we can do to bring more attention to this disease the better."
The walk is Brain Tumour Research’s annual national event where hundreds of supporters join walks or organise their own in their community to raise money to bring hope to brain tumour patients and their families.
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