Doncaster woman’s tragic loss inspires challenge to help find a brain tumour cure

A Doncaster woman is raising money for Brain Tumour Research, after losing her dad to an aggressive brain tumour during the pandemic.
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Recruitment consultant Lynsey Wozencroft is taking on the 10,000 Steps a Day in February Challenge to raise vital funds for the charity. It’s after her dad John Wozencroft died from a glioblastoma (GBM) multiforme in September 2020, 14 months after he was diagnosed with the deadly disease.

Lynsey said: “Dad started showing symptoms in June 2019. He was experiencing dizziness and was feeling disoriented and had some difficulties when driving. He saw his GP, who diagnosed him with anxiety and asked him to keep a diary documenting his mood.

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“The following month some of his friends went to see him one day and they noticed he wasn’t himself. He was struggling with his dexterity and seemed to have lost function on his left side. He didn’t want to go to hospital but his friends came back the next day and encouraged him to go to be checked out. He reluctantly agreed and went to Doncaster Royal Infirmary, where he was given a CT scan. The scan picked up a mass on his brain, so he was referred to Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield for a more detailed MRI.”

Lynsey Wozencroft and her dad JohnLynsey Wozencroft and her dad John
Lynsey Wozencroft and her dad John
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On July 26, 2019, John received the devastating news that he had a grade 4 GBM in his right parietal lobe. The average survival time for this tumour-type is short – just 12-18 months.

Lynsey said: “The news came as a total shock to all of us. Dad had had bladder and prostate cancer but they were much more treatable and he’d recovered well. He was only 67 and was enjoying his retirement after selling his successful engineering business. It was such a cruel diagnosis to receive.”

John had brain surgery to debulk his tumour. The following day he developed a haematoma and had to have further surgery to remove it. John was then advised to undergo a six-week course of daily radiotherapy, to try to prevent the tumour from growing. He asked for his treatment to be transferred from Sheffield to Hull, as he had fulfilled a lifelong dream and bought a caravan on the east coast of Yorkshire, where he planned to go to enjoy birdwatching and recuperation.

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Lynsey said: “Dad thought he’d be alright in the caravan but the treatment was draining and he decided he just wanted to come home to Doncaster each day, so he ended up having an hour’s trip each way to and from the hospital.”

John also underwent a course of Temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy, which he was unfortunately unable to complete, as it made him unwell.

Lynsey said: “It didn’t seem to work for him and made him feel rubbish. His zest for life had gone and he began to feel quite low too. He ended up back in hospital in November 2019, with blood flow problems.”

Once he finished his treatment, John enjoyed a period of relatively good health.

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Lynsey added: “Between December 2019 and February 2020, Dad was feeling much better and we were able to go out for short walks in the countryside and go birdwatching, which he loved. I’ve got many happy memories of special times with Dad during this three-month period.”

John had a routine scan in January 2020, which revealed no progression but sadly, his next scan in March showed some new growth. This bad news coincided with the UK going into lockdown, due to the spread of COVID-19.

Lynsey, who gave up work to care for her dad, said: “It felt so unfair. We had plans to go to London. He wanted to go to his caravan. We couldn’t do any of that. Not only was he suffering with a life-limiting illness, he also couldn’t complete his bucket list or even just see his friends and family. It was really difficult to try to keep his spirits up.”

John started another course of chemotherapy in May 2020. The same month his mother became ill after suffering a stroke and died at the age of 93.

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Lynsey added: “We hadn’t told Grandma just how ill Dad was; we didn’t want to cause her undue worry. Dad got to go to her funeral, which was scaled back to 10 mourners, due to the restrictions.”

One month later, became so unwell that Lynsey had to call an ambulance and he was taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary, where he stayed for a number of weeks before being transferred to a nursing home.

Lynsey said: “We knew Dad needed professional help and specialist nursing care but the COVID-19 situation made things so much worse, as visits to the home were extremely limited and only one visitor was allowed in his room. It was such a traumatic time; I can’t imagine how horrendous it must have been for Dad, especially at the end when he was clearly in a lot of pain.”

“At the end of his life Dad had to spend long periods of time alone, due to visit times in the home being strictly limited; that was a cruel result of lockdown. At a time when he needed his family and close friends the most, we were kept at arm’s length, with no hugs allowed and we were separated via socially-distanced window visits.”

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John died on 14 September 2020, a month after his 68th birthday.

Lynsey said: “Looking back at his life, I feel so pleased that he made the most of the time he had. He loved nature and travelling and visited more than 40 countries and six different continents in all. It’s definitely changed my perspective and taught me not to take things for granted.”

Inspired by her dad, Lynsey is joining thousands of other fundraisers around the country and putting her best foot forward in February, by taking part in a 10,000 Steps a Day in February Challenge, to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.

Steps can be completed however and with whoever participants like, ensuring they follow COVID-19 safety guidelines. Whether it’s heading to the local park to enjoy some fresh air, discovering a new running route every day or staying at home and completing the challenge around the house or garden, the possibilities are endless. Registrants can step out on their own, with members of their household or support bubble – whichever suits them best.

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Lynsey said: “I used to work 40 hours a week but I’ve not returned to my job since losing Dad, so I have a lot of spare time on my hands. I wanted to use that time to do something positive. I was also shocked to discover just how little government funding goes into brain tumour research and that motivated me to do my bit to help raise awareness, while honouring my dad.

“One of my best friends, Sarah Jacques-Radcliffe, had a low-grade meningioma brain tumour removed five years ago. Thankfully, her scans have remained stable ever since and she’s made a really good recovery. Sarah has been furloughed and is also doing the 10,000 Steps Challenge. She’s joining me for socially-distanced walks, so we can clock up the steps together while we chat. It’s a cause that means so much to both of us.”

Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We were so sorry to learn about John’s passing and all that Lynsey and the family have been through. We are thinking of them at this difficult time.

“John’s story reminds us of the way in which brain tumour patients, facing devastating prognoses, are being impacted by the global health crisis. What’s more, brain tumours kill more men under 70 than prostate cancer and less than 20% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 50% across all cancers. We thank Lynsey and Sarah sincerely for taking part in our challenge and we will be with them every step of the way, helping to get us closer to a cure.”

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Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. The charity is calling for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs.

To donate to Brain Tumour Research via Lynsey’s fundraising page, visit:http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Lynsey-Wozencroft

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.