Brain tumour survivor's dog dies from same disease

A man who fought for a brain tumour diagnosis for more than a decade has spoken of his heartbreak after his beloved pet dog died from the same condition.

Adrian Haynes, who is from Blackpool but lived in Northampton at the time, said he suffered seizures, distorted vision and memory loss for more than 10 years before he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2023.

Mr Haynes was recovering from surgery to treat his tumour when his dog Taz began to suffer seizures. Taz deteriorated quickly and died with a post-mortem test revealing the cause to be a brain tumour.

"I was grieving him while still trying to process my own diagnosis," said the 53-year-old. "It was a cruel twist of fate."

"To see him suddenly start seizing and then to lose him so quickly was heart-breaking," he said.

"To then be told he had a brain tumour too felt surreal. You would not believe it if it was a film script."

Mr Haynes said Taz had been by his side during the worst part of his illness and had "kept him going" when he felt like giving up during his battle for a diagnosis.

He said he raised concerns repeatedly with doctors at GP surgeries as well as departments at Northampton General Hospital but was told his symptoms were due to stress.

It was only after Mr Haynes moved back to Blackpool in 2023 and suffered a major seizure that saw him rushed to hospital that he received his diagnosis.

He said scans revealed a slow-growing tumour in his right frontal lobe measuring 26mm.

"I had been asking for a brain scan for years," Mr Haynes said. "I wrote letters, sent emails, raised it in consultations.

"When the tumour was finally discovered I wasn't even shocked, I was angry.

"The long-term impact has been devastating. Frontal lobe damage affects memory, emotion and physical coordination.

"It's changed my life completely."

Now retraining as a mental health counsellor, Mr Haynes said he was determined to turn his experience into something positive.

He volunteers at Counselling in the Community, a Blackpool-based charity that offers accessible and affordable counselling services, and said he would continue to raise awareness about brain tumours.

"I've been told this disease is rare but my experience tells a different story," he said.

"It is under-recognised, underfunded and far too often misdiagnosed.

"I'm speaking out because people are dying while waiting to be believed. We need earlier diagnosis, better-trained professionals and proper investment in research."

Northampton General Hospital has been contacted for comment.

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