The body has many weird and wonderful warning signs to let us know when something is going wrong or right. For Dan Horrocks a craving for olives was a signal to check for for brain tumors.
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The 33-year-old man has been plagued by a total of five brain tumors so far. His first was discovered after an eye test he took. The optician discovered swelling on his optic nerve, and he was immediately taken to hospital. Before this, he had been experiencing nausea and dizziness.
The first of his brain tumors was removed quickly, but he had a long recovery time. He had to learn to walk and think again. He still managed to finish a degree during this time, despite the difficult recovery process.
The second time he was diagnosed, it transpired that he had another at his brain stem. This grade three tumor was also removed through surgery and chemotherapy. Looking back, he recalled just how uncomfortable the process was. "The mask they fit for targeted radiotherapy is so tight you can't blink. I experienced panic attacks for the first time — it was horrible."
Olives Signal More Brain Tumors
Horrocks suspected more brain tumors when he began to crave olives. He had never enjoyed them before and knew that a behavior change could be a warning sign. Lo and behold, another brain scan showed yet another tumor on the frontal lobe of his brain.
This area controls things like emotions, hence the newfound love of olives. Amazingly, the removal of this tumor has affected him emotionally. "After the surgery for the third tumor, I found it easier to express my emotions - I'm more empathetic and get upset more easily."
Since then, there have been two more brain tumors found. He has been struggling to beat them all his life. But now, he is looking to fly to America where there are revolutionary new advances in treatments unavailable in the UK.
He is raising money to fight brain tumors with modern science and the response has been overwhelming. He was hoping to raise $50,000 but has already surpassed this. Hopefully, he will be able to try to beat his endless brain tumors with the advances in medical science.
