Mark Gurrey had been a keen golfer
Mark Gurrey and Jean in Venice in 2022
When Mark Gurrey’s personality changed wife Jean never thought it was anything sinister. But the keen golfer’s ‘grumpiness’ was actually a brain tumour.
Now Jean, aged 69, is looking to raise awareness of the condition. She had put 70-year-old Mark’s short temper and irritability to him, “just liking a good moan”.
During the same period began experiencing mini seizures. A CT scan later revealed a brain tumour was the cause.
Mark underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy as part of NHS standard care, which left him with debilitating side effects including chronic fatigue. Sadly, in February 2024, Mark died of a glioblastoma.
Jean, from Chemsford, Essex, said: “Looking back, I can see the signs were there, but they were so subtle.
“His good-natured complaining became part of the family’s humour, and we all took joy in it together. But what had once been light-hearted and affectionate became sharper; he grew more critical and short-tempered. Although it concerned me, in particular, we put it down to age, never imagining it could be something more sinister.”
Mark Gurrey in New Zealand in Feb 2018.
During the same time he experienced short temper and irritability, Mark began experiencing mini seizures. Jean said: “Mark mentioned hearing music in his head.
“It happened in short bursts, perhaps two or three times a week. He could never place the tune and sometimes it was a voice that lasted just a few seconds. He insisted it didn’t trouble him and even admitted he quite liked it.”
After being diagnosed with a brain tumour in January 2023 Mark underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy as part of NHS standard care, which left him with debilitating side effects including chronic fatigue.
Jean and Mark at a jazz club
Jean said: “Just a month after being told treatment had shrunk Mark’s tumour and his personality returning to something closer to his old self, his symptoms started again. The oncologist spoke to us about trials, but there was nothing Mark qualified for. We trusted her, and she explained that his tumour had recurred very aggressively.
“I know a lot of people get brain tumours and live with them for years, but the unrelenting nature of Mark’s particular type of tumour is devastating. It sneaks up like an assassin in the night and takes no prisoners,”
In July, Abridge Golf Club in Essex, where Mark regularly played, raised more than £2,000 for Brain Tumour Research after captain Kirk Williams nominated the charity in honour of Mark.
Jean said: “Greater understanding and awareness of this disease, even of its subtlest warning signs, is vital. With more investment in research, we can find kinder treatments that extend lives and give families hope.”
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Mark’s story is sadly not uncommon. There are more than 100 different types of brain tumour, making them notoriously difficult to find effective treatments for.
Mark Gurrey in New Zealand in Feb 2018.
“Despite this complexity, treatment options have barely changed in decades. As a charity, we’re working hard to drive the innovation needed to bring new treatments to patients faster – but to do this, we urgently need greater investment.
“With the support of people like Jean, we’re pushing for change. To find out how you can help us campaign for more research and funding, visit braintumourresearch.org.”
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