Incurable malignant brain tumor diagnosed as 'work stress'

A misdiagnosis causes a young store manager to go blind and his days are numbered

Andy Bell, from Leicester, Britain, started suffering from severe headaches while running his Carphone Warehouse mobile shop in August 2019.

Bell visited a doctor after the pain persisted, but was told he might have been suffering from migraines from the stress of his job.

Andy has been referred to the Leicester Royal Infirmary after suffering a panic attack that left him disoriented and amnesiac.

But again, the doctors put the headache into action as the cause of what's happening to him.

Then his tumor was eventually diagnosed in January 2020 after Bell went to see his doctor again after he was forced to stop his car because he was in so much pain.

Andy was told he had glioblastoma multiforme, a malignant, rapidly growing brain tumor that usually begins inside the brain.

The tumor continued to grow, and despite radiotherapy and chemotherapy, he was now completely blind.

Andy's aunt, Deb Bell, 48, from Groppi in Leicester, said: "Andy went to his GP, who said he had migraines but then had a fit of confusion and a panic attack and couldn't remember anything."

His aunt added: 'I was in great shock.

Andy is like my third son, so I was in disbelief at the thought of losing someone so important to me.

When we got confirmation that it was a brain tumor, it was a death sentence."

"Andy didn't want to know how long he had to live, but Google will tell you it's 12 to 18 months."

Andy underwent tumor removal at Queens Medical Center in Nottingham, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

His aunt added: "Since then he's had a few seizures, one of which dislocated his shoulders. Since December 2020, Andy has not had a consistent check-up. The tumor has grown, and we've been told there is no longer any treatment available for him. His eyesight began to weaken in October 2021 and he is now completely blind."

Andy Bell's wife, educator and mother of two will now walk 10,000 steps each day in February to raise money for brain tumor research.

Andy Bell's wife said: "The inspiration comes from the absolutely amazing Andy. He is a great warrior who has never given up or felt sorry for himself."

"Until you have to face this kind of reality, you don't understand how harsh the facts are," she continued.

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