Three Northamptonshire sisters all diagnosed with same brain tumour

A grieving woman has spoken of losing her sibling during lockdown after all three sisters were diagnosed with the same brain tumour.

Lesley Bushell was diagnosed in September 2017 with a brain tumour, aged 69, after being badly concussed following a fall at home.

When the tumour started growing and affecting her walking, she was referred to the University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire for surgery. Sadly, she had a stroke during the operation and also lost the sight in one eye as well as her hearing.

Lesley had rehabilitation at NGH and 28 sessions of radiotherapy but on 8 May this year she passed away with pneumonia and infection due to the brain tumour.

Her older sister, Janet Haynes, 80, of Nether Heyford, said the three sisters had a tight knit bond.

She said: “Lesley fought so hard and loved life. Her husband John couldn’t have done more for her.

"This wasn't in the script. The three of us got on so well. It was awful losing Lesley and not being able to say our goodbyes during lockdown. I find it really hard but I have to tell myself 'I have to carry on and march on through'.

"I often look at my diary at the days she came over last and year and often think why wasn't it me because I am a bit older?"

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.

Janet was the first of the sisters to be diagnosed with a low-grade meningioma brain tumour back in January 2008, aged 68.

She added: "I was doing really stupid things like leaving the gas on and letting a saucepan burn dry. A GP thought it might be the start of dementia, but our family doctor sent me to have an MRI scan which revealed the brain tumour."

Janet had three operations because of regrowth and returns each year for a scan. Her youngest sister, Diana Holland, 70, lives in Broughton and was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2010. Diana, however, hasn’t needed surgery to have it removed, although she has had a shunt fitted to drain off excess fluid, and has regular scans and has been fine since.

Now, Janet is raising awareness of Brain Tumour Research charity. "I have supported the charity Brain Tumour Research for a number of years with regular giving and buying Christmas cards. I haven’t got a lot of money, but I would give my last penny to the charity," she said.

Brain Tumour Research funds research at dedicated centres in the UK and 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. To make a donation click here.