New guide to help parents spot brain tumour signs

Mum backs initiative after brave son Patrick's ordeal

- BY KEITH FALKINER

BRAIN tumour symptoms in children and teens can be spotted by parents so now a charity has issued warning signs to save lives.

A new campaign called Heads Up is being launched to highlight the dangers, ahead of National Brain Tumour Awareness Week, which runs from October 20 to 26.

The need for parents to pay attention to the guide was highlighted by the family of schoolboy Patrick Duffy, from Tipperary.

He was only eight when he was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma brain tumour in December 2023.

Patrick had been back and forth to doctors with parents Kieran and Nora over a few months due to vomiting.

He then had further intermittent symptoms such as headache and blurred vision.

Childhood tumours are rare but they are the most common cancer diagnosis in children in Ireland.

It was decided to attend for an eye test, and it was during this examination an issue with the optic nerve was discovered.

Patrick was then immediately admitted to hospital where he was diagnosed the next day.

He had surgery at CHI Temple Street, proton radiotherapy at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, and chemotherapy at CHI Crumlin.

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