Entertainment
The Wanted’s Tom Parker calls for better treatment for tumours than current ‘horrific’ care plans
The Wanted’s Tom Parker has undergone brutal treatment for brain cancer since being diagnosed with glioblastoma last year (Photo by Amanda Edwards/WireImage)
The Wanted’s Tom Parker has pleaded for better treatments to be found for people suffering from brain tumours after he suffered through his care plan.
The 33-year-old singer was frustrated as he spoke to an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours, made up of politicians, activists and patients, about the wait for new medicines.
He said: ‘I’m staggered they can find a cure for Covid within a year but, for decades on end, they haven’t found better treatments let alone a cure for brain tumours.
‘Why is it taking so long for clinical trials to come through?’
The pop star has been battling a stage four glioblastoma brain tumour for a year but last month received some positive news on his progress.
A recent MRI scan had shown the tumour was ‘under control’ and stable after gruelling chemo and radiotherapy, and his tumours have shown a significant reduction in size.
While the treatment is working, Tom admitted he was greatly challenged while enduring radiotherapy and chemotherapy, saying he has ‘experienced moments of real sadness and darkness’.
Tom has been vocal about his journey since being diagnosed with a brain tumour, making multiple TV appearances so raise awareness of the disease (Credits: Ken McKay/ITV/REX)
‘Some of those low points I attribute to the level of toxicity in the treatment process,’ he added.
‘It’s truly horrific and disgusting but it was my only choice and I hope it did the job it needed to do.’
Tom, who is married to actor Kelsey Hardwick, has two young children, Auriela, two, and one-year-old Bodhi, who was born just weeks after he was diagnosed with the disease.
He told the All-Parliamentary Group that his diagnosis and subsequent treatment had a ‘tragic and devastating’ effect on him and his family.
Tom and wife Kelsey Hardwick have two young children together (Picture: Getty )
‘At 33 years old, to be told you’ve got 18 months to live is horrendous. We’ve just got on with it and try not to think about it too much. There’s no other option.’
Hugh Adams, head of stakeholder relations at Brain Tumour Research, said listening to Tom’s speech ‘was a huge privilege’.’
He commented that Tom is ‘an articulate, intelligent and passionate man who is advocating for more research into brain tumours and we are very grateful to him…’
Tom was praised for his ‘great insight into what it’s like to live with this awful disease’ and for highlighting ‘the drastic need for greater funding into this area of cancer research, which is so important’.
While Tom’s disease is stable, the singer is still undergoing treatment every three weeks to keep things under control.
Tom and Kelsey recently celebrated son Bodhi’s first birthday; he was born weeks after Tom received his diagnosis (Picture: Instagram @tomparkerofficial )
He recently shared a photo of a drip stand and machine delivering medication through a line in his living room as he told fans: ‘When treatment comes home.’
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With fans voicing concerns that he had received bad news, he rushed to reassure them that there was ‘no need to worry’.
As well as treatment for the cancer itself, Tom is also undergoing physiotherapy to regain strength in his left side after it was affected by the tumour.
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