Daughter's funding frustrations after dad's death

Emma Dean, right, said she had read about alternative treatments for brain tumours available outside of the UK but they were "expensive"

The daughter of a man who died from a brain tumour has spoken of her frustration over government funding towards treatment options for the disease.

Lez Dean, 61, from Shropshire, died in December 2020, five months after he was diagnosed with a highly invasive form of brain cancer, glioblastoma.

His daughter, Emma Dean, from Telford, Shropshire, said it was "incomprehensible" to think there were no other treatment options for his cancer in the UK.

A Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for a response to Mr Dean's case.

A spokesperson previously said funding would continue to be available to develop new treatments for brain tumours.

Just 1% of national funding for cancer research has been allocated to studying brain tumours since 2002, Brain Tumour Research said.

Lez Dean died five months after he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma

Mr Dean, a former Telford AFC mascot and grandfather of eight, was diagnosed after he had episodes of confusion, which were initially thought to be linked to his existing diabetes.

Ms Dean, who has four-year-old daughter, said she had researched the disease online but only realised how widespread brain tumours were after her dad died.

“The consultant told us they could carry out a biopsy to be sure of his diagnosis but he may not survive the procedure," she said.

"In the same breath they told us that treatment wouldn’t be pleasant for Dad and may only prolong his life, not save him."

Ms Dean, speaking during Brain Tumour Awareness Month, said she had read about alternative treatments outside of the UK but these were "expensive" and had strict criteria.

"Doctors may as well have said to us ‘don’t bother nothing will save your dad’," she added.

According to Brain Tumour Research, at least 16,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year.

The charity recently announced news of a blood test that could help diagnose patients with the deadliest form of brain cancer, sparing them invasive surgery.

Ms Dean said it was "vitally important" people kept talking about brain tumours.

“It’s too late for dad," she added "Had this [blood test] been available, he might have had longer with [my daughter], he never seemed to have a different option for treatment."