Tom Parker has revealed his stage 4 brain tumour has ‘significantly reduced’ and is ‘responding well’ to treatment.
The Wanted singer, 32, took to Instagram on Thursday to update fans on his progress after receiving his terminal diagnosis of glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer, in October.
In a lengthy post, Tom said it was a ‘good f*****g day’ after receiving the positive news about his battle and vowed to ‘keep fighting’ for the sake of his wife Kelsey Hardwick and their two children.
Positive progress: Tom Parker, 32, has revealed his stage 4 brain tumour has ‘significantly reduced’ and is ‘responding well’ to treatment
Tom shared a throwback snap of himself, wife Kelsey and their children Aurelia Rose, 18 months, and Bodhi, 11 weeks, as he announced his tumour had shrunk following treatment.
He wrote: ‘SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION These are the words I received today and I can’t stop saying them over and over again.
‘I had an MRI scan on Tuesday and my results today were a significant reduction to the tumour and I am responding well to treatment. Everyday I’m keeping on the fight to shrink this b*****d!
‘I can’t thank our wonderful NHS enough. You’re all having a tough time out there but we appreciate the work you are all doing on the front line.
Determined: In a lengthy post Instagram post, The Wanted star said it was a ‘good f*****g day’ after receiving the positive news about his battle and vowed to ‘keep fighting’
‘To my amazing wife @being_kelsey who has literally been my rock. My babies- I fight for you every second of every day.
‘Friends, family and everyone on this journey with me- you have got me through my darkest days.
‘To everyone on here- your love, light and positivity have inspired me. Every message has not been unnoticed they have given me so much strength. This journey is a rollercoaster that’s for sure. Today is a f*****g good day.’
Last month Tom has admitted his world was turned ‘upside down’ after he was told he has a stage four brain tumour.
The star took to Instagram and shared a photo of himself taken just two days before he received his terminal diagnosis.
Thanking his wife Kelsey and their family for the support they have given him, Tom said he has ‘come along way’ since being given the heartbreaking news.
Honest: Last month, Tom has admitted his world was turned ‘upside down’ after he was told he has a stage four brain tumour
He wrote: ‘REALITY: Two days after this picture was taken, I was told I had a stage 4 brain tumour. It turned my world upside down.
‘I don’t really remember them earlier days of when I was told. I was living in such a haze. But I’ve come a long way even in such a short space of time. Thank you all for your love and support over the last few months.
‘And again thank you to our friends and family who have really come together and helped wherever needed with the kids and helping with the house. My incredible manager @damiensanders1973 who I drive insane 24/7 has put himself out of his way to help me and kels through this difficult period.’
Tom called his wife a ‘warrior’ as he praised her for looking after their children, daughter Aurelia Rose, 18 months, and son Bodhi, two months, amid his cancer battle.
Couple: Thanking his wife Kelsey and their family for the support they have given him, he said he has ‘come along way’ since being given the heartbreaking news
Tom wrote: ‘I don’t really remember them earlier days of when I was told. I was living in such a haze. But I’ve come a long way even in such a short space of time’
He wrote: ‘To my beautiful wife who has managed to cope with the tears, and looking after an 18 month old and a new born @being_kelsey she’s the true warrior here!
‘I promise to keep you updated with how things are progressing over the next few months. And here’s hoping for a fantastic 2021.’
Last month Tom shared a glimpse of his recent trip to London for another ‘very long’ day of treatment for his terminal brain tumour.
The singer documented his day on Instagram Stories while ensuring he kept hydrated with plenty of water, and admitted that despite the challenges he’s grateful to still be receiving treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He shared his first post from the back of the car driving over a bridge in London, writing: ‘Another day of treatment.’
Donning a mask, a later video showed Tom in the hospital undergoing treatment, ensuring he drank plenty of water.
He wrote: ‘The more H2O the better!’
Later Tom revealed he’d reached the end of his latest day of treatment, admitting it had taken its toll.
He wrote: ‘Treatment days are always so long but very thankful to be able to receive it given what’s happening. Hope everyone is staying safe out there.’
Tom also revealed he’d been suffering with bad short term memory loss after having chemotherapy and radiotherapy amid his terminal brain tumour battle.
He explained this can be a side effect of the treatments however he tried to stay upbeat joking that he’s able to recall ‘stupid’ things like the gifts he’s got for daughter Aurelia for Christmas.
Challenging: On Monday, Tom shared a glimpse of his recent trip to London for another ‘very long’ day of treatment for his terminal brain tumour
Speaking on Stories, Tom explained: ‘As some of you know, I have been through chemo and radio, haven’t I?
‘Which was pretty god-damn brutal, but some of the side effects from the chemo and radio are you get bad short term memory loss.’
The father-of-two then looked towards Kelsey who was standing out of the camera frame and asked: ‘Mine [memory] was already bad, wasn’t it?’
Kelsey quickly replied with a laugh, saying: ‘It was horrendous already, so now I’m like… literally, it’s even worse!’
Tom then continued chatting, telling his fans: ‘But it’s the weirdest thing because, I’ll go to her [Kelsey], ‘What did I just do? What was I gonna say?’
‘But I can remember stuff like this [picks up a childrens’ toy] ‘What have we got? A Heart of Te Fiti [from Moana] for Christmas?’ How do you remember that? Stupid.’
Two months ago Tom announced he has grade four glioblastoma, with the Bolton native undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment in a bid to prolong his life.
Life expectancy for this illness ranges from three months to 18 months after diagnosis, but the couple have not asked to hear Tom’s prognosis amid fears he would ‘sit and count down the days and not live his life’.
‘We are going to beat this’: In October Tom announced he has grade four glioblastoma, and had been undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment in a bid to prolong his life
He wrote at the time: ‘Hey guys, you know that we’ve both been quiet on social media for a few weeks and it’s time to tell you why.
‘There’s no easy way to say this but I’ve sadly been diagnosed with a Brain Tumour and I’m already undergoing treatment.
‘We decided, after a lot of thought, that rather than hiding away and trying to keep it a secret, we would do one interview where we could lay out all the details and let everyone know the facts in our own way.
‘We are all absolutely devastated but we are gonna fight this all the way. We don’t want your sadness, we just want love and positivity and together we will raise awareness of this terrible disease and look for all available treatment options.
‘It’s gonna be a tough battle but with everyone’s love and support we are going to beat this. Tom and Kelsey xxx.’
The couple welcomed their second child, son Bodhi in November.
WHAT IS A GLIOBLASTOMA AND JUST HOW DEADLY IS IT? THE AGGRESSIVE BRAIN TUMOR SUFFERED BY JOHN MCCAIN
Senator John McCain was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in July 2017
Glioblastoma is considered the most aggressive tumor that can form in the brain. Senator John McCain was diagnosed with one in July 2017.
Patients have a 10 percent chance of surviving five years after their diagnosis, according to figures. The average lifespan is between 14 and 16 months.
Three adults per every 100,000 will be struck down with a glioblastoma, says The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS).
It is most commonly found in men aged 50 to 60, and there is no link between developing glioblastoma and having a previous history with other cancers.
WHAT IS THE TUMOR MADE OF?
The tumor is made up of a mass of cells growing quickly in the brain, and in most cases patients have no family history of the disease.
It won’t spread to other organs, however, once it is diagnosed, it is nearly impossible to target, surgeons claim.
Unlike other types of brain cancer which are more specifically located, glioblastoma can occur in any part of the brain.
WHAT TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE?
Because the tumor likely already spread deep into the brain by the time it is diagnosed, the cancerous tissue is incredibly difficult to remove.
Surgeon will only ever remove the tumor, or part of the tumor, if it won’t do any damage to the surrounding brain tissue.
Dr Babcar Cisse, a neurosurgeon at the Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center, told Daily Mail Online in July 2017: ‘By the time a glioblastoma is diagnosed, microfibers can spread to the rest of the brain which an MRI would not spot.
‘So even if the main tumor is removed and the patient receives radiation and chemotherapy, it will come back.’
GRADING A GLIOBLASTOMA
Brain tumors are graded from between one to four, depending on how fast they grow and how aggressive they are.
Malignant tumors are either given a high-grade three or four, while benign ones are given a lower grade one or two.
Glioblastoma is often referred to as a grade four astrocytoma – another form of brain tumor, says the AANS.
SYMPTOMS
Patients typically complain of symptoms such as confused vision, trouble with memory, dizziness and headaches.
The symptoms are somewhat nonspecific, and vary from person to person, and may not persist.
The disease is therefore impossible to diagnose based on symptoms alone.