The Wanted star Tom Parker has insisted he’s ‘determined’ to fight his brain tumour diagnosis after being told by doctors it was the ‘worst case scenario.’
The singer, 33, who revealed last year he’d been diagnosed with a grade four Glioblastoma, has fronted a documentary to raise awareness for those living with similar tumours.
Despite admitting that months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy was ‘very very tough,’ Tom and his wife Kelsey have vowed to ‘keep positive’ after being told the tumour has shrunk following the gruelling treatment.
Scary: The Wanted star Tom Parker has insisted he’s ‘determined’ to fight his brain tumour diagnosis after being told by doctors it was the ‘worst case scenario’
Speaking to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on This Morning, Tom and Kelsey explained that they are hoping to raise awareness for others who are living with brain tumours through their Channel 4 documentary.
Kelsey explained: ‘I think for us, and for Tom, he needed the support from people.
‘But also, just to raise awareness because when we were in the situation and we got hit with the diagnosis it was like ‘wow, what can we do? What are the steps? How can we move forward with this?’ and it was just radio and chemo and that’s it… brain tumours get 1% of funding and that’s it.’
Concerning: The singer, who revealed last year he’d been diagnosed with a grade four Glioblastoma, has fronted a documentary to raise awareness for those living with tumours
Candid: Tom and his wife Kelsey were guests on This Morning to chat about the documentary
Detailing the moment Tom first realised that someone was wrong, he said: ‘I remember coming around and I had a big mark on my head here [pointing to forehead] and I didn’t know where it was from…’
Kelsey added: ‘We think he had a seizure before that but I wasn’t there so we don’t know. But I thought Tom was suffering from anxiety and depression and we were expecting a new baby, so [I wondered] was it the pressure of having a new baby?
‘But Tom was really good because every time he had a sign or a symptom he took himself off to the hospital.’
Struggles: Despite admitting that months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy was ‘very very tough,’ Tom and his wife Kelsey have vowed to ‘keep positive’
Tom and Kelsey went onto explain that they headed back to the hospital to insist they look into his symptoms, and after an MRI scan doctors revealed he had a stage four brain tumour.
He added: ‘I said to them, to be honest, I don’t want a prognosis because for me it was… I know what the statistics are with this disease, and I just didn’t want to hear it. But they did say twelve months at that point and we are way past that.’
Detailing his gruelling treatment, Tom admitted: ‘It’s been pretty full on. Chemo was very very tough and Radio is probably the hardest part.’
Battles: Tom and Kelsey explained that they headed back to the hospital to insist they look into his symptoms, and after an MRI scan doctors revealed he had a stage four brain tumour
Open: Despite their grim prognosis, Tom and Kelsey revealed that his tumour is now stable and has shrunk following the treatment
Kelsey added: ‘You don’t even get time to think. We went in on Monday, and I was pregnant so they didn’t really want me in there, but they took us in.
‘They said you’ve got this, you get fitted for your mask on Wednesday and Thursday you start radio, and it was six weeks of radio back to back, and it was chemo as well.’
Despite their grim prognosis, Tom and Kelsey revealed that his tumour is now stable and has shrunk following the treatment, and so they are keeping positive and looking towards the future.
He said: ‘Medication is now every three week because I’ve been responding so well. So yes, positive.’
Optimistic: He said: ‘Medication is now every three week because I’ve been responding so well. So yes, positive’
Insight: On meeting other people living with brain tumours in his new documentary he explained: ‘It gives you that encouragement to fight on’
On meeting other people living with brain tumours in his new documentary he explained: ‘It gives you that encouragement to fight on. It’s so easy to crumble in this situation, especially with the chemo and radio, it’s mentally draining…’
Alongside his documentary, which has been made for Stand Up To Cancer, Tom also reunited with his The Wanted bandmates for a one-off concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
Tom added: ‘It was pretty surreal and pretty special that we were together again for the most beautiful reason and to raise awareness. The boys didn’t need to do that, but the first thing they said was they would love to do it.’
Family: Tom and Kelsey, who are parents to daughter Aurelia, two and Bodhi, 11 months, also revealed that they are already considering having another child
Asked for an update on his health, Tom added: ‘I wouldn’t have been able to do this five months ago, put it that way.
‘I feel a lot more confident and a lot more in control of my emotions. If I did do this five month ago I’d be a crying mess to be honest. I’m feeling very positive.’
Tom and Kelsey, who are parents to daughter Aurelia, two and Bodhi, 11 months, also revealed that they are already considering having another child.
The singer revealed in August that his tumour had slightly reduced and his condition was stable after a scan which took place on his birthday.
In an Instagram post, he admitted he was filled with worry ahead of his latest scan but got good news, despite it being later than usual.
He told fans: ‘OK… here goes. The last couple of days have been filled with dread and worry but I’m pleased to announce that the results of yesterday’s scan (lovely birthday present), are stable with a slight reduction in the tumour if anything.
Grateful: Alongside his documentary, which has been made for Stand Up To Cancer, Tom also reunited with his The Wanted bandmates for a one-off concert at the Royal Albert Hall
‘I can’t tell you how grateful I am to receive this news. We left it a little longer between scans this time just to give time for the medication to work etc but overall a great day.
‘Thanks to all our healthcare team. You are truly wonderful. And thank you all you lovely people out there sending love and support. It really is so appreciated. Time to celebrate.’
The Brit Award nominee recently announced a Channel 4 documentary titled Inside My Head as part of this year’s charitable program from Cancer Research UK.
Tom invited cameras into his life as he documented the process of staging the show, the managing of his diagnosis along with the exploration of possible treatments.
His family will also meet with fellow brain cancer patients.
Tom Parker: Inside My Head will air on Sunday at 9pm on Channel 4.