“A Year from Hell, and COVID”: Why Stories Like Alec and Joan’s Matter

At Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity, we know that sharing personal stories is powerful. They help others recognise the signs, remind families they are not alone, and highlight why urgent investment in research and support is so vital. Alec and Joan’s story shows how quietly a brain tumour can change a life, and how hope, love, and expert care can make all the difference.

Alec and Joan before 2020 and before Joan's diagnosis.

At the start of 2020, Alec and Joan were looking forward to a special year. Joan was turning 70, and just days later, they would celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Holidays were booked, and life felt full of promise. Then Covid arrived, plans were cancelled, and lockdown changed everything.

During their daily walks, Alec began to notice subtle changes in Joan. She became quieter and slower, less like herself. At first, it was easy to blame the heat, boredom, or the stress of lockdown. But gradually the signs became harder to ignore. She struggled to eat, veered to one side when walking, stared blankly at the TV, and had difficulty coordinating her hands. Still, she insisted she was fine.

This is how brain tumours often present: not suddenly, but slowly and quietly, disguised as tiredness, ageing, or personality change.

By August, Joan needed help with everyday tasks. A doctor initially suspected vitamin B12 deficiency, but despite treatment she continued to deteriorate. A senior doctor finally arranged an urgent scan.

On 29th August 2020, Alec and Joan were told devastating news: Joan had brain tumours. Alec describes it as feeling like being hit by a truck. He held her hand and said, “We’ll get through this together.” Joan calmly repeated the words back to him.

Because of Covid restrictions, Joan was admitted alone and Alec was sent home. The shock of the diagnosis was made even harder by isolation and uncertainty, something many families affected by brain tumours know all too well.

Joan was later transferred to Leeds General Infirmary and placed under the care of Mr Kenan Deniz and his neurosurgical team. After weeks of waiting, surgery finally took place on 17th September. Alec spent the day anxiously waiting for news. Late that evening, the call came: the operation had been successful. A large meningioma and a smaller tumour had been removed.

Joan and Alec today!

Remarkably, Joan's tumour was benign, and Joan’s recovery was rapid. She needed no long-term medication and quickly regained her strength. Within weeks, she was walking, laughing, and back at home.

Years later, Alec and Joan learned the tumour had measured 6.5cm- around 2.5 inches. It had covered much of the front of her brain, silently growing while life went on as normal.

Joan still has annual scans, and small meningiomas are carefully monitored.

But not every story has such an outcome. Across Yorkshire, 15 people every week are diagnosed with a brain tumour. Brain tumours remain one of the most complex and devastating forms of cancer, with limited treatment options and little improvement in survival rates over decades. Families face fear, uncertainty and long-term impact.

Alec and Joan were fortunate. Many are not.

That is why Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity exists. Every day we fund research into kinder, more effective treatments, support families and raise awareness of early signs so more people can be diagnosed sooner.

You can make a difference. Share this story to raise awareness. Donate today to support research and provide vital care for families affected by brain tumours. Together, we can give hope to the 15 people diagnosed in Yorkshire every week.

Visit: www.yorksbtc.org.uk/donate to give now and improve the lives of those impacted by a brain tumour across Yorkshire.