The family of a high-flying student diagnosed with terminal brain cancer following a routine eye test say they are 'beyond devastated' but 'trying to remain positive' as she battles at least six incurable tumours.
Laura Nuttall, 19, from Lancashire who achieved straight As in her A levels last summer, was just weeks into an international relations degree at King's College University in London in October when she began to experience occasional headaches and nausea.
She put her symptoms down to 'fresher's flu', but a routine eye test led to her being diagnosed with glioblastoma – the most aggressive brain cancer in adults
Now her mother Nicola is doing whatever she can to help Laura achieve her 'bucket list' – including a trip to see Sir Paul McCartney in concert in Liverpool last month.
On Laura's 19th birthday in December she was a guest at Everton Football Club, where she met players including Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Nicola said: 'I'm trying anything I can think of to help keep Laura feeling positive. We're doing as much as we can to make the best possible memories.'
Laura Nuttall, 19, with the Governor of the US state of Illinois Bruce Rauner, who she briefly worked for. Laura was weeks into an international relations degree at King's College University in London in October when she began to experience occasional headaches and nausea
Laura pictured (second from left) with her sister Grace, 17, (far left) mum Nicola, 48, and dad Mark, 56. Her family are 'beyond devastated' after she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer
Laura initially put her symptoms down to 'fresher's flu' but when she applied to join the Royal Navy reserves, the eye test required for entry revealed unexplained swelling in her optic nerve.
Laura was referred to Moorfields Eye Hospital, where doctors recommended further tests.
But the following day, after she was violently sick, she called mum Nicola at home in Lancashire to ask for help.
Nicola, 48, and her younger daughter Grace, 17, raced to London and took Laura straight to A&E that night.
A 3am CT scan at Homerton Hospital in Hackney revealed the devastating news that she had two brain tumours. The following morning, a more detailed MRI scan of Laura's brain identified several more.
After an operation to remove the largest and most life-threatening growth on November 7th at Salford Royal Hospital, Laura and her family were told she had glioblastoma – the most aggressive brain cancer in adults and the type which took the life of former Labour cabinet minister Tessa Jowell.
Bucket list: On Laura's 19th birthday in December she was a guest at Everton Football Club, where she met players including Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford
Nicola said: 'Laura had her whole life ahead of her. Now she is having to cope with the fact that her remaining life will be very short.
'As a family, we are beyond devastated. We are trying to remain positive and looking into lots of alternative treatments and therapies – anything that will buy her a bit more time.'
Laura underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy at The Christie Hospital in Manchester throughout December in an attempt to keep the remaining tumours at bay.
She is due to embark on a further six-month course of intensive chemotherapy next month.
Laura (centre) with her running club friends. She is due to embark on a further six-month course of intensive chemotherapy next month
Less than three weeks after her surgery in November, Laura defied the sickness and fatigue caused by her radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment to travel with her family to St James' Palace in London to receive her gold Duke of Edinburgh Award
The family is also exploring whether Laura may be able to have experimental treatments such as DCVax, a type of personalised therapy made in the USA using some of an individual patient's own immune cells.
The treatment hit the headlines last May when early findings from a clinical trial suggested it could increase overall survival from glioblastoma.
The family are speaking about Laura's diagnosis through The Brain Tumour Charity to raise awareness of brain tumours, which kill more children and young adults in the UK than any other type of cancer.
Nicola, who owns and runs a children's soft-play and party centre in Nelson, Lancashire, with her husband Mark, 56, said: 'Before Laura's diagnosis, none of us knew anything about brain tumours or how little is spent on research into this disease compared with many other cancers.
Laura and her younger sister Grace. The family have launched their own appeal to raise funds towards any non-standard treatments which they believe may offer Laura a greater chance of survival
Laura's 'bucket list' included a trip to see Sir Paul McCartney in concert in Liverpool last month
'Now we know that when you're diagnosed with glioblastoma, you're told you're going to die.
'There's no effective treatment, as there can be with breast cancer or prostate cancer. It's a death sentence.'
Nicola described Laura, who spent the summer working in the US as an intern for the Governor of Illinois, ran her first marathon last May and recently passed her advanced driving test with flying colours, as 'amazingly determined'.
'The doctors didn't think she'd be able to speak after her surgery but she proved them wrong. She's a tough cookie.'
Less than three weeks after her surgery in November, Laura defied the sickness and fatigue caused by her radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment to travel with her family to St James' Palace in London to receive her gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Laura with mum Nicola after a marathon run. Their local community has rallied round with a #doingitforlaura campaign launched by fellow runners at Trawden Athletics Club, who have already raised more than £10,000 for the family
Shortly before Christmas, Laura was awarded the A level politics and government prize at an emotional ceremony at her former school, Skipton Girls High
The family also met up with BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth – a friend of Nicola's through their joint passion for running – for a tour of the BBC newsroom.
And shortly before Christmas, Laura was awarded the A level politics and government prize at an emotional ceremony at her former school, Skipton Girls High.
Nicola plans to run the London Marathon in April to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity following the support she and her family have received from the charity.
The family have also launched their own appeal to raise funds towards any non-standard treatments which they believe may offer Laura a greater chance of survival.
Their local community has rallied round with a #doingitforlaura campaign launched by fellow runners at Trawden Athletics Club, who have already raised more than £10,000 for the family.
Sarah Lindsell, chief executive of The Brain Tumour Charity, said: 'Laura and her family have had their world shattered in the cruelest way.
'We are profoundly grateful to them for their courage in speaking about their experience at such a traumatic time, which shows just how determined they are to help us change things for everyone affected by this awful disease.
'No-one diagnosed with a brain tumour at any age should have to live without hope of a cure.
'We are doing everything in our power to spare families from this kind of heartbreak, through our investment in research and our efforts to raise awareness of the devastation caused by brain tumours.'
Visit Laura's Go Fund Me page here.
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https://hienalouca.com/2019/01/10/student-was-diagnosed-with-terminal-brain-cancer-after-eye-test/
Main photo article The family of a high-flying student diagnosed with terminal brain cancer following a routine eye test say they are ‘beyond devastated’ but ‘trying to remain positive’ as she battles at least six incurable tumours.
Laura Nuttall, 19, from Lancashire who achieved straight...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/01/09/16/8318732-6573843-image-m-47_1547052020224.jpg
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