Katie and Greg Britton are grappling with an unimaginable challenge as both have been diagnosed with brain cancer within months of each other.
“They’re in no way related and unfortunately it’s just very bad luck,” Katie shared in an interview with 9News.
Despite their diagnoses being unrelated, the couple has chosen to confront this arduous battle together, providing each other with unwavering support.
Greg, a father from Perth, first became aware of his condition when he experienced numbness in his toe, which soon escalated to a complete loss of sensation on one side of his body.
A subsequent MRI scan revealed the presence of a 4.5-centimeter tumor.
“It was right in my brain stem and it was just affecting everything – my breathing, heart, everything, just slowly shutting me down,” Greg explained to 9News, highlighting the severity of his condition.
The tumour was removed 12 months later but he’s not in the clear just yet.
“It probably will grow back at some stage, so yeah it’s just about staying as fit as I can and healthy,” he said.
Mrs Britton started having her own signs and symptoms, including headaches and pain in her ear and cheek.
“I went into Joondalup Hospital and they diagnosed me very very quickly and I was in for surgery the next day,” she said.
She underwent surgery four months to the day after her husband on her own four-centimetre tumour.
Mrs Britton has just finished her first six-week round of chemotherapy and radiation but said the hardest part for the couple was telling their two teenage children.
“I was heartbroken for them, because watching how much they all struggled the first time around, to then put them through that again was a very difficult time,” she said.
The couple are not alone. According to Cancer Australia, there’s a one in 156 chance of being diagnosed with brain cancer by the age of 85.
In 2023 brain cancer was the ninth most common cause of cancer death in Australia.
It’s estimated to remain that way this year.
The Brittons are sharing their story to warn others about the importance of early detection.
They also have nothing but praise for medical researchers and foundations like Cure Brain Cancer, with funds raised opening the door to more medical opportunities.
“Not only does it make my experience of being managed for cancer so much better, but it also means my chances of living longer are so much better,” Mrs Britton said.
