Andi Peel’s vision began to deteriorate in October 2021 and he is now completely blind
A 29-year-old shop manager has been left completely blind after bungling doctors twice misdiagnosed his incurable brain tumour as ‘work stress’.
Andi Peel, from Leicester, began suffering from severe headaches while running a Carphone Warehouse mobile phone store in August 2019.
He visited his GP after the pain continued only to be told he was probably suffering from migraines as a result of the pressure of his job.
Mr Peel was referred to Leicester Royal Infirmary after suffering a panic attack that left him in a state of confusion with a loss of memory.
But once again, doctors put down the headaches to work stress and sent him on his way.
His tumour was eventually diagnosed in January 2020 after Mr Peel went to see his doctor again after he was forced to pull over his car because he was in so much pain.
Mr Peel was told he had a glioblastoma multiforme — a fast-growing tumour that usually starts within the brain.
The tumour has continued to grow and, despite radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment, he has now been left totally blind.
Andi Peel (pictured), from Leicester, began suffering from severe headaches while running a Carphone Warehouse mobile phone store in August 2019.
Mr Peel visited his GP after the pain continued only to be told he was probably suffering from migraines as a result of the pressure of his job. But once again, doctors put down the headaches to work stress and sent him on his way. Mr Peel received the devastating news that he had glioblastoma multiforme – a fast growing tumour that starts within the brain. The tumour has continued to grow and despite radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment he has now been left totally blind
Mr Peel’s aunt, Deb Peel, 48, from Groby in Leicester, said: ‘Andi went to his GP, who said he had migraines but then he had an episode of confusion and a panic attack and he couldn’t remember anything.
‘He went to Leicester Royal Infirmary, but they said it was just stress.
‘I was in total shock. Andi is like my third son, so I was in utter disbelief at the thought of losing someone so important to me.
‘When we got confirmation that it was a GBM, it was like a death sentence.
‘Andi didn’t want to know how long he had to live, but Google will tell you it’s 12 to18 months.’
Mr Peel had the tumour removed at Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
His aunt added: ‘Since then, he has had some seizures, one of which resulted in him dislocating both of his shoulders.
‘Since December 2020, Andi hasn’t had a stable scan. The tumour has grown, and we’ve been told there is no longer any treatment available for him.
‘His vision started to deteriorate in October 2021 and he is now totally blind.’
Mother-of-two Ms Peel, a teacher, will now walk 10,000 steps every day in February to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.
She said: ‘The inspiration comes from Andi who is so amazing. He’s an absolute warrior who has never given up or felt sorry for himself.
‘Until you have to face this sort of reality, you don’t understand how stark the facts are.
Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research said: ‘We’re really grateful to Deb for taking on this challenge for us.
‘It’s only with the support of people like her that we’re able to progress our research into brain tumours and improve the outcome for patients like Andi who are forced to fight this awful disease.’
Mother-of-two Deb Peel, Mr Peel’s (pictured in fundraising T-shirt) aunt, will now walk 10,000 steps every day in February to raise money for Brain Tumour Research
Ms Peel said said: ‘The inspiration comes from Andi (pictured left, with his cousins) who is so amazing. He’s an absolute warrior who has never given up or felt sorry for himself’
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 per cent 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). 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.
Some patients suffer from blindness if the tumour compresses their optic nerve, which connects the retina to the brain, resulting in vision loss.