'I visited my doctor about my tinnitus - then was told to make memories'

A granddad-of-two, who has been living with a rare brain cancer for nearly 10 years, has had his lifelong aspiration fulfilled through the kindness of strangers. Chris Shade sought medical advice back in 2017, plagued by tinnitus and an incessant high-pitched racket that was, in his own words, "driving him up the wall".

Along with the aggravating noise, he experienced peculiar spells, smelled phantom burning and occasionally found it hard to articulate himself, attributing these symptoms to anxiety over his son Craig's tour of Afghanistan as part of the RAF. Nevertheless, his GP saw fit to send him immediately to Maidstone Hospital for an exploratory brain scan.

It was upon this examination that healthcare professionals uncovered a "massive" grade two tumour nestled within Chris' right frontal lobe, confronting him with the grim reality of oligodendroglioma – a rare and terminally designated cancer.

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Chris, 58, reflected on the shock: "Never in my life did I think I was going to have a brain tumour. I did not even have any headaches. I took the diagnosis on the chin and said, 'so what happens next?'. I thought, 'Bring it on, I am ready for the fight'. In some ways, I have to thank God for the tinnitus, as if I had not gone to the GP about my hearing, we would never have found it."

Chris first braved the surgeon's knife for emergency tumour removal at King's College Hospital in London in March 2017, marking the beginning of many such interventions.

Emma Welsh, his daughter, said: "I cannot tell you what a worrying, distressing time this was. By some miracle, the amazing doctors were able to remove it and Dad was home before we knew it. It was all such a shock, I do not think any of us had time to take it in."

Just two weeks on, Chris found himself back in the hospital due to a severe infection leading to two further brain operations – first to remove a section of his skull, termed a bone flap, and then to install a titanium plate in place of the removed segment.

Tina, his wife of four decades, saidh: "It was touch and go at that point. Every surgery, we did not know if he was going to make it."

Emma added: "We nearly lost him. The stress and upset again are hard to describe, but we had to stay hopeful and strong for dad."

As 2020 came to a close, Chris, from East Malling, confronted the "devastating" reality of another tumour and bravely faced additional surgery to have it excised. Half a year subsequent to this operation, the former instrument coordinator at Somerfield Hospital in Maidstone was informed of a third tumour.

In light of the slow growth of this new tumour, his healthcare team chose against more surgical interventions, opting instead to keep a watchful eye on Chris’s health and advising him to create lasting memories with his loved ones.

Chris then embarked on a 10-month treatment regimen encompassing six weeks of radiotherapy and several months of chemotherapy aimed at reducing the size of the tumour. His treatment course concluded earlier this year.

He said: "I have had some dark days, but I know there are people who are facing something worse than me. Although it does not make my pain any easier.

"The treatments are to extend my life; they cannot cure me. The doctors say it is like putting the tumours to sleep and because it has worked, we know what to hit it with each time.

"I do not know how long I have. I could have one year, five years, or 15 years. I have had every scan and treatment they can offer me. I have the fight in me. There are a lot of people who might not get the time to fight it like I have, so I have to while I can.

"I hope my story gives people hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You can fight this."

Tina said: "I am really proud of him for what he has gone through and that he is still here. We have had dark days, but we always try to stay positive and laugh.

"It has been life-changing. Now, we are focusing on making memories and using the time we have been given."

In their effort to support Chris's battle, his family established a GoFundMe page to accumulate funds, enabling him to fulfil a lifelong aspiration of flying in a Spitfire at Biggin Hill. Their campaign successfully amassed more than£3,000.

Nonetheless, his health journey necessitated flight delays for several years and compelled him to shed five-and-a-half stone – weight gained during treatments – to be fit for flight. Triumphantly, last month, Chris took to the skies in a WWII plane, bolstered by support from Brain Tumour Support and the Tonbridge-based Babons Cancer Support.

The former part-time firefighter expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who donated.

He said: "It was an amazing day, I cannot express it. It was a bucket list experience. I am so grateful to all the people who donated and came along on the day. Everyone was so generous."