Watch the moment man plays guitar while having brain surgery to remove ‘golf ball-sized’ tumour
This amazing moment occurred when a musician was observed strumming a guitar while medical professionals removed a “golf ball-sized” tumor from his brain.
Colin Miller, a Henner Bay patient, thought back on the “fascinating” experience of playing a song while medical professionals carried out the procedure.
Throughout the eight-hour procedure, Colin, 64, kept his hand and fingers mobile by playing the chords on his acoustic guitar.
In October 2023, the musician received a diagnosis of glioblastoma, a rapidly expanding form of brain tumor.
For the surgery, I was offered the option of being awake or unconscious,” Colin disclosed.
I told the doctor that I play the guitar when he asked how I use my left side motor movements.
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They requested me to bring my guitar so I wouldn’t lose my hand and finger mobility. I was roused up halfway through my surgery and played a variety of songs.
I strummed chords instead of performing any well-known songs because I couldn’t handle it.
“The entire encounter was intriguing.
If the patient is healthy enough, surgery is used to treat glioblastomas in an effort to remove as much of the tumor as feasible.
Usually, a course of radiation, chemotherapy, or both comes next.
Sadly, only 25% of patients survive for more than a year, with an average survival duration of 12–18 months.
However, each situation is unique, and some people survive for five years or more.
National Brain Tumour Awareness Week kicks off
According to Alex Lochrane, CEO of The Brain Tumour Charity, which funds top-notch research and offers specialized support services, “Around 12,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year, and while we have seen some encouraging steps forward in both research and care in recent years, we know progress isn’t happening fast enough and we need to act now.”
More children and people under 40 die from brain tumors than from any other type of cancer.
Alex stated: “We urgently need to see greater investment in world-class research, to help diagnose the disease earlier, to better understand the causes and find new treatments, in order to give those affected hope of more time to live and a better quality of life.”
‘CURE CAN’T WAIT’
After that, Colin received radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He now gets scans at King’s College Hospital in London four times a year.
Colin has resumed practicing with the band at Herne Bay Baptist Church, occasionally singing despite his condition.
“Singing and speaking are two different skills,” he stated. Conversations take a long time for my brain to process, but when I sing, I can sing the words with ease.
Mr. Miller has launched a fundraising challenge to support the charity Brain Tumour Research in honor of the one-year anniversary of his treatment.
He has raised 682 so far and has committed to walking 99 miles this month.
What are the symptoms of glioblastoma and how soon do they show?
The most prevalent brain tumor in adults is glioblastoma, which is also extremely aggressive and lethal.
According to research, brain tumors raise the pressure inside the skull, which results in headaches.
Symptoms to watch out for include:
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of balance
- Mood swings
- Problems speaking
- Problems with memory or concentration
- Seizures
- Impaired vision
At first, the symptoms may be very general and could be confused with a variety of different illnesses, including stress or a hangover.
Because the brain regulates so many different processes, the location of the tumor can have a significant impact on the symptoms.
Glioblastomas grow really quickly. Within seven weeks of their discovery, experts can watch them double.
But, according to Dr Stephen Bagley, assistant professor of medicine atPenn Medicine, the first spark of glioblastoma in the brain remains something of a mystery to medical experts.
Onestudyconcluded that a glioblastoma starts growing 330 days on average – almost a year – before a diagnosis.
Anotherfound that there are changes in immune function up to five years before a diagnosis, with markers in blood samples – but symptoms only occur three months prior.
As of November 26, he has already clocked 65 miles.
He continued: I ve always been keen on walking and for this challenge, I have a spreadsheet of all my walks so far, and I m averaging six miles each day.
I had to give up my driving licence, but I can still move my body, and I feel blessed to be able to do so in support of the brain tumour community.
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I ve been struck with emotion upon reading the stories shared among the group on Facebook.
I truly believe that investing in research will lead us to finding kinder treatments and eventually a cure for this devastating disease.
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