Antiques Roadshow specialist Theo Burrell has delivered a poignant and honest update on her ongoing battle with an aggressive brain tumour, sharing both hopeful news and the harsh realities of her treatment.
A Clear Scan Amidst the Struggle
The 38-year-old BBC expert, who was diagnosed with a grade four glioblastoma brain tumour in June 2022, recently revealed that her latest medical scans show no active cancer cells. The chemotherapy drug Temozolomide is successfully keeping the disease at bay. However, Burrell was forthright about the punishing physical toll the treatment continues to take.
"The fatigue from the chemo has really flattened me over the last couple of weeks, with regular headaches rearing their ugly heads," she explained in a statement. She also detailed a frightening seizure-like episode that affected her vision and required a hospital check-up. This occurred during her tenth cycle of chemotherapy, which left her bedridden for days and introduced new, challenging side effects.
The Mental and Physical Toll of Treatment
Despite the positive scan results, Burrell described the profound impact on her daily life and mental wellbeing. She confessed that the thought of further chemotherapy was making her "miserable," forcing her to cancel simple plans like visiting a bakery with friends, which left her feeling low.
"It's been draining, and even though I'm so close to completing my treatment plan, the thought of any more chemo is making me miserable," she wrote in a social media post accompanying a photograph of a sunset. "I'm going to give cycle 11 a go and see how I get on." She characterised her update as a "mixed message - of good news and moans," signing off with support for others in the brain tumour community.
Becoming a Force for Change
Since her diagnosis, which took six months and multiple doctor visits to secure, Burrell has become a powerful campaigner. In 2023, she was appointed a patron of the charity Brain Tumour Research. She has used her platform to highlight what she sees as injustices in the health system and to lobby politicians for better support and funding.
"Being told you have an aggressive brain tumour is absolutely terrifying, but I want to reassure people that I’m living with cancer, not dying from it," Burrell stated upon becoming a patron. She expressed frustration at the delay in her own diagnosis, having initially suffered from migraines, prolonged sickness, and sight problems. "It’s vital that we raise more awareness of this devastating disease to stop this happening to other families," she urged.
The antiques expert, who specialises in art, furniture, ceramics, and glass, has been a familiar face on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow since 2018. She continues to share her journey publicly, offering a raw and inspiring account of resilience in the face of a formidable illness.
