‘People thought I was drunk on my commute – the truth was far more sinister’

When John Starns suddenly felt unwell and had to get off his train in Sevenoaks, Kent, commuters believed he was drunk but the slump and sweats were signs of cancer

Commuters thought a man who was slumped on a bench at a train station was drunk – but his state was actually the first signs of a brain tumour.

Following the episode, John Starns, 63, saw his doctor ,who initially told the man had vertigo and his distressing diagnosis wasn’t for a further three months. MRI scan showed the vestibular schwannoma brain mass, which was benign, and so John now must have scans every two years to monitor.

John suddenly felt unwell on his commute for central London and so he got off the train at Sevenoaks, Kent, where other passengers assumed he was drunk. John, who is a freelance photographer, was slumped and sweating on a bench for two hours at the station. His experience comes after a doctor had a dire warning to people who drink even a “single cup of tea” each day.

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Recalling the train journey, John, who is from Sutton Valence, Kent, said today: “It felt as though I was having a panic attack. I was disorientated and it became difficult to walk. I found a bench and sat there for two hours, alone.

“No one approached me, I suspect because they thought I was drunk. It was a scary process, the MRI and hearing the words brain tumour, but I will never forget the emotional release when the nurse told me my tumour was benign.”

The commute – the first signs of any illness – happened in February 2022. John was eventually diagnosed with the cancer later that year but the tumour is stable.

He said: “So far, scans have showed my tumour as stable, and I barely suffer with any side effects. I am one of the lucky ones, but this isn’t about me.”

John, a keen cyclist, is now passionate about fundraising and is supporting with Brain Tumour Research. He is gearing up for Cycle 274 Miles in August, a month-long fundraiser.

He said: “I’m committing to this cycle challenge to raise awareness of the disease and the desperate inadequacies that currently exist in the historic underfunding of brain tumours compared to other cancers.

“I cycle up to 20 miles a day, so I’ll have no problems reaching the 274-mile target. My story could have ended differently. That’s the reality for others. My hope is that by supporting Brain Tumour Research, more people will benefit from the advances in research.”##

Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “John’s story is not uncommon, brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age.

“One in three people in the UK knows someone affected by a brain tumour but Brain Tumour Research is working to change this. It’s with the support of people like John who will help us drive investment towards research into brain tumours. Good luck John.”

To donate to the GoFundMe page, visit this link.