Sam Poga, who lives in England, described the unexpected symptoms of the aggressive brain cancer that caused his son Luke’s death. Poga, 42, said Luke had noticeably gained weight since he was six years old. Luke, who was thin in his childhood, doubled his weight from the beginning of 2020 until mid-2021. This was seen as a result of the lockdowns and inactivity caused by the pandemic. However, by July 2021, even though Luke was only six years old, he had started wearing clothes suitable for an 11-12 year old age group.”Parents said Luke had changed. He was always thin, so it was a noticeable change for everyone who knew him,” said Poga, who consulted a nutritionist to address his concerns. However, shortly after, Luke started experiencing pain in his eyes and rubbing them incessantly.Noticing the severity of the situation, the mother took Luke to an eye doctor. As a result of their detailed examinations, the doctors detected a rapidly growing glioma tumor in Luke’s brain.According to the Brain Tumor Research Charity, only one third of patients diagnosed with this tumor can survive for more than five years. The doctors told the family that Luke’s tumor had spread too far to be operable.Mother Poga was shocked by the news, saying, “I felt numb and struggled to comprehend what the doctors were saying.”Luke underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments and lost the excess weight he had gained during this process. However, in early 2024, doctors announced that the cancer had reached its final stages and Luke’s life expectancy was only a few months.Luke passed away on August 26, 2024.Although it is known that brain tumors can cause weight gain, this usually presents along with other symptoms of the disease. Other common symptoms of brain tumors include headaches, seizures, nausea, memory problems, personality changes, vision and speech difficulties.According to the NHS, brain tumors can occur in people of all age groups, but they primarily affect older adults. In England, over 12,000 people are diagnosed with primary brain tumors every year, with approximately half of them being cancerous.Dr. Karen Noble, Director of Brain Tumor Research, Policy, and Innovation, said, “Brain tumors are extremely complex diseases, and symptoms can vary from patient to patient. Unexpected symptoms like in Luke’s case can arise. More investment is needed to better understand this disease and provide access to treatment.”