BBC Antiques Roadshow specialist Theo Burrell has delivered a candid and sobering update on her ongoing health battle, detailing the severe impact of chemotherapy treatment as she lives with an aggressive brain tumour.
A challenging journey with glioblastoma
Theo Burrell, aged 38, was diagnosed with a grade four brain tumour, specifically a glioblastoma, in June 2022. The antiques expert, who has been a familiar face on the BBC's long-running programme since 2018, has been transparent with her supporters throughout her treatment. While chemotherapy has been effective in controlling the cancer, she has been forthright about the punishing side effects that accompany it.
In a recent update, Theo described how the treatment has left her utterly drained. She reported suffering from intense fatigue, regular headaches, and even a seizure-like episode that affected her vision and required a hospital check-up. "The fatigue from the chemo has really flattened me over the last couple of weeks, with regular headaches rearing their ugly heads," she explained.
Mixed news: clear scans but brutal side effects
Back in September, the TV personality shared some positive news: her medical scans showed no active cancer cells, thanks to the chemotherapy drug Temozolomide. "I'm extremely lucky to have gotten to this stage with this news," she wrote alongside a sunset image at the time.
However, this hopeful update was tempered by the harsh reality of her tenth chemotherapy cycle. The treatment, combined with a minor visual seizure, left her bedridden for days, confronting new and challenging side effects that tested her both mentally and physically. The ordeal forced her to cancel plans with friends, leaving her feeling disheartened.
"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 admitted. She resolved to attempt an eleventh cycle, taking things one day at a time.
Advocacy and a delayed diagnosis
Since her diagnosis, Theo Burrell has become a powerful advocate for brain tumour awareness. She was appointed a patron of the charity Brain Tumour Research in 2023, a role she uses to campaign for better support and funding. She regularly meets with politicians and highlights systemic issues within healthcare that leave some cancer patients without adequate treatment.
Her advocacy is driven in part by her own experience of a delayed diagnosis. It took six months and multiple doctor visits for her severe migraines, prolonged sickness, and sight problems to be correctly identified. She was ultimately told that without surgery, she had just three months to live.
"I am frustrated that it took so long to get my diagnosis," Theo has stated. "We need to change that, and it's vital that we raise more awareness of this devastating disease... It's so important more money is invested in research to improve treatments and, ultimately, to find a cure." Despite the immense challenges, she maintains a message of hope, asserting she is "living with cancer, not dying from it."
