NAME: Andy Beeson AGE: 16 years CASE: Andy starts getting very sick in the morning, tired and getting double vision.

NOTES

Andy is hardworking and is expected to do OK at school – not brilliant but OK. Year 11: working towards his GCSEs. The thing most people notice about him (mates, others in the class and even teachers) is that he's very funny. He can make anyone laugh – a real joker.

Starts being sick; getting double vision and having headaches. Something wrong with his eye muscles? He gets his eyes checked out. There's nothing wrong.

He has a brain scan (a CT scan). Diagnosed with a brain tumour. Tumour has not affected his spinal fluids but he needs surgery. The operation is successful, but he needs more treatment to stop the risk of the tumour growing back.

He recovers completely. However, he's changed. When anyone mentions this he just says, he's got a lot of time to make up and goes back to his books.

RELEVANT FACTORS:

• How is the diagnosis about the tumour reached - including ruling out eye problems?
• His tumour is treated by surgery – the area around it needs to be treated to reduce the chances of recurrence. How will this be done?
• Think about the effect on Andy of his illness and treatment. How would this feel? How might the after effects be dealt with – and who might be involved?
• Andy is no longer 'a bit of a lad' – is this a change for the better? And what about his sense of humour?