Late grandma’s tiredness was actually cancer

By Freya Ingram

A grandma who was initially diagnosed with anemia after feeling tired discovered her symptoms were caused by a brain tumor.

Jan Forster a retired civil servant from Pontcanna, Cardiff, was treated for anemia by a GP after feeling unwell and “not quite herself” in late 2023.

In December 2023, her daughter, Elinor, 40, grew concerned when her mom put the phone down mid-conversation after she "forgot" they were speaking.

Jan's health continued to deteriorate and she was admitted to University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, where an MRI scan revealed a grade 4 glioblastoma – an aggressive and incurable brain tumor in

She was given the prognosis of six to nine months with treatment or two to three months without.

Jan chose to forego treatment to spend time with her family, including her husband Joseph, 80, daughters Elinor and Charlotte, and grandchildren Ben, 11, Megan, 9, Annabel, 8, and Alice, 5.

Jan’s daughter, Elinor James, from Winchester, said: “The diagnosis came out of nowhere. 

"I thought brain tumors were rare.

"It never crossed my mind that this would happen to us. 

“Mum was in the prime of her life, enjoying her grandchildren and the things she loved. 

"Within days, everything changed.

"We had to watch her decline and eventually say goodbye; it was devastating.” 

After being diagnosed with anemia in 2023, Jan's health continued going downhill and Elinor worried about her mum's lapse in memory.

On Dec. 2, 2023, Elinor, her husband Thomas, 80, and their children drove to Jan’s house but upon arrival, could tell that she was very unwell.

Following this, they called an ambulance, and Jan was admitted to University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, for a CT and MRI scan. 

She was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma – an aggressive and incurable brain tumor. 

With no option for surgery and Jan opting out of treatment due to the short prognosis and expected impact on her quality of life, she was sent home with medication.

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Elinor said: "Mom was clear that she didn’t want treatment. 

"If the prognosis had been longer, she might have considered it. 

"But she didn’t want to spend her final months suffering through it. 

“My sister, Charlotte, and I, worked closely together as a team with our dad Joseph, who never left mum’s side.” 

As Jan’s condition began to rapidly deteriorate, she was placed under palliative care and moved to Ty Llandaff Care Home, Cardiff. 

Elinor said: “Mom became completely disabled almost overnight. 

"Before her diagnosis, she had been enjoying retirement, baking, reading, and spending time with her grandchildren. 

"She had so much more life to live.” 

Jan died on 26 March 2024 at home surrounded by her loved ones - three months after her initial diagnosis. 

Elinor said: “I never imagined that something like this would happen to our family. 

"It’s changed how I see everything. 

“We need better treatments, more research, and more support.

"I’ve since learned that around 12,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumor each year, yet they receive just 1% of the national spend on cancer research.

"That’s shocking and unacceptable.” 

Elinor and her daughter Annabel are taking part in the national Walk of Hope, in the New Forest in honor of Jan on Saturday, Sept. 28, which raises vital funds for Brain Tumour Research. 

The pair have already raised over $466.

Elinor said: "She was also one of the funniest, warmest and most generous people you could ever meet, with a witty sense of humor.

 “It’s our way of remembering Mum and helping make sure other families don’t have to go through what we did.”