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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Handshake diagnosed brain tumour | Handshake diagnosed brain tumour |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A GP diagnosed a rare brain tumour just by shaking a man's hand. | A GP diagnosed a rare brain tumour just by shaking a man's hand. |
| Mark Gurrieri, 36, from Loughton, east London, was working in a restaurant when a friend introduced him to his dining partner, Dr Chris Britt. | |
| The GP said he knew something was wrong when he shook Mr Gurrieri's large, spongy feeling hand. | The GP said he knew something was wrong when he shook Mr Gurrieri's large, spongy feeling hand. |
| Mr Gurrieri underwent tests and was found to have acromegaly - a tumour in the pituitary gland which causes overproduction of growth hormone. | Mr Gurrieri underwent tests and was found to have acromegaly - a tumour in the pituitary gland which causes overproduction of growth hormone. |
| The condition is seen in just three people per million, and can have serious effects if left undiagnosed. | The condition is seen in just three people per million, and can have serious effects if left undiagnosed. |
| It's so rare most GPs wouldn't have seen patients with it Dr Chris Britt | It's so rare most GPs wouldn't have seen patients with it Dr Chris Britt |
| It causes problems with vision and can lead to diabetes and blood pressure problems. | It causes problems with vision and can lead to diabetes and blood pressure problems. |
| If untreated acromegaly can also cause premature death. | If untreated acromegaly can also cause premature death. |
| Mr Gurrieri thought his hands were getting bigger because of too much DIY and working in his restaurant kitchen. | Mr Gurrieri thought his hands were getting bigger because of too much DIY and working in his restaurant kitchen. |
| Surgery | Surgery |
| He told the Ilford Recorder newspaper: "I felt good in myself up until that point, and didn't think I had a problem - just thought my conditions were down to getting older." | He told the Ilford Recorder newspaper: "I felt good in myself up until that point, and didn't think I had a problem - just thought my conditions were down to getting older." |
| He immediately booked an appointment with his GP, and tests confirmed he had the condition. | He immediately booked an appointment with his GP, and tests confirmed he had the condition. |
| In January surgeons removed most of the 2cm benign tumour growing at the base of his brain. | In January surgeons removed most of the 2cm benign tumour growing at the base of his brain. |
| Mr Gurrieri, who has a seven-year-old son, must now take medication to keep the condition under control. | Mr Gurrieri, who has a seven-year-old son, must now take medication to keep the condition under control. |
| "My mum thinks Chris is my guardian angel," he said. | "My mum thinks Chris is my guardian angel," he said. |
| "I could have lost my sight, or I could have had a number of other ailments, so I think I owe my life to Chris - and a few meals at the restaurant." | "I could have lost my sight, or I could have had a number of other ailments, so I think I owe my life to Chris - and a few meals at the restaurant." |
| Dr Britt, who works as a GP in Woodford Green said he not seen a case of acromegaly since he was a medical student working in a specialist hospital. | Dr Britt, who works as a GP in Woodford Green said he not seen a case of acromegaly since he was a medical student working in a specialist hospital. |
| "It's the sort of diagnosis you might make once in a career if you're lucky. It's so rare most GPs wouldn't have seen patients with it." | "It's the sort of diagnosis you might make once in a career if you're lucky. It's so rare most GPs wouldn't have seen patients with it." |