Tom Parker of the defunct boy band The Wanted, best known for the 2011 hit “Glad You Came,” revealed on Monday that he has an inoperable brain tumour.
“We are all absolutely devastated but we are gonna fight this all the way,” the 32-year-old British singer wrote in an Instagram post. “We don’t want your sadness, we just want love and positivity and together we will raise awareness of this terrible disease and look for all available treatment options.
“It’s gonna be a tough battle but with everyone’s love and support we are going to beat this.”
In an interview with the UK edition of OK! Magazine, Parker said he suffered a seize in July. Six weeks later, while awaiting an MRI scan, he had more serious seizure and was rushed to hospital. Following three days of testing, Parker was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma.
“They pulled the curtain around my bed and said, ‘It's a brain tumour.’ All I could think was, ‘F**king hell!’ I was in shock,” Parker recalled. “It's stage four glioblastoma and they've said it's terminal … I still haven't processed it.”
Parker vowed: “I’m going to be here. I'm going to fight this.”
Gord Downie, frontman for Canada’s The Tragically Hip, died from glioblastoma three years ago this week at 53. He had been diagnosed a little less than two years earlier. Fellow Canadian Neil Peart of Rush died of glioblastoma in January after a three-and-a-half-year battle with glioblastoma. He was 67.
Parker and his wife of two years, Kelsey Hardwick, have 16-month-old daughter Aurelia and are expecting a baby boy next month.
Former bandmates shared messages of support on Parker’s Instagram post. Jay McGuiness wrote: “You’ve always been one in a million. I love you Tom, let’s get popping.” Max George shared: “You will beat this mate. You’re TOM PARKER. [Love] You.”