The Wanted’s Tom Parker Diagnosed with Inoperable Brain Cancer

On Instagram this weekend, Parker, who was a member of the boy band the Wanted, posted a photo with his pregnant wife Kelsey Hardwick and their 16-month-old daughter Auriela to share, “There's no easy way to say this but I've sadly been diagnosed with a Brain Tumour and I'm already undergoing treatment. We decided, after a lot of thought, that rather than hiding away and trying to keep it a secret, we would do one interview where we could lay out all the details and let everyone know the facts in our own way.”

He went on, “We are all absolutely devastated but we are gonna fight this all the way. 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. Tom and Kelsey.”

The couple spoke with OK! magazine about learning the heartbreaking news and what Tom's symptoms were before he was diagnosed with a grade-four glioblastoma six weeks ago.

Parker said, "I knew something wasn't right, but I never expected it to be this… It's all I can think about right now."

Kelsey, who is 36 weeks pregnant, added, "I honestly thought he was depressed about having man flu… We can't even believe we're having this conversation."

The cancer is inoperable, but Parker is already undergoing treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy to help shrink the tumor. Life expectancy is three months to 18 months.

Leading up to the diagnosis, Tom was experiencing seizures. The first one happened in July, and after a trip to the emergency room he was sent home. Feeling like he was concussed, he went back the following week and was schedule for an MRI.

He had another seizure six weeks later while on a staycation with Kelsey and Aurelia. Kelsey called it “so much worse,” adding, “It was really bad.”

Tom was then hospitalized, where he underwent testing and the MRI, later learning he had brain cancer.

"All I could think was, 'F—ing hell!'" Parker told the magazine. "I was in shock. It's stage four glioblastoma and they've said it's terminal. It was a lot to deal with by myself. I still haven't processed it."

Kelsey shared, "It was horrendous. They rang me and told me over the phone. They said, 'It's a tumor and it's worst-case scenario.' My friend was with me and she just said, 'Don't pass out.'"

She added, "It was like everything stopped. Obviously being told you have any tumor is bad, but to be told you have the worst one is a lot to take in. All I could think was, 'What's going to happen and what is our life now?'"

Tom is focused on fighting the tumor and trying alternative treatments. The star is also using reiki for his emotional health and physiotherapy for help with mobility.

Hardwick insisted, "Positivity is the best medicine right now. Aurelia has been a brilliant distraction in that sense.”

She added, "If someone had told me my life was going to be taking Tom to radiotherapy in London every day and I'd be 36 weeks pregnant at the time, I wouldn't have believed them. To be honest, I think I've forgotten I'm pregnant. It's all about Tom at the moment."

Meanwhile, his former bandmates showed support on social media. Max George, wrote on Instagram, "First of all... I think the bravery of Tom and Kelsey announcing their situation is incredible. It's obviously a devastating and scary time... but for those who don't know Tom I will say this. There is nothing that he has ever given up on and has never taken no for an answer. His heart is the size of a lion's. I can't wait to get back on the stage with you and the boys and have a proper celebration when you're better. You got this my man. I love you."

Jay McGuiness commented on Parker's Instagram post, writing, "You've always been one in a million. I love you Tom. Let's get popping."