The Wanted’s Tom Parker supported by bandmates Max George, Nathan Sykes and Jay McGuinness after brain tumour diagnosis

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    TOM Parker’s The Wanted bandmates Max George, Nathan Sykes and Jay McGuinness have rallied around him after he revealed he has a terminal brain tumour.

    The former boyband star, 32, received hundreds of messages on Instagram following his heartbreaking news and Jay and Max, who were ushers at his wedding, and Nathan led messages of support.

    Tom Parker, pictured with wife Kelsey and daughter Aurelia, has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour

    Jay, who goes by the name birdspotting on Instagram, wrote: “You’ve always been one in a million. I love you Tom, let’s get popping.”

    Max penned: “You will beat this mate. You’re TOM PARKER. (Love) you.”

    Meanwhile, Nathan penned a lengthy statement on Twitter, saying: “I’ve been trying to work out what to say for days, but there are simply no words. It’s just the most unbelievably cruel situation. However, Tom will attack this with the same vigour that he has with everything he has ever set his mind to.

    “Tom and Kelsey’s strength and bravery is incredible which was shown in the interview that was published today. I love and support both Tom and Kels and I’ll be right behind them every step of the way of their fight.

    “Please keep the whole family in your prayers and send them all the love and support and positivity you possibly can.”

    Nathan Sykes sent his support

    James Argent, who appeared with Tom in The Real Full Monty in 2018, wrote: “We love you Tom! We got this brother, No doubt about it!”

    His The Jump co-star Rebecca Adlington, who attended Tom’s wedding to wife Kelsey in 2018, said:”Sending so much love and support always.”

    Messages continued to pour in for Tom
    Tom is a father to a 15-month-old daughter Aurelia

    Tom began his career in The Wanted in 2009

    Max later took to Instagram and shared a lengthy tribute to his “brother, friend and band mate” saying he won’t stop fighting his diagnosis.

    The singer vowed to support Tom all the way, writing: “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 lions, and it is his drive and passion that has always lead The Wanted and made sure we are looked after the right way. Speaking as a brother, a friend and a band mate.. I know that you will conquer this as you have every other challenge you have ever faced.

    “We are all on this journey together… and 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, Kels and all the family with all my heart and I’ll be right here.❤

    Max penned a heartfelt message to Tom and fans

    Tom rose to fame as a member of chart-topping boy band The Wanted in 2009 and had been keeping busy since their hiatus in 2014.

    After appearances on Celebrity Masterchef and The Jump, Tom signed up to The Real Full Monty in 2018.

    The devastated singer, who is a father to a 15-month-old daughter and has another baby on the way, revealed he has stage 4 glioblastoma on Instagram and in an interview with OK! Magazine.

    He said: “I’m still in complete shock, it’s so much to take in.”

    View this post on Instagram

    Hey guys, you know that we’ve both been quiet on social media for a few weeks and it’s time to tell you why. 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. 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 xxx @ok_mag

    A post shared by Tom Parker (@tomparkerofficial) on

    Tom, left, was a member of pop group The Wanted

    Wife Kelsey, who is 36 weeks pregnant, said: “It has been a crazy six weeks. We had an inkling that something was wrong in July, but we never could have imagined it was this.”

    Tom said the diagnosis didn’t feel real and added: “I knew something wasn’t right, but I never expected it to be this. You never think this will happen to you.”

    The average life expectancy for his illness ranges from between three months to 18 months from the time of diagnosis.

    Tom decided not to ask for a prognosis and insists he will beat the illness to have a future with his children.

    The singer and wife Kelsey are expecting their second child

    He said: “I’m going to be here, I’m going to fight this.”

    The star suffered a seizure in July and took himself to A&E where he was put on a waiting list for an MRI scan.

    Six weeks later he had another more serious seizure during a family trip to Norwich and was rushed to hospital.

    Kelsey was not allowed to be by his side because of coronavirus rules, and Tom was alone when he was told he had stage 4 glioblastoma.

    The condition is the most common high grade cancerous primary brain tumour in adults.

    It begins in the brain and is often quick to spread. The aggressive cancer is difficult to treat and is resistant to treatment, as the cells within the tumour are not all of the same type.

    This morning Tom posted a heartbreaking message on Instagram, telling fans he had already begun his six-weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

    Tom’s fans sent him and his family their love
    Tom’s daughter Aurelia is 15-months-old

    The post read: “Hey guys, you know that we’ve both been quiet on social media for a few weeks and it’s time to tell you why.

    “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.

    Tom took part in cancer fundraiser The Real Full Monty

    Tom with bandmate Jay McGuinness, who was an usher at his wedding

    “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 xxx.”

    It sparked an influx of supportive messages from upset fans.

    One wrote: “Oh my god i’m sending all the love i can 😭🧡.”

    Another shared: “Sending so much love to you and your family. ❣.”

    A third commented: “Sending love & positivity to you 🙏🏻🙏🏻.”

    The 32-year-old took part in ITV’s cancer fundraiser The Real Full Monty in 2018.

    He appeared alongside Towie’s James Argent, EastEnders actor John Partridge and TV presenter Jeff Brazier.

    Tom’s daughter Aurelia was born 15 months ago, and he and Kelsey announced baby number two was on the way back in May.

    The couple got engaged in 2016 and married in July 2018 in a romantic ceremony in the grounds of Ridge Farm in Surrey, England, surrounded by their family and closest friends.

    Tom and Kelsey said his bandmates have been incredibly supportive since being made aware of his illness.

    The Wanted shot to fame in 2010 when their first single All Time Low topped the charts.

    They went on to have nine more Top 10s including a another number one in 2011 with Glad You Came.

    It launched their careers in the tricky US market, hitting number three on the Billboard charts.

    However, after finding immediate stardom, album sales cooled off by the time of their third release Word Of Mouth in 2013.

    Not even a much hyped E! reality series – produced by Ryan Seacrest and with a Lindsay Lohan cameo appearance – could turn their fortunes around.

    They went on hiatus in 2014 to focus on solo projects.