Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp has bravely spoken about his “terrifying” battle with two brain tumours in his 30s and how the experience left him “completely dyslexic”
The musician underwent life-saving surgery in 1997, followed by advanced radiotherapy, which successfully eradicated the tumours but resulted in challenging side effects, including epilepsy.
On his podcast, FFS My dad Is Martin Kemp, which he co-hosts with his son Roman, Kemp revealed another repercussion of his health struggles: “I am completely dyslexic, I struggle to read, terribly.”
He also disclosed that his dyslexia affects his ability to navigate, saying: “But my dyslexia, because it came from a physical thing that happened in my brain, it wasn’t just about what I can read and what I can’t read, it is about me finding my way as well.”
Relying heavily on the maps app on his mobile even for simple trips to local stores, Kemp added: “I have dyslexia when it comes to me thinking what street is in front of another street. That all goes back to the brain injury that I had, I can’t help it – that maps app is a saviour to me.”
Reflecting on his mortality in an earlier episode of the podcast, Kemp shared a sobering thought, admitting his fear that he may only have “10 years” left following his ordeal with the tumours, having once believed he would not survive beyond two years.
As a result, Martin has accepted his fate and feels grateful for the life he’s lived. After discussing his past health struggles on the podcast, Roman revealed that many fans continue to inquire about his dad’s well-being.
The 32-year-old shared that the top Google search for his father was ‘Is Martin Kemp ill?, reports Gloucestershire Live‘ with the third being ‘Is Martin Kemp still alive?’, with Martin attributing the renewed interest in his health to the podcast.
He said: “Why would I be ill? A lot of people Google me about the old brain tumour thing. This is what you’ve done, people are starting to think I’m dead.”
Brain tumour symptoms
According to the NHS website, symptoms of a brain tumour can vary depending on the specific part of the brain affected.
They may not appear initially or could develop gradually over time.
They can include:
- headaches
- seizures (fits)
- persistently feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting) and drowsiness
- mental or behavioural changes, such as memory problems or changes in personality
- progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
- vision or speech problems
If you’re experiencing persistent or severe headaches, it’s recommended to consult a GP.
The NHS advises: “You may not have a brain tumour, but these types of symptoms should be checked.”