BBC Peaky Blinders’ Tommy Shelby's fatal TB diagnosis' symptoms and survival rate
ok.co.ukSPOILERS AHEAD In the final series of smash-hit BBC drama Peaky Blinders, which is set in the 1920s/30s, main character Tommy Shelby's family has been plagued by tuberculosis.The heartbroken dad lost daughter Ruby to the disease, and in the most recent episode Tommy, who is played by Cillian Murphy, was informed by his doctor that he has tuberculoma in his brain stem.This was caused by close contact with tuberculosis, and is a non-cancerous growth.The doctor informed Tommy that it is inoperable as "any attempt to remove it would result in trauma and brain haemorrhage." He continued, "the rate of physical and mental deterioration will increase," before informing the gang leader that he had 12-18 months to live.
The TV show is fictional (although based loosely on a real gang with the same name as its title), but the disease that may cause Tommy's death is very much real.
In the past, TB caused 1 in 8 of all UK deaths, but now - with better research and improved living conditions - around 350 people per year lose their lives to the disease.
According to the NHS, approximately 7000 people are newly diagnosed in the UK each year, which accounts to just over one person in every 10,000 of the population.
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