A YOUNG man who bravely fought brain cancer for more than eight years has sadly passed away at home.

Stuart Hutchison was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2011 after doctors misdiagnosed his severe headaches and dizziness as an ear infection.

The Clackmannan man then underwent an emergency life-saving operation before the cancer returned two years later when doctors once again misdiagnosed his condition at the age of 19.

Despite the setbacks, Stuart went on to reach many milestones including his wedding on January 25 to wife Danielle after a relapse in December of last year.

Doctors gave Stuart chemotherapy to hold the cancer at bay, but after a holiday to Spain with Danielle, he went to the hospital complaining about a sore hand only to be told that an aggressive tumour had formed.

Not only that, but the cancer had spread to his bones and the chemotherapy had not worked the way doctors had hoped.

Stuart’s mum Fiona told the Advertiser that her son chose to spend his final days at home.

Fiona said: “We got him home four weeks ago because he wanted to die at home because that’s where he was born. We cared for him at home.

“We are all shocked by it, even although you expect it. It is still a shock and traumatic when it finally comes. He died at 1.15pm.”

There was a further cruel twist, too, as Fiona explained Danielle’s glasses broke and needed her spare pair which were at the home she shared with Stuart.

Danielle’s dad went to the home only to find Stuart’s beloved three-year-old French Bulldog Nero severely ill and took him to the vet where, sadly, he passed away less than 10 minutes after Stuart.

Fiona said: “He had three dogs, but him and Nero were like one man and his dog. Nero was the dog which was always with him.”

Despite the immense sadness and tragedy, Fiona wants her son to be remembered for what he was – a strong person who fought for eight years, regardless of the setbacks.

One crumb of comfort for her is the volume of messages she has been receiving from friends, family and even strangers – all of whom were touched by Stuart in some way during his 25 years.

“He was a really strong person who fought this for eight years," she said. "He was such a loving person, too.

"So many people have been in touch who I don’t even know. They have all been saying a lot of nice things about him which is comforting for us.”

For anyone wishing to attend Stuart’s funeral, the service will take place at Inglewood House on Wednesday, August 21 at 10.30am.

There will then be a service at the old part of Sunnyside Cemetery where Stuart will be buried beside his grandparents and Nero.