I Was Told Of Tumour Only Last Week: Tanya Chan

A tearful Tanya Chan said on Wednesday that she only came to know last Thursday that she had a 4.2-centimetre wide tumour in her brain.

The Civic Party lawmaker, speaking outside court after her pro-democracy colleagues were sentenced over the 2014 Occupy protests, said it is uncertain right now if the tumour is benign or not.

She said it is a little bit bigger than a ping pong ball and is already pressing on her brain stem and bending it.

Chan said she had suffered from dizziness, facial numbness and nausea in the past, but she didn't realise it could be related to such a serious brain problem.

The lawmaker said she was advised on Tuesday that she should have an operation in the next week or two, and she may need radiation therapy.

She said she is hopeful that she will recover and asked people not to worry about her.

"I will try my best to treat my condition and walk with everybody along what could be a very long journey to democracy," Chan said. "I still want true democracy."

She said she will ask the Legislative Council president, Andrew Leung, for some time off to recover.

Earlier her lawyer had submitted MRI scans and a report from her radiologist to the court to show that she needs surgery urgently, and the judge then postponed her sentencing to June 10.

In comments apparently aimed at Chan's diagnosis, DAB lawmaker Steven Ho, who represents the agriculture and fisheries sector, wrote on his Facebook page that "when it's time to pay the bill, everyone's terminally ill".

Party Chairwoman Starry Lee responded that such remarks are unavoidable because of the extent of the Occupy movement, but also wished Chan a speedy recovery.

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