A 45-year-old father was told he has about 12 months to live. He first thought he had a normal headache during a family trip.

Sudden Pain During a Family Drive

First, Mark Downey felt a headache two days before a holiday in Wales. While driving in September 2023, he felt a stabbing pain on the right side. Painkillers did not help, and the pain made him vomit. He went to A&E but left after hearing about a 17-hour wait.

Diagnosis and Treatment So Far

Next, his GP sent him for scans at Bolton Royal Hospital. An MRI later showed a brain tumour, and doctors first thought it was less severe. After surgery on October 21, a biopsy confirmed stage-four glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is a fast-growing brain tumour with short survival times. He completed 30 rounds of chemo-radiotherapy, but the tumour returned at 1.4cm.

Fundraising for Private Options

Also, Mark and his partner Samantha Scott are raising money for private treatment. They hope to try immunotherapy, which boosts the immune system to fight cancer. Doctors warned it may not help and can cost hundreds of thousands. The family has raised nearly £5,000 but needs more than £100,000.

Finally, Mark says he feels too strong to give up. His family is seeking more support while he continues treatment.