Matthew's Story - Astrocytoma brain tumour

Matthew, from Sussex, was diagnosed with an incurable astrocytoma brain tumour in October 2023. Father-of-two Matthew, who has worked in the NHS for 15 years, is married to his childhood sweetheart Lianne, who is a paediatric nurse. Matthew said that their life was going well before he fell ill. 

Over the weekend that followed, Matthew had 15 more seizures, and underwent CT and MRI scans over the following days. 

“I work in the NHS, but you never think you are going to be the patient in that hospital bed. And then I met the neurosurgeons and they said “we’ve found something”. I’ve never been more afraid. Then hearing the words, that there is no cure, I just sat there and cried."

“I looked at Lianne, and I have never seen someone look so determined. In that moment, I absolutely knew that she would do whatever it takes to be there for me.” 

In November 2023, Matthew had surgery to reduce the size of the tumour, followed by radiotherapy and is now having chemotherapy. 

“I’m not too proud to admit that I’m scared. Some days it’s easier than others, some days everything feels impossible. When I look in the mirror, sometimes I don’t see myself. I have come a long way. I climbed the mountain of surgery, the mountain of radiotherapy and now I have the mountain of eight months of chemotherapy. 

“No one really knows what the long-term impact of this treatment will be, but all the cancer is doing is making the love we feel for each other stronger."