Matthew's story – glioblastoma

Belfast teacher Matthew first noticed pain and swelling in his left leg after playing football in November 2024.

He was 32 and had just moved in with his partner Carrie.

At first, he thought the pain might be a pulled muscle or varicose veins in his leg and, after seeing the doctor, he had an operation to repair a collapsed valve.

However, the symptoms returned shortly afterwards and, a few months later, he collapsed while buying Valentine’s Day flowers for Carrie.

Matthew was sent for an emergency MRI scan, which revealed a 3cm glioblastoma growing in and through his spinal cord and he was told he may only have two years to live.

He said: “My whole life kind of stopped in that moment. I was just incredibly upset – it felt very unfair.”

He had surgery but the tumour came back.

He said: “As I had more follow-ups, the timeline became less and they talked about a year instead of two years. It was a big shock.”

He started chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment in hospital, and started his Instagram account called Fast and Tumorous to help raise awareness and funds for research.

Plans for the wedding were coming together too and, in June 2025, he and Carrie were married surrounded by family and friends.

Carrie said: “It was just a day of positive love. The energy in the room, I kept saying if you could bottle this up, you’d sell it for millions.

“There was no cloud of cancer over us at all. It was just a day of celebrations.”

Matthew said: “I’m very proud to say that I started around half nine that day, and I was still up and going around two in the morning.”

After the wedding, Matthew’s condition worsened and he died on 3rd August 2025.

Carrie and Matthew’s family are keen to support Stand Up To Cancer in Matthew’s memory, to keep raising awareness and helping others.