Signs of an alarming health issue emerged when a man experienced a strange sensation in his arm. Matt Collins, 38, sought medical attention at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil in October 2023 after his left arm suddenly stopped functioning while he was at a music festival with his partner.
Following diagnostic scans, doctors diagnosed Matt with a glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain tumor, giving him a prognosis of 12 to 18 months. Prior to his diagnosis, Matt had been managing anxiety and depression with medication. His mental health struggles had intensified after a divorce, leading him back to his parents’ house in the two years preceding the discovery of his condition.
Since July that year, Matt had been grappling with intense “thunderclap” headaches and seizures, causing him to foam at the mouth. While awaiting an MRI scan, he encountered a stroke that prompted further medical intervention. Subsequently, he underwent chemotherapy and is now considering treatment options abroad.
Reflecting on his experience, Matt, hailing from Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, recalled, “Just days before the stroke, I felt tingling in my arm, but I didn’t pay much attention to it.
“When my arm suddenly malfunctioned, I knew something serious was happening. The news of having a glioblastoma the size of a golf ball completely changed my world.
“Receiving the brain tumor diagnosis felt overwhelming. My father, who was with me, and I were both taken aback as we were unaware of the implications of such a condition.”
Despite successful tumor removal by surgeons at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff in 2023, Matt’s tumor recurred. He shared, “A follow-up MRI in July showed regrowth, leading to three additional rounds of chemotherapy. Once again, my left arm lost function.
“Initially, I attributed it to the chemotherapy. The return of symptoms is terrifying as it immediately instills fear of the worst possible outcome. The latest MRI in November revealed no improvement from the chemotherapy, with the tumor continuing to progress. With limited treatment options and no cure in sight, uncertainty clouds my future.”
While medical advancements are ongoing, charities caution about the restricted treatment avenues for brain tumors, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among young individuals. Access to advanced therapies, specialized drug trials, and research studies is severely limited for patients in the UK, necessitating self-funded care for many.
In Matt’s case, fundraising efforts enabled him to receive DcVax-L, a personalized vaccine not accessible through the NHS but privately attainable in the UK for £100,000. Expressing gratitude, Matt stated, “The generosity of strangers allowed me to undergo the DcVax-L treatment.
“Without their support, raising the required £100,000 would have been impossible. However, due to improper tumor tissue storage, I could only undergo four doses of the treatment. The importance of correct tissue preservation cannot be overstated, emphasizing its life-altering impact.”
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