Josh Smith, a 34-year-old from Wrexham in Wales, endured ten days of unremitting headaches in January before his wife, Kelly, insisted he see a doctor for the first time in roughly twelve years. The general practitioner found nothing abnormal, prescribed more analgesics, and referred him to an ophthalmologist, who also detected no issues.

The pain intensified, which Smith later described as feeling “like someone pushing the back of my eyes out.” Kelly took him to the emergency department of Wrexham Maelor Hospital. After an initial discharge with morphine, a CT scan the next day uncovered a 4.5-centimetre brain tumour.

Specialists at The Walton Centre in Liverpool diagnosed glioblastoma, an aggressive tumour with a typical life expectancy of 12 to 18 months. Surgeons removed 95 per cent of the mass. According to Brain Tumour Research, about 3,200 people in the UK are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year; only one-third survive beyond 12 months, and just 4 per cent reach five years. Treatment for the cancer has not seen significant advances in two decades. The Welsh government says it is developing a cancer strategy with a focus on research, innovation and wider access to clinical trials.

Smith continues chemotherapy at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Rhyl, though doctors have told him the disease is incurable. “It is terminal,” he said. “I’m still doing chemo and hope it makes a difference, but there is still a lot of uncertainty.” He credits his wife’s insistence for the diagnosis, noting that if he had kept ignoring the symptoms “maybe I wouldn’t be here today.” After surgery, his first request was KFC, and he says he tries to enjoy each day fully.