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Paul also collapsed in front of his son Jack in the kitchen and was rushed to hospital
A 59-year-old man who repeatedly missed turns while driving through his neighbourhood and misplaced his office things was diagnosed with deadly brain cancer and given just over a year to live.
According to Paul Fletcher, these signs of forgetfulness were actually terminal cancer that came along with seizures. Paul said he collapsed in front of his son Jack in the kitchen and was rushed to the hospital. And following a detailed check-up with MRI and CT scans, he was given the devastating news of not just one but two tumours in his brain.
The owner of the contract cleaning company was diagnosed with a grade four glioblastoma—a common and aggressive primary malignant brain tumour in adults, characterised by rapid growth and invasion of surrounding brain tissue—and is currently considered incurable. Thereafter, doctors conducted a craniotomy to remove as much of the tumours as possible, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy to prolong his life.
What were Paul's symptoms?
According to Paul, he started experiencing some forgetfulness earlier this year. “While going for a job down the road, I missed the turning. Came back and missed another turn and thought, 'That's a bit weird',” he said.
"While I thought my briefcase had been stolen as it wasn't where I'd put it, but then it was found still in the office. We just laughed it off. I had no symptoms before that day - no headaches," he added.
While one of Paul's tumours has been killed, the other one - a little line—still glows up so tumour cells or blood could be there. Doctors are hopeful treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy will kill those cells off as well.
What is glioblastoma?
Glioblastoma, or GBM is the most common type of malignant brain tumour that starts in the brain in adults. Cancer cells in glioblastoma tumours rapidly grow and multiply, and they can spread into other areas of your brain and spinal cord as well. Rarely, the cancer spreads outside your brain to other parts of your body.
According to experts, these tumours start in glial cells - vital to nerve cell function. Formerly known as glioblastoma multiforme, it is a devastating type of cancer that results in death in fewer than six months without treatment.
Signs and symptoms of glioblastoma
A few signs and symptoms of glioblastoma that happen due to a tumour putting pressure on your brain include:
- Blurred or double vision
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
- Memory issues
- Mood and personality changes
- Muscle weakness and balance issues
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
- Speech issues
- Changes in sensation, numbness, and tingling
What are the risk factors for glioblastoma?
Doctors say glioblastoma most commonly affects people ages 45 to 70 years. The average age at diagnosis is 64 but anyone can get the disease. These factors may increase your risk:
- Exposure to chemicals like pesticides, petroleum, synthetic rubber, and vinyl chloride.
- Genetic, tumor-causing conditions, like neurofibromatosis, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and Turcot syndrome
- Previous radiation therapy to your head
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