‘Forgetful’ dad who missed turnings while driving around his local area and misplaced briefcase given 14 months to live
A DAD who missed turns while driving through his neighbourhood and misplaced his briefcase was given 14 months to live.
Paul Fletcher, 59, and his wife Jo, 51, laughed these signs off as forgetfulness.
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But they were in fact the first signs of a terminal brain cancer.
Paul had no obvious symptoms from the tumour until the day before he had a seizure.
Paul collapsed in front of his son Jack, 21, in the kitchen and was rushed to Southmead Hospital, Bristol.
Following MRI and CT scans the family were given the devastating news that Paul had two brain tumours.
Read more on brain cancer
The dad-of-two, who owns a contract cleaning company, was diagnosed with a grade four glioblastoma (GBM) – and told he had 14 months left to live.
Paul underwent a craniotomy to remove as much of the tumours as possible and is about to undergo six weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to prolong his life.
Jo, from Brimscombe, Gloucestershire, who owns a nail and beauty salon, said: “We were so shocked and horrified.
“This has taken our great lives away. It’s life-changing.
“Never did I think it would be terminal brain cancer.”
Paul started experiencing some forgetfulness on February 6, 2025.
Jo said: “He went for a job down the road and missed the turning.
“As he came back he missed another turning and thought ‘that’s a bit weird’.
“He thought his briefcase had been stole as it wasn’t where he’d put it but he found it and it was still in his office.
“We just laughed it off. He had no symptoms before that day – no headaches.”
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‘It happened so quickly’
The next day, Paul looked “vacant” and suddenly collapsed in the kitchen.
Jo rushed down to find him on the kitchen floor.
She said: “There was blood coming out of his mouth.
“Jack was on the phone to 999. It happened so quickly.
“It was really scary. All things go through your mind – a stroke, a heart attack.
“Never did we think it was a severe as this.”
What are the symptoms of glioblastoma and how soon do they show?
Glioblastomas are the most common brain tumour in adults, while also being very aggressive and deadly.
Brain Tumour Research says tumours increase pressure in the skull, causing headaches.
Symptoms to look for are:
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of balance
- Mood swings
- Problems speaking
- Problems with memory or concentration
- Seizures
- Impaired vision
The symptoms can initially be quite non-specific, meaning they could be mistaken for lots of other conditions- even stress or a hangover.
The brain controls so many different functions that symptoms can vary greatly depending on where in the brain the tumour is.
Glioblastomas are very fast growing. Once found, experts can see them double within seven weeks.
But, according to Dr Stephen Bagley, assistant professor of medicine at Penn Medicine, the first spark of glioblastoma in the brain remains something of a mystery to medical experts.
One study concluded that a glioblastoma starts growing 330 days on average – almost a year – before a diagnosis.
Another found that there are changes in immune function up to five years before a diagnosis, with markers in blood samples – but symptoms only occur three months prior.
Paul had three seizures and was put into an induced coma by the paramedics – before being taken to Southmead Hospital, Bristol.
Jo said: “It was horrendous.”
At first doctors thought Paul had an infection on his brain but after MRIs and CT scans the family were told he had terminal brain cancer.
Jo said: “When we heard it was terminal – it was an out of body experience.
“We were told he had 14 months. It was horrendous to hear.”
‘Biggest fight of our lives‘
To prolong Paul’s life as much as possible he had a three-hour operation to remove his tumours on February 20, 2025.
Jo said: “They were able to remove one of the tumours.
“The other one – a little line still glows up so tumour cells or blood could be there.
“The chemotherapy and radiotherapy should kill those cells off.”
Paul will start chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the end of March but is also changing up his lifestyle to put his health into the best place possible.
Jo said: “We’re doing the keto diet, we’re exercising.
“We go for daily walks, have good food, no sugar. He’s having turmeric and green tea.
“The neurosurgeon said drinking three cups of green tea a day is good.”
Despite Paul’s prognosis, the family are trying to remain as positive as they can. When Paul is well enough they hope to travel abroad with their two sons – Jack and Harvey, 26.
Jo said: “Paul is a very strong warrior.
“It’s fighting the biggest fight of our lives.”
Jo and Paul are also fundraising for Brain Tumour Charity to help fund crucial research to find a cure.
Jo said: “They call it a rare disease but so many people have got it.
“There needs to be more trials for brain cancer. It’s becoming more and more common.”
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