A father from Twyning, near Tewkesbury, described by his family as ‘fit and healthy’, received a devastating diagnosis earlier this year when he was found to have an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Paul Richards, aged 46, is battling Grade 4 glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and challenging types of brain cancer to treat. The condition was discovered after Paul suffered several seizures in March, despite having shown no prior symptoms, according to his family.
An MRI scan in April revealed a tumour in Paul’s brain. He subsequently underwent a demanding 10-hour craniotomy in May at Southmead Hospital, where a part of his skull was temporarily removed to enable examination of the brain tissue. This operation confirmed the presence of glioblastoma.
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Since then, Paul has completed an intensive six-week course of radiotherapy at Cheltenham General Hospital, in conjunction with chemotherapy tablets.
Given the prognosis, Paul’s family are now exploring alternative specialist treatments beyond the NHS. These include personalised immunotherapy and vaccine treatments abroad, with costs estimated at around £77,300.
To support these expenses, Paul’s family have set up a GoFundMe appeal, which has raised over £60,000 to date.
Paul’s brother, Marc Richards, described the emotional journey: “It’s been a whirlwind. We’re trying to understand all the options because we don’t want to miss any reasonable opportunity. Paul has kept much of this private, trying to maintain some normality. The overwhelming support we’ve received has been incredible and gives us hope to do as much as we can to extend his life.”
Marc recalled the morning when Paul experienced three seizures shortly after a CrossFit session they had done together. “There were no symptoms before that morning. Paul did CrossFit every day. After our session, I found out he had a seizure out of the blue, then another while waiting for the ambulance, and a third on the way to hospital. We were left wondering what was happening-could it be epilepsy, or a one-off event?”
Initial CT scans showed no abnormalities, but an MRI conducted a month later identified a concerning tumour in the right temporal region of his brain. Paul underwent the extensive craniotomy surgery on 14 May.
Receiving the Grade 4 glioblastoma diagnosis in mid-June turned the family’s world upside down. “We were hoping the diagnosis would be different. So much has happened in such a short time,” Marc commented.
Paul has since completed his first round of radiotherapy and is set to commence another chemotherapy course at the end of September. Despite some side effects, including confusion, headaches and minor memory loss, Paul is recovering well.
“He was even joking just 24 hours after surgery,” Marc added.
Marc explained the challenges of glioblastoma treatment: “There are always microscopic cells remaining, like tentacles, which is why tumours can return even after surgery. It’s difficult to tell if changes in scans indicate tumour regrowth or swelling from treatment. We hope the radiotherapy has helped but won’t know for some time. We’re focusing on making as many memories together as possible.