A father from Twyning, near Tewkesbury, described by his family as ‘fit and healthy’, has been diagnosed with Grade 4 glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and challenging brain cancers to treat.
Paul Richards, a 46-year-old father of two, began experiencing seizures in March this year despite having had no prior symptoms. An MRI scan in April revealed a tumour in his brain, leading to a 10-hour craniotomy procedure in May at Southmead Hospital during which surgeons removed part of his skull to examine brain tissue.
Following the diagnosis, Paul underwent a six-week course of radiotherapy at Cheltenham General Hospital alongside chemotherapy treatment in tablet form. Due to the severity of his condition and prognosis, his family are now exploring additional specialist treatments abroad, including personalised immunotherapy and vaccine therapy, with a cost estimated at £77,300.
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To assist with these expenses, the family has established a GoFundMe page which has raised over £60,000 to date.
Paul’s brother, Marc Richards, said: “It has been a whirlwind. We are trying to understand all the options and feel we must explore every reasonable treatment to give Paul the best chance. He is a private man and had kept much of this to himself, trying to maintain normality. The support we’ve received recently has been incredible and gives us hope.”
Marc recalls the day in March when Paul experienced three seizures, which followed a shared CrossFit session that morning. Initial CT scans showed no abnormalities, but subsequent MRI scans identified a large abnormality in the right temporal region of his brain, raising concerns about a tumour.
The family received the diagnosis of Grade 4 glioblastoma in June, an outcome that profoundly affected them amid a rapid sequence of events.
Paul has since completed his first phase of radiotherapy and is due to start another course of chemotherapy in late September. Despite some side effects such as headaches, confusion, and minor memory loss, he has recovered well from his surgery and continues to maintain a sense of humour.
Glioblastoma is known for microscopic residual cells that may linger, making recurrence a constant concern. As Marc explained, distinguishing between tumour regrowth and swelling remains difficult, and they remain hopeful that radiotherapy has been effective.
While facing an uncertain future, the family is focused on cherishing valuable moments together and supporting Paul through this challenging journey.