Alex Davies, a 49-year-old from Bolton, was enjoying life with his wife, Emma, and their two children, Joseph and Eloise, when everything changed in June 2023. After unexpectedly passing out on a night away and later suffering a seizure at home, Alex was initially diagnosed with epilepsy. However, further scans diagnosed him with a glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable brain tumour. Despite undergoing surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, the cancer returned, leading Alex to join a clinical trial exploring new treatment options. Now, he is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Brain Tumour Research, determined to make a difference for others facing this disease.
Alex tells his story…
In June 2023, my wife Emma and I went to a Pet Shop Boys concert in Liverpool. The next morning, we visited the WWII museum and, while walking back to the Albert Docks, decided to stop for a drink at a pub. Although I just had lemonade, I remember feeling strange and mentioned it to Emma. The next thing I knew, I was lying on the floor with Emma beside me and the ambulance service on speakerphone. She told me I had fallen off my seat and passed out. It was the first sign that something wasn’t right, but we didn’t think much more of it.
We went home, and though I still felt a little under the weather, I carried on as normal.
A few days later, I woke up to find paramedics at my bedside. I had suffered a seizure.
That’s when things got serious, and we went to Bolton Hospital for a CT scan, but the doctors didn’t notice anything unusual and later, a neurologist diagnosed me with epilepsy. Through my job as a Head of Consents & Environment Planning, I have private medical insurance which allowed me to be referred to a private Hospital for an MRI scan and rule out anything more serious. The scan detected something, but the medical staff believed it was a remnant from my childhood and put me on a waiting list for a follow up MRI with contrast to check it. I was prescribed epilepsy medication and sent on my way.
By August, I was feeling worse and was experiencing a lot of headaches and likely had another seizure, though I didn’t think much about it. I thought some of it may have been adjustment to epilepsy medication. Then, in September, just after returning home from the dentist, I had another seizure. This time, I was blue-lighted to Bolton Hospital, where another CT scan revealed a shadow on my brain. A follow-up MRI with contrast confirmed the root of the problem.
It was a bittersweet moment when the scans identified the brain tumour. It was terrifying to hear, but at least we finally had answers.
Following the diagnosis, I was referred to Salford Royal Hospital, which specialises in this type of disease. I was nervous about the next steps, but my neurosurgeon reassured me that surgery was the best option, as he believed he could remove the entire mass. I decided this was the only path forward, and within days, I underwent surgery. Thankfully, the operation was a success.
With the tumour removed and frozen for testing, a biopsy was conducted to determine its type.
I was shocked to learn that my tumour was a stage 4 glioblastoma – Cancerous, with a prognosis of 12 to 18 months.
Before my diagnosis, I didn’t realise brain tumours could be cancerous. Suddenly, we were facing a whole new and deadly challenge with the glioblastoma diagnosis. In November 2023, I was transferred to The Christie Hospital in Manchester, an incredible facility I’m fortunate to have nearby as it’s a specialist in cancer care. I started a six-week course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy to fight the cancer and prevent further tumour growth. It was a wonderful moment when I completed treatment and rang the bell before Christmas, allowing me to spend time with my family.
In the new year, I began another round of chemotherapy and completed the course in June 2024. It was amazing when my next scan came back clear, allowing me to enjoy the summer holidays. I felt normal and okay during this time, but in the back of my mind, I worried about the cancer returning.
Unfortunately, a few months later my next scan at Salford Hospital confirmed my fears and the cancer was back. I agreed to participate in Birmingham University’s six-month Aristocrat trial, which combines oral chemotherapy (temozolomide) with Sativex, a cannabis-based spray or a placebo. The goal is to determine whether the combination is more effective than chemotherapy alone. I’m currently completing the trial with monitoring and the treatment managed by The Christie, though the Sativex doesn’t taste great, and we won’t know its effectiveness until the end of the study.
When faced with something so difficult, you learn to live in the moment. At first, I knew nothing about brain tumours but that changed. Research, charities, awareness; it all became part of our world. The support from brain tumour charities have been so important for us and I really appreciate the work they are doing. The real challenge was knowing what to say to our loved ones, especially our kids. We chose to drip-feed relevant information, allowing life to carry on, even during GCSEs. Whether that’s right or wrong, I don’t know, but we keep going and that’s what matters.
Now, we take each day as it comes, and I’m focused on raising funds and awareness for Brain Tumour Research.
After my diagnosis, I started researching and discovered this fantastic organisation which is dedicated to finding a cure. I’ve done fundraising to support them, including arranging for Bolton and Chorley Town Halls to be lit up in their colours for Brain Tumour Awareness Month. I’ve also confirmed that three railway stations, King’s Cross, Leeds, and Liverpool Lime Street, will follow suit at the end of March, and the chief executives have been very supportive. Additionally, I’ve reached out to my local MP to advocate for the Rare Cancers Bill currently going through Parliament.
In total, my friends, family, and I have raised over £6,000 and counting for the brain tumour community. It’s just a drop in the ocean compared to what’s needed to fight this disease, but I hope it will help the incredible researchers working towards a cure. I also wanted to share my story to raise awareness, in the hope that fewer people will have to go through this journey.
Alex Davies
March 2025
One in three people in the UK knows someone affected by a brain tumour. This disease is indiscriminate; it can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, brain tumours continue to kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, to date, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002.
Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this.
If you have been inspired by Alex’s story, you may like to make a donation via www.braintumourresearch.org/donate or leave a gift in your will via www.braintumourresearch.org/legacy
Together we will find a cure.