Andrew Hayes, 61, from Nottingham, was diagnosed with glioblastoma in July 2025 after experiencing mild headaches and increased tiredness. When his symptoms suddenly worsened, he was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre where a scan revealed a brain tumour. He later underwent brain surgery to remove the tumour and confirm his diagnosis, followed by six weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. When the treatment didn’t work, he began another type of chemotherapy and is now awaiting scan results. Inspired by his quiet strength and determination, his daughter Kirsten is taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge in July 2026 to support research into glioblastoma taking place close to home at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Nottingham.
Here is Andrew’s story, as told by his daughter, Kirsten…
My dad, Andrew, is the kind of person who has always just got on with things. He worked as a print finisher and is genuine, resilient and hardworking. Before his diagnosis, he loved watching football, going for walks with the dog and doing DIY. He was always busy. Even now, he still loves to watch football and YouTube videos. He is also the most amazing Grandad, and my girls, Ayla and Ella, love him so much.
The signs at the start weren’t obvious. My mum, Lisa, and sister, Lily, noticed a slight change in his behaviour and that he seemed more tired than usual, but nothing that made us panic. When the mild headaches began in June 2025, we put them down to sleep apnoea along with the tiredness. In July, Dad went to the doctors with a pain across his forehead and was told it was a migraine that would pass after a few days. We thought that was all it was.
On 11th July, everything changed. Dad was in so much pain that he was being sick and couldn’t stand.
He was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham and after a CT scan, they told him he had a brain tumour. I was at home with the girls when mum called to tell me. It was heartbreaking and I was in disbelief.
Following an MRI, doctors suspected a glioma and everything moved very quickly. Dad underwent brain surgery on 6 August to debulk the tumour and we were told they had removed the majority of it with only a small amount remaining.
A week later, on 15 August, we met with the nurse specialist and were told it was a glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. When we were given his prognosis of 12 to 18 months, I couldn’t accept it. I couldn’t face knowing that my Dad was only given that amount of time to live.
Dad was shocked too. He cried and broke down because he couldn’t believe it was happening. Mum was completely heartbroken, but she has always tried to be strong for him, especially as he doesn’t know his prognosis.
Dad then went on to have six weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, hoping it would work. Unfortunately, it didn’t. He is now having another type of chemotherapy and an upcoming scan will tell us if this treatment has worked.
Since his diagnosis, we have seen changes. He has experienced some memory loss in the past few months and now sleeps quite a lot during the day.
Dad had to surrender his licence after his diagnosis and was told he could no longer work. For someone so hardworking and independent, that has been incredibly hard.
Dad doesn’t talk about his cancer to me or my sister, just our mum. He doesn’t know his prognosis and prefers not to talk about it. He has faced this journey with such silent strength and determination, even when we know it must be incredibly difficult for him.
His diagnosis has devastated us all. Sixty-one is no age to be living with terminal brain cancer. It has brought sadness and uncertainty into our lives and forced us to confront fears we were not prepared for. At the same time, it has brought us closer together and reminded us how important it is to support each other and cherish every moment we have.
After Dad’s diagnosis, I felt an overwhelming need to turn the fear, worry and helplessness into something positive. That is why I chose to take on the National Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours for Brain Tumour Research.
Climbing the highest peaks in the UK feels symbolic of the emotional mountains we have had to climb as a family. It is my way of giving back and showing Dad just how much his courage inspires me.
Brain Tumour Research matters to me because my Dad, and every other person battling a brain tumour, deserves every chance and every breakthrough science can offer. Brain tumours are extremely complex, and treatments are limited and uncertain. Knowing that researchers at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Nottingham are dedicated to understanding and treating glioblastoma is reassuring and gives us hope.
It feels empowering to know that what I am doing could help fund research, support breakthroughs and give other families hope for the future.
Kirsten Lowe
February 2026
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 Andrew’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.
