Evan Doyle, 36, from Kildare, Ireland, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumour in summer 2024 after experiencing weeks of worsening headaches and dizziness. A scan revealed a mass in the pineal region of his brain – a place so rare that doctors had little direct experience treating it. With support from his sister Emma, a cancer nurse based in Scotland, and the rest of his family, Evan underwent intensive surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Now, just over a year later, scans show no visible tumour, and he is slowly rebuilding his life. Recently, Emma ran the Scottish 10K to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research in his honour.
Here is Evan’s story, as told by his sister, Emma…
My brother Evan was the picture of health. At 36, he was training for the Manchester Marathon, fit, active, and happy. But in July 2024, he began suffering from persistent headaches and dizziness. Because he works on computers, he assumed it was eye strain – he even went for an eye test. But the symptoms didn’t ease.
One Sunday, on the way to a half marathon in Dublin, Evan felt an intense ‘pop’ in his head. Moments later, he was too weak to walk.
Our mum, who was driving, pulled over and got him urgent care. He was sent to A&E at Naas General Hospital, where a scan revealed a tumour deep inside his brain, in the pineal region.
Evan was transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and started on IV steroids to reduce pressure on the brain. Surgeons performed a procedure to relieve the fluid buildup and took a biopsy during the operation.
When the results came back, we were told it was a grade 4 pineoblastoma – an incredibly rare and aggressive tumour more commonly found in younger people. As a cancer nurse, I knew how serious that diagnosis was. It was inoperable. There were no clear treatment paths, only hope that radiotherapy and chemotherapy could prolong his life.
Watching our mum look to me for reassurance, knowing there wasn’t any I could give, was the most heart-breaking moment of my life.
But Evan was incredible. He accepted the diagnosis with courage and chose to focus only on the next step. He never once searched his prognosis online – just listened to his doctors and kept going. In August 2024, he began six weeks of radiotherapy to his brain and spine. Halfway through, we were told his tumour had been downgraded to a grade 3 pineal parenchymal tumour – still rare, still serious, but a sliver of hope.
Despite the fatigue, Evan pushed through. He couldn’t run anymore, but he walked 8km a day, six days a week. His strength was astounding.
In November 2024, he began a year-long course of chemotherapy, combining vincristine, cisplatin and lomustine. It was intense – three weeks on, three weeks off – but he remained remarkably well, managing the side effects with the same grit and determination.
In January 2025, Evan had a routine scan hoping the tumour had stayed the same. But what we got was beyond belief: the tumour was no longer visible.
In March, doctors discovered his liver function started to decline due to the chemotherapy. They decided to pause treatment and scan again. This time, they confirmed it: the tumour was undetectable.
One consultant, unfamiliar with Evan’s case, assumed he’d had surgery to remove the tumour – that’s how dramatic the difference was. But it had been treatment alone. Against all odds, Evan was in remission.
Today, he’s back to living independently, running again, and regaining his old life step by step. After moving in with our parents during treatment, he’s now back in his own home. He’s even talking about trying the Manchester Marathon again one day.
Seeing what research made possible for Evan – a treatment plan created purely from medical literature, not experience – inspired me to do something.
I completed the Scottish 10K in Musselburgh this year to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research.
Evan had to give up his marathon place, something I know meant the world to him. I’m not a natural runner, but this is my way of honouring him, giving back, and hopefully helping families like ours in the future.
On race day, Evan couldn’t be there in person, but for the best reason – he got the chance to see Oasis live in Dublin, a huge bucket list moment and his first big social outing since treatment. My family had him on FaceTime as I crossed the finish line. Knowing he was out enjoying life again made the day even more meaningful.
The atmosphere at the event was brilliant. It was a hot day, and the last kilometre was tough, but seeing my two-year-old daughter waving her Brain Tumour Research flag gave me the push I needed to get over the line. The support from family and friends has been incredible – from encouragement during training to messages playing in my earphones throughout the race.
It’s shocking to learn that just 1% of the national spend on cancer research goes toward brain tumours, despite them being the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40. That has to change.
I originally set a fundraising target of £150 – I’ve now raised over £1,000, and donations are still coming in. There were times I doubted I could do it, but I kept reminding myself why I was running and who I was running for. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved, and I’d encourage anyone thinking about taking on a challenge like this to go for it. Every step and every donation makes a difference.
Hopefully next year, Evan will be running beside me.
Emma Humble
August 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 Evan’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.
