Rich moved from Doncaster to Hemel Hempstead, working as a professional musician for more than 20 years. The 41-year-old was diagnosed with a grade 3 astrocytoma in April 2023 after suffering a seizure out of the blue. He has since had surgery, radiotherapy and a year of chemotherapy. Now monitored with regular MRI scans, Rich is looking to the future, sharing his story to raise awareness of the disease and preparing for his daughter, Maeve, to start school – a day he feared he would never see.
Rich tells his story…
April 1st 2025 marks two years since I had a seizure in my sleep and was diagnosed with a brain tumour. It’s a date I have observed ever since, with a long fundraising walking event to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.
I’d been working late and went to bed only to wake up at 1am on the floor. My wife Laura was standing over me saying, “It’s okay, you’ve had a seizure”, while two police officers and two paramedics were stood at the end of the bed. I was taken to Watford General Hospital for a CT scan.
Doctors told me they’d found a lesion on my brain, and I had to stay in for an MRI scan after the weekend. At the time, I didn’t know what ‘lesion meant — having a brain tumour just wasn’t on my radar.
Growing up, I know my dad had two or three seizures and he didn’t have a brain tumour. I thought it could just be something that happens.
Five days later, I went to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen Square, London, to meet a neurosurgeon where we discussed next steps. He told me that, from the scan image, he thought I had a low-grade brain tumour in my right-side occipital cortex. He advised that the best option would be to have a craniotomy, and they would know more about its grading after the procedure to remove the tumour.
I feared that my daughter would grow up having no memory of me and my wife would be left a single parent.
At the end of July, I had an operation at The Wellington Hospital in London using an intraoperative MRI scanner technique which meant the team could do my operation in stages. After the initial resection based on the initial MRI, they scanned me again and were able to take more of the tumour. It was a relief to wake up after such a high-risk procedure and the surgeon was very positive with how it went.
I found out the tumour was a grade 3 astrocytoma and felt a sense of reassurance knowing it could be a lot worse, especially as my tumour was operable. I was fortunate.
Six-and-a-half weeks of radiotherapy followed and then 12 months of chemotherapy, temozolomide in tablet form. It was always the week after taking the chemo tablets that the side effects kicked in. Tiredness, nausea, room spin and disorientation. Thankfully, it didn’t last long and then I’d feel my normal self. By and large the treatment was mostly tolerated quite well. My radiotherapy sessions ran like a well-oiled machine, with only a little fatigue and discomfort in the final week of treatment.
I’m now scanned every three months to check if there’s anything happening with any residual tumour. All scans have so far been stable. I was given a prognosis, based on average survival rates, of seven years for astrocytoma patients. However, no two cases are the same and I hope to live a long and fulfilling life.
It’s strange to think that I went from having a mid-life crisis at the start of 2023 about turning 40 that August, to suddenly facing the possibility that I might not even make it to 40. This whole experience has changed my perspective on life, and in some cases, it has improved areas of my life especially family and work which I once took for granted.
I assumed that my life was going to be over very quickly. I did have some very dark thoughts and moments soon after my diagnosis and I worked with a counsellor, who helped me immensely. I am not sure I would be here today had it not been for the advice and guidance I got from him.
I’ve since encountered other brain tumour patients, including my friend’s sister who unfortunately passed away after being diagnosed with a GBM. This has led me to want to fundraise to help find a cure for all types of brain tumours. Knowing that just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002 has spurred me on to want to make a positive impact for people and families facing a diagnosis.
My most recent challenge walking 28 miles took me from my home in Hemel to the Savoy Theatre in London where I’ve been working as a professional trombonist. It’s all helping me build up to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October.
My tumour has left its mark on everyday life. My short-term memory is rather awful, and I have traits similar to mild dyslexia. When I wear my hair short, you can see the scar from my surgery, which I carry with pride.
I want to help bring treatment for brain tumours in line with other cancers and help the decision-makers see it is a priority to receive investment in research funding.
Rich Wigley
May 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 Rich’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.
