Janis Millar, a much–loved grandmother, wife, and bookkeeper from Paisley, was still working full–time when she began experiencing vision problems in September 2022. Scans revealed a glioblastoma – the same aggressive brain tumour that had claimed her own mother’s life decades earlier. Despite undergoing surgery and radiotherapy, Janice died in June 2023, just days after celebrating both her 71st birthday and 50th wedding anniversary. Her daughter Suzanne is now fundraising in her memory to support research into brain tumours and to honour Janice’s caring, community–spirited legacy.
Here is Janis’s story, as told by her daughter Suzanne…
My mum, Janis, was amazing – an active, sociable woman who was still working full–time when she was diagnosed. Even after we found out, she brought her work as a bookkeeper home and carried on. She always had a grandchild with her, and every weekend she was meeting up with friends or hosting people at the house. If someone was in hospital, she’d be the first to visit. She was the most caring person and the life and soul of every party.
In September 2022, on her usual walk to work, she didn’t see a passing car until it crossed into her other eye. She knew something wasn’t right, so she went to an optician in Paisley straight away, and they sent her to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for tests. Within days, after MRI and CT scans, she was told she had a rare tumour.
It was her worst fear because her mum, my gran Ann McCallum, had died of a brain tumour when Mum was young. She said straight away, “It’s a brain tumour. I know it is.”
There’s a one in a million chance that such close relatives would receive the same brain tumour diagnosis.
She was referred to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where they planned surgery to remove the tumour and take biopsies. This was done in November 2022. About two weeks later, we were called back and told it was glioblastoma, an aggressive and cancerous brain tumour. They said she would realistically have only about a year left. It was the most devastating news when Mum told me because she was my best friend. There hasn’t been a day in my life when I didn’t talk to her.
Mum didn’t focus on herself – she was more concerned about who would take care of us and my dad, Archie. She said deep down she’d always known this would happen. She was offered three weeks of radiotherapy to give her the best quality of life, and decided against chemotherapy so she could still see people and stay herself. She had the radiotherapy at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre just before Christmas.
At the time, I wasn’t married yet, so we rushed our wedding and got married in February 2023 so Mum could be there. I went on honeymoon in March, and when I came back she was in bed and unwell. I moved in with her to care for her full–time. I’m self–employed as a nail technician, so I told all my clients I wouldn’t be working for the foreseeable future.
I made Mum’s final months the best I could – we laughed a lot, I got her a wheelchair so we could go for days out, and we enjoyed every moment together.
Towards the end, I called the hospice to help with personal care. Mum made it to her 50th wedding anniversary with my Dad on 22 June 2023, which was also her 71st birthday. She wasn’t really talking by that point, but I decorated the room and arranged time slots for people to visit and wish her happy anniversary. My brothers, Ian and Andrew, moved in during her final week, and we were all around her when she died on 30 June.
Since then, I’ve thrown myself into fundraising for Brain Tumour Research. I first found out about the charity through seeing their Walk of Hope advertised online. My mum died in June, and that September my husband, Kevin, my son, Rhys, and I took part. I spoke to staff from the charity on the day and told them I wanted to organise an event every year on her anniversary to keep her memory alive.
On the first anniversary, in 2024, I organised a 3K walk and a big raffle, raising £7,000. This year, I decided to do a 24–hour treadmill walk. I walked over 72,000 steps, only stopping twice for the toilet. I kept a picture of Mum next to me the whole time and absolutely smashed it. We played Gerry Cinnamon’s She’s a Belter at the end, counted down to the finish, and I made a speech about Mum. Everyone was in tears. That challenge raised another £3,500.
Next year, I want to do the Glasgow Kiltwalk with over 100 people walking for “Team Janis.”
Mum walked everywhere – everyone knew her in Paisley because they’d see her out and about, waving and smiling. Walking events feel like the most fitting tribute to her.
I’ve also spoken to my GP about my own risk, given that both my mum and gran died of glioblastoma. I’ve been referred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for testing. I try not to overthink it, but it’s hard not to.
That’s why I’ll keep fundraising – to help fund research for my future, my son’s future, and for everyone affected by this devastating disease.
Suzanne Simmons
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 touched by Janice’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.
