We are grateful to Yvonne (and her son, Andrew) who worked with us to share her story here. Sadly, she passed away in April 2025. We remember Yvonne as we continue our work to raise awareness of this devastating disease and to fund research to help find a cure. She will be forever in our hearts.
Grandmother-of-two, Yvonne, from Hertford, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma after being told her tiredness, confusion and headaches were symptoms of long COVID. Despite undergoing surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Yvonne and her family understand their time together is limited. Her son, Andrew, is fundraising for and campaigning with Brain Tumour Research to help future patients.
Here is Yvonne’s story, as told by her son, Andrew…
Since Mum’s brain tumour diagnosis, I’ve asked if she had any kind of warning sign before her diagnosis and she said ‘nothing’. For her, it began during Christmas 2023. Both my parents caught COVID-19 at the same time and, sure enough, Dad recovered but Mum was still suffering with symptoms. She complained of being tired, had headaches, and she became confused.
By January 2024, Mum still wasn’t right. The doctor initially said it was long-COVID.
My sister, Rachel, and I grew concerned it was something more. Mum’s confusion got worse, mixing up the past and present; she thought she was still in Downham, London, a place she lived two decades ago.
We got her in for an emergency GP appointment who ordered Mum a blood test. When the weekend came, Mum couldn’t get out of bed due to the pain in her head being unbearable. Her face had dropped on one side.
Dad called an ambulance, and she was taken to Lister Hospital in Stevenage for a suspected stroke.
After a CT and MRI scan we were told Mum had a tumour pushing on the frontal lobe of her brain.
She spent two weeks at The Lister whilst they reduced the swelling around her brain. Once that had been reduced, she was sent home as this had improved her cognition and, although she still wasn’t right, she was more herself than before.
Her case was referred to University College Hospital London (UCLH) where the consultant told us the tumour was a glioblastoma. They said it was so big she needed surgery to debulk it – without it she would be dead within months.
Mum was essentially told: “It’s terminal and going to kill you, but let’s delay it and give you the best quality of life in the meantime.”
We were shocked at everything that had happened so far and it was horrible to see my Mum so vulnerable. As a family, we wanted Mum to have the operation for a fighting chance at being with us for longer.
Mum had surgery at the beginning of February 2024 and was down for almost eight hours. I was worried I’d never see her again after the doctor explained the risks that came with the procedure including life-changing injuries and even death.
I was extremely grateful to the surgeon at UCLH when he told us they had managed to debulk the mass. Mum then had radiotherapy and chemotherapy to try and blast the remaining cancer.
Mum’s scan at the end of May showed the brain cancer was stable. She then continued with chemotherapy, this time on a higher dose.
We understood the harsh reality of Mum’s glioblastoma diagnosis and were warned that the average survival time is devastatingly short – just 12-18 months. Our hope as a family was that we would get to spend another Christmas together, which we did.
Until this happened, I didn’t know anything about this disease. I think there tends to be a worry about other types of cancer whereas not much is known about brain cancer. It’s a horrible way to go.
Mum has been so brave during her battle so far and I felt inspired to sign up to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October 2024. Even though she was going through the whole illness and chemotherapy, Mum came up to London and she cheered me on. You couldn't stop her. It was a great day and I managed to raise £2,800 for Brain Tumour Research.
Mum was really proud of me. She knew the money I raised wouldn't help her, but hopefully it will for others in the long run. I wouldn’t wish this on anybody. As time went on, we could see the impact the disease was having on Mum's mental capacity. Her memories got muddled which was upsetting to witness.
From the outset, the doctors told us that glioblastoma was the worst type of brain tumour and there was no cure. It's just so heartbreaking to see, and there's nothing you can do. Mum was told that if she didn’t have an operation she would be dead within a month. Mum said she wasn’t ready to die so she underwent surgery despite being told she may not survive it because of her age.
All through the whole process of being ill, Mum didn't want to die. She took all of the treatment available to her. She was told she had 12 months to live, and she managed 15 months, so she outlived her prognosis which showed how strong she was, and how much she was willing to live for her family.
Mum died on 25th April 2025, aged 75.
On 26th April 2026, I'll be running the TCS London Marathon which coincides with the first anniversary of Mum's death.
This is twice the distance of the Royal Parks Half Marathon but this is for my mum. She will be in my mind and my heart, and I'm going to raise the money for her, and so that one day no family has to go through this. It's just heartbreaking.
I couldn’t believe it when I found out there is a lack of funding that is invested into researching the disease. It’s too late for Mum, but if I can use my family’s experience to help raise awareness to help future generations and advocate for change then I will do everything I can to do that.
I’m running this marathon in honour of her and her legacy.
Andrew Piddington
March 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 Yvonne’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.