Father of two Andy McNeill from Mutley has detected brain tumours during his many years as an optometrist – and now he is battling terminal cancer himself.
Andy’s first symptom struck in October last year when he experienced a sudden loss of function in his right side while warming up for a game of squash.
Suspecting a TIA (mini-stroke), Andy attended A&E and underwent an MRI, which revealed the cause of his symptoms: he had three brain tumours.
Biopsies revealed the tumours to be a multi-centric glioblastoma multiform (GBM), an incurable cancer with a poor prognosis and, realistically, Andy said he will be doing well to see out 2023.
Treatment is aimed at giving the patient more time, but doesn’t cure it. Treatment started January 2023 with six weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Andy is now entering a second cycle of treatments, which will consist of six months of chemotherapy for five days every four weeks.
From the moment of diagnosis, Andy said that he was going to use his diagnosis of terminal brain cancer to help increase society’s understanding and improve treatment for brain tumours.
As an optometrist Andy McNeill said he can see things from both patient and practitioner perspectives.
In his role, he has detected numerous brain and ocular tumours. Only a few years ago Andy referred a four-year-old girl for diagnosis of a suspected brain tumour. The MRI confirmed his suspicions: she was diagnosed in 2019, bur sadly passed away in 2021. The case deeply affected Andy.
He said:
“The situation also makes you live every day for the day, which is a great way to live life. The only thing that I know now which I didn’t before the diagnosis is what I’m likely to die of.
“Not a great revelation that I’m going to die – we all are, but we don’t like to think about it. It also puts your priorities in the correct order, putting friends and wider family way out on top. It is a surprisingly happy place to be,” said Andy.
Andy, who is 48, is the father of two boys, aged 11 and 14, and he is trying to use the time he’s been given to create positive memories for them whilst also trying to navigate the complexities of explaining to the boys what is likely to happen, being transparent without giving worst-case scenarios.
“I have touched base with Jeremiah’s Journey, the Plymouth charity that deals with childhood parental ill-health or parental bereavement and how to address it; they’ve sent me some literature to help me, but it’s not easy,” said Andy.
Andy, who is an enthusiastic litter picker with Clean Our Patch, has thrown himself into fundraising for the Brain Tumour Charity and completed a five-mile walk and litter pick in March. Andy was surrounded by friends, colleagues and was joined by many members of Clean Our Patch.
Clean Our Patch will be fundraising for the Brain Tumour Charity throughout 2023 and plan to organise a number of events. So far Andy has raised over £1000 for the charity and anyone who would like to donate can find details at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrew-mcneill4
