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Dad's mouth numbness hid aggressive brain tumor
13 Oct
Summary
- Subtle symptoms like mouth numbness and balance issues led to discovery.
- Jamie Kehoe was diagnosed with a fast-growing grade-four glioblastoma.
- He turned to poetry to document life with terminal brain cancer.
Jamie Kehoe, 31, initially sought dental help for a persistent pins and needles sensation in his mouth. However, as he began experiencing other symptoms like stumbling and balance difficulties, his wife urged him to see a doctor. A referral to Salford Royal Hospital in 2024 led to the discovery of a mass on his brain stem.
Doctors confirmed a grade-four glioblastoma, a fast-growing malignant brain tumor. Due to its location, surgical removal was not an option. Jamie underwent six weeks of radiotherapy at The Christie in Manchester, which affected his vision and taste. Despite the challenges, the treatment initially shrank the tumor, allowing him a period of normalcy.
Tragically, Jamie's symptoms returned around the time his son, Elliot, was born. Scans revealed the brain tumor had regrown, necessitating a second course of radiotherapy, which concluded in May 2026. Jamie has since channeled his experiences into poetry, with his debut collection exploring the realities of his illness and raising funds for brain tumor research.
