Man's pins and needles turned out to be sign of brain tumour

A Welsh man who experienced pins and needles and later lost use of his left arm was diagnosed with glioblastoma; the tumour was removed but has since recurred despite chemotherapy.

Matt Collins, 38, from Rhondda Cynon Taf suddenly lost the use of his left arm at a music festival in October 2023 and was taken to hospital. He had experienced pins and needles, headaches and seizures earlier that year while waiting for an MRI. Doctors diagnosed him with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain tumour, and surgeons removed the tumour in 2023. Subsequent scans showed the tumour has returned. Key facts: - In October 2023 he lost the use of his left arm and was found to have had a stroke; further tests led to a diagnosis of glioblastoma. - Surgeons removed the tumour in 2023, but an MRI in July showed recurrence and later scans indicated chemotherapy had not stopped the tumour's growth. - He received some doses of a privately available personalised vaccine, DcVax-L, after a fundraiser that raised about £100,000, but tissue storage issues limited the number of doses he could have. - The article cites Brain Tumour Research data that about 1% of national cancer research spending goes to brain tumours and that around 5% of UK brain cancer patients are on clinical trials, according to the charity's director. Summary: Matt's tumour has recurred after surgery and chemotherapy, and he has sought further private and overseas treatment options. Undetermined at this time.