Runner George's migraines turned out to be two brain tumours

NewsRunner George's migraines turned out to be two brain tumoursGeorge Wade, 41, from North Yorkshire, initially dismissed his light sensitivity as a migraine - but then started to get

stroke-like symptoms and weakness in left sidegazetteliveBookmarkShareCommentsNewsByCharlotte Ambrose PA Real Life12:48, 8 MAY 2025BookmarkGeorge Wade, 41, from North Yorkshire, initially

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A runner's migraines and light sensitivity turned out to be two brain tumours.

George Wade was left fearing for his life after the diagnosis - which started with the common symptoms but advanced to stroke-like symptoms and weakness down his left side a month later.

The 41-year-old, from Thirsk, knew something was wrong and sought medical help with tests diagnosing two astrocytoma tumours - brain tumours that develop from cells known as astrocytes.

One of the tumours, a grade four astrocytoma, was the size of a tennis ball and located on the right side of his brain. The other, the size of a golf ball, was situated in the middle of his

brain, reports Yorkshire Live. Doctors believe they had been growing in his brain for up to 20 years.

Upon receiving his diagnosis, George, who had previously ran 20 marathons, believed his life was over. However, after undergoing five surgeries, the last of which took place in February, he

ran the London Marathon on April 27 and finished with his fastest time of three hours and 16 minutes.

In his efforts, he successfully raised over £19,000 for the National Brain Appeal, which is affiliated with University College London (UCL) hospital, where he received his treatment.

George is currently undergoing treatment for a stubborn skin infection related to his surgery and has regular three-monthly scans to monitor his tumours for any signs of growth. His medical

team have labelled his condition as "life-limiting", but no specific prognosis regarding his life expectancy has been given.

"I just thought, I'm done ... if you've got two brain tumours, surely you just die," George shared with PA Real Life. Despite this, he said: "I love a challenge, and I love a

battle. One, I'm 41 and super fit, and two, I'm determined and we're going to battle through it."

A fitness fanatic, George was preparing for the Blackpool Marathon in March 2024 when he started experiencing the health problems. While driving from Cheltenham to Staffordshire to visit his

mother, who was in hospital with an infection, he suffered headaches that intensified when looking at car headlights, causing him to feel nauseous.

He dismissed them as tiredness or concern for his mother, and confessed he hadn't sought medical advice immediately. The stroke-like symptoms came as he ate dinner at home one evening -

when the left side of his body suddenly weakened, making it impossible for him to lift his fork, accompanied by his face starting to droop.

After a quick call to his GP brother-in-law, George was somewhat reassured, and swiftly arranged for blood and eye tests which flagged nothing abnormal.

In preparation for the upcoming Blackpool Marathon, George was pencilled in for a precautionary MRI scan on April 18.

However, during this scan, George noticed concern among medical staff - and it was then he discovered he had the tumours.

On April 29, last year, George had a biopsy performed on the larger tumour - but steroids he was on to help his recovery resulted in him having manic and paranoid episodes, culminating in a

four-day stint in psychiatric care.

George underwent a lengthy eight-hour "de-bulking" surgery on June 8 to remove the larger tumour. However, he encountered complications that resulted in an unforeseen two-hour emergency

operation to address a brain bleed. Post-surgery, George faced significant hurdles such as being unable to open his left hand or maintain steady gait, requiring extensive physiotherapy to

regain mobility.

Bouncing back with remarkable resilience, George astonishingly managed to walk again within two days and resume running within a month - turning the dream of completing a marathon from

seemingly unattainable to achievable.

Starting his chemotherapy in July, George was put on a regimen of temozolomide pills for six months. During this period, his recovery faced another setback with the development of a

concerning eye infection causing swelling and bruising.

Additionally, a leak of fluid from his head indicated another serious complication, necessitating more surgery along with eight courses of antibiotics to fight off a streptococcus infection.

With ongoing management for recurrent skin infections, George remained positive, stating: "I feel incredibly fit and healthy."

He added: "There's no way I would have gotten through this without the support of my family, friends and particularly my wife Eleanor."

Following his outstanding performance at the London Marathon in April, George reflected: "I kind of thought I was fit enough to get a PB. So I was really pleased that it all went well and

was my fastest ever marathon."

Claire Wood Hill, CEO of The National Brain Appeal charity, expressed gratitude for the proceeds from George's marathon effort, saying they "will go towards finding new ways to

diagnose, treat and ultimately cure a range of neurological conditions".

For additional details or to make a donation, please visit George's JustGiving page here.

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