Paul Colligan, 51, has opened up about the signs he had before being diagnosed with a grade four glioblastoma – and has issued a warning to others who may have experienced similar symptoms
A dad has opened up about the warning signs he experienced before receiving a devastating diagnosis – and has urged others with similar symptoms to seek medical attention.
Paul Colligan, 51, an electrician from Maghull, used to cycle 100 miles weekly, but during one of his rides in December he began experiencing vision problems and started saying “strange things”. Paul’s wife Karen said: “He was imagining that his dad, who is no longer with us, was riding with him. His friends brought him home and he was a terrible colour.
“He just couldn’t shake off a feeling like he was spaced out. He didn’t have headaches or anything, he just felt really unusual.”
Paul’s mum had been poorly at the time, before passing away in January, so Paul and Karen believed his symptoms were down to stress. But on December 12, Paul, who had seldom been unwell before, said he was “not right” and went to hospital.
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Paul said doctors suspected he’d suffered a stroke, but performed a brain scan which failed to detect one. However, Paul said he was informed he had transient global amnesia, an episode of confusion that occurs suddenly in someone who is otherwise alert and is typically not serious, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Yet Paul continued feeling poorly and couldn’t shift a “pear colour” complexion. He remained “spaced out” and on February 11, on one of the couple’s sons’ 21st birthday, he began experiencing severe headaches. Then on February 23, at his mum’s funeral, he described how “the room was just spinning around” when he was speaking. He continued feeling poorly, relying on friends to drive him to work as he struggled so badly.
Shortly afterwards, Paul suspected he might have a brain tumour and a CT scan at hospital revealed a large mass on his brain. It was a glioblastoma, a grade four brain tumour.
Karen said: “When we were told about the tumour, we were in utter disbelief and shock.”
Paul and Karen were then faced with the reality of having to tell their two sons – both in their 20s – about the news and “everyone was just numb and shocked”. Paul said he was told only 2% of people with his condition may live up to five years.
He said: “It’s like it’s not really happening, you’re listening but you’re not taking in the words, it just stuns you.”
Shortly after the cancer diagnosis, the couple began considering the practicalities of their lives following Paul’s diagnosis. With both being self-employed, money became a concern. Paul, becoming unable to work and Karen focusing on caring for her husband, has left them without a working income for the time being.
A friend of Paul’s launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding page in aid of the family. More than £38,000 has been raised through the appeal in the space of just a couple of weeks, which the family are extremely grateful for. Now, as Paul gears up for chemotherapy and radiotherapy, his mates and the broader community continue to rally around him, planning a fundraising event in Aintree for his birthday on April 26.
He has urged others experiencing similar symptoms to seek medical attention. He added: “If you have any headaches that are unusual, and they last for more than a day or two, I would definitely just go to A&E.”
