As I waited for mind surgical procedure, I instinctively pressed report on my cellphone digicam, considering I could be documenting the ultimate months of my life.
I’ve made a profession telling different individuals’s tales however this appeared like a time to inform my very own.
It started with a bicycle crash in June 2023 once I broke 10 ribs – however that led to me discovering a a lot larger well being problem.
In mattress one evening, I had a seizure which revealed a cancerous mind tumour.
The most certainly state of affairs gave the impression to be that I had an aggressive glioblastoma, a tumour which generally ends your life inside 12 to 18 months.
In my hospital mattress, I turned the digicam on myself, not as a self-indulgence, however to highlight a nasty most cancers that’s laborious to deal with and even tougher to beat.
I suppose this was my means of extracting some objective from a private tragedy.
The result’s My Brain Tumour And Me – a TV and iPlayer movie that’s much more optimistic than you may assume.
After 15 months I’m nonetheless going sturdy as a result of it seems I’ve a uncommon type of the illness, an oligodendroglioma, that tends to reply higher to remedy.
The good mind surgeon Paul Brennan saved my life by chopping out most of my tumour and, with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, it appears to be holding my most cancers in verify for now.
There are quarterly scans to see if it’s rising once more.
There have been a few false alarms however the latest verify suggests my tumour is secure. I don’t know how lengthy that can final.
I strive to not fear an excessive amount of between scans as a result of what my mind tumour is as much as shouldn’t be inside my management.
What I’ve been studying to cope with are the tough legacies of my most cancers remedy – persistent fatigue and the chance of additional seizures.
A day by day nap and cautious budgeting of my effort and time assist with the fatigue.
Changes to anti-seizure remedy have minimised the frequency and severity of any matches.
It has taken time, trial and error to get that proper.
In December final yr I had a really huge seizure which put me in intensive care.
A medically-induced coma was the one means docs might make it cease.
Once I got here spherical I felt extraordinarily fortunate to be alive – however the euphoria I had skilled after mind surgical procedure was absent.
This time, I felt as if I had solely narrowly escaped demise.
It had all been a bit too shut for consolation. I used to be very emotional.
This was, and stays, the bottom level in my expertise of dwelling with mind most cancers.
However I bounced again and additional tweaks to my epilepsy medicine gave me sufficient confidence to return to the hills I really like a lot.
Hardly ever do I really feel extra alive than once I’m on high of considered one of Scotland’s magnificent mountains.
By March this yr, I felt effectively sufficient to climb one with none sense of foreboding.
The specialists are clear – they don’t wish to cease me doing issues. They wish to allow me to dwell as usually as doable.
In preparation for my climb up Meall nan Tarmachan, on the banks of Loch Tay, I had efficiently scaled one other mountain the weekend earlier than with no issues.
So when my good friend Nikolaj and I strode out from the Ben Lawers automotive park to climb the Perthshire peak we had no issues.
Inside 10 minutes – earlier than we’d actually begun our ascent – I all of a sudden needed to lie down.
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than my left hand and arm had been twitching and shaking uncontrollably. I used to be having one other seizure.
It is vitally irritating to really feel completely effectively after which to be immobilised by epilepsy. Matches are additionally bodily exhausting.
If I had thought there was a lot probability of this occurring that day, I’d have stayed at house.
That is considered one of solely 4 huge seizures I’ve ever had. The others occurred in mattress, at work and in a hospital automotive park.
Nikolaj and different walkers made me snug on the hill and I used to be given the remedy I carry with me.
There was a powerful response from the emergency providers and I imagined recovering on the hillside then strolling slowly again to the automotive park.
However that was to not be.
At occasions, the professionals attending to me on the mountainside weren’t certain if issues had been getting higher or worse so that they determined to have me winched aboard a Coastguard helicopter and brought to hospital.
I want to thank everybody who was there for me that day. I’m extraordinarily grateful.
The seizure had stopped by the point I bought to A&E in Glasgow. I used to be quickly calling family and friends to work out the easiest way house to East Lothian.
Whereas on the hill, I had persuaded my strolling companion to movie a few of the drama on his cellphone.
At first, he was uncomfortable with this request however once I defined that I needed to point out what having a seizure was like, he agreed.
His camerawork is a few of the footage which options in My Mind Tumour and Me – my try to present an perception into dwelling with an incurable most cancers that isn’t effectively understood.
My spouse Claire and my mum Jennifer additionally described the influence that such a devastating analysis can have on your loved ones.
I’m very fortunate. I’m defying the everyday odds.
Six in 10 individuals with mind most cancers don’t dwell for greater than a yr past their analysis.
I could also be round for some years but.
If I’ve a wobble, I do know I can rely on the love and help of my household and buddies.
I’ve discovered that extra overwhelming and humbling than being confronted with my very own mortality.
I even have a beautiful community of fellow mind tumour sufferers, together with my good friend Theo Burrell, to assist me by way of.
That’s essential as a result of typically solely somebody with an identical situation can actually perceive.
The medical care I’ve had from NHS docs and nurses in Edinburgh has been distinctive.
My restoration is permitting me to make a gradual return to work masking politics for BBC Scotland.
That helps me keep constructive, as does the non-public effort I put into Mind Energy – a fundraising neighborhood I set as much as assist set up a brand new Mind Tumour Analysis centre in Scotland.
No-one can inform me how I bought my tumour and no-one can repair it.
I believe effectively resourced science can do lots higher. If not for me, for individuals who come after.
In my case, there was no want for medical assist with seizures because the airlift in March.
After 4 months off the mountains, my strolling boots are again on.
My private problem is to climb all 282 Munros – Scottish mountains above 3,000ft – by the top of 2028.
Regardless of all my well being issues since final summer time, I’ve accomplished my first 9, together with Meall nan Tarmachan second time round. That could be a begin.
There’s been a whole lot of canine strolling and somewhat little bit of working and biking too.
In June, across the anniversary of my bike crash, I returned to the route I used to be on once I took a tumble.
I known as on the café I had been heading for that day and loved the breakfast I had been denied the yr earlier than.
By no means earlier than has French toast with bacon and maple syrup tasted so good.
I’m now beginning to consider tips on how to have fun my fiftieth birthday in 2026 – 15 months from now.
It’s not so lengthy since I assumed I’d not be round to mark that milestone.
Now, the half century appears inside attain.
You probably have been affected by any of the problems raised on this story you possibly can go to BBC Action Line.
My Brain Tumour And Me – Glenn Campbell faces down his mortality and considers what issues most in life.
You possibly can watch the programme on BBC One Scotland at 19:00 on Wednesday 20 November or on the iPlayer.
