Josh Smith, a 34-year-old from Wrexham, says he might not be here if his wife Kelly had not listened to her instincts and pushed him to see a doctor. After developing brain fog, headaches and what he later learned were mini seizures in January, he was diagnosed the following month with an incurable glioblastoma after surgery removed 95% of a 4.5cm brain tumour.
He has since had radiotherapy and ongoing chemotherapy, and says his priorities are now keeping his sense of humour, making memories with Kelly and raising awareness to help increase brain tumour research funding. Brain Tumour Research says about 3,200 people in the UK are diagnosed with a glioblastoma each year, and treatment has not improved in 20 years.
The Welsh government said it was working on a cancer strategy focused on “research, innovation and improving access to clinical trials”.
How did Josh’s symptoms begin?
In January, Josh started having “these weird feelings” but “thought nothing of it”. He assumed he was “just tired”, and later said that in February the problem got worse when he had a 10-day headache.
“I just thought I was tired,”
He said he would be walking his dog with Kelly or talking to his mum and dad when he would feel zoned out. He later found out those episodes were mini seizures.
“February is when it started properly. I had a 10-day headache. I would be walking my dog with my wife or talking to my mum and dad, and I'd feel zoned out. I found out later it was mini seizures and I didn't realise. It's really scary to look back on.”
Why did Kelly insist he see a doctor?
On 9 February, Kelly “dragged” him to see a GP for the first time in about 12 years because she was worried something was wrong. Josh said he had always avoided appointments and had been trying to cope with paracetamol and early nights.
“I've always avoided it,”
“There's that societal expectation of 'man up' and get on with it. I was just popping paracetamol and getting early nights.”
He said he would always be grateful that Kelly was so insistent, and added that if he had kept ignoring the symptoms, he might not be here now.
“I could not have done any of this without her. If I had kept on ignoring it, I might not be here now.”
The GP found nothing wrong, prescribed more painkillers and referred him to an optician, where again no issue was found. Josh said he did not have the greatest experience and felt it was quite dismissive, although the surgery has since apologised and been “so helpful”.
“I didn't have the greatest experience, it was quite dismissive,”
Kelly, 33, said she knew something was not right and had pointed out there were red flags, but they were told there was nothing to worry about.
“I knew something wasn't right. I remember saying there were red flags, but we were told there was nothing to worry about.”
Kelly’s insistence that something was wrong may have saved his life.
What happened when he went to hospital?
On 13 February, Josh wanted to go to work as normal, but Kelly once again stepped in and insisted he go to A&E at Wrexham Maelor Hospital because he was in so much pain. He said the pain felt as though someone was pushing the back of his eyeballs outwards.
“It felt like someone was pushing the back of my eyeballs outwards,”
“I have never felt anything like that unbelievable pain.”
Although he was initially sent home with morphine, the pain continued and a CT scan the next day revealed a 4.5cm tumour on his brain. He said the diagnosis came in a side room and he was too shocked at first to be upset, briefly wondering whether they had the wrong person or if there was dirt on the screen.
“They pulled us into a side room and showed us the scan. I wasn't really upset at first, I was really shocked,” said Josh.
“I thought 'maybe they have got the wrong person' or 'is there a bit of dirt on the screen?'.”
Josh was referred to The Walton Centre in Liverpool, where he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain tumour with a prognosis of 12 to 18 months, and had surgery to remove 95% of the tumour.
Brain Tumour Research says just one-third of people survive this type of tumour beyond 12 months, while 4% survive for five years or more.
Josh, who worked as a machinist at Tritech, said he had been working heavy machinery and driving back and forth to work without realising the danger he may have been in.
“I was driving back and forth to work too. Looking back, I could have had a seizure at any point, it could have ended really badly.”
Kelly said hearing the diagnosis was terrifying.
“You know something is wrong, but you never expect it to be that.”
What was Josh worried about before surgery?
Josh said his biggest concern before the operation was losing his sense of humour or personality. He said he has always liked a laugh and wanted to come out still himself, and says he has managed to stay that way.
“I have always liked a laugh... I wanted to come out still me, and I've managed to stay myself.”
As soon as he woke up after surgery, the first thing he did was ask Kelly to get him a KFC. He said they had driven past one on the way to hospital, which he thinks may be why it was in his head.
“On the way to the hospital, we drove past KFC so that must have been why it was in my head,”
“They panicked and had to get an UberEats urgently because I kept asking.”
“I didn't even really like KFC before that, but I was craving it. My brother was there with me and he was upset because I ate it all and didn't offer him any.”
What treatment has he had since then?
Since surgery, Josh has undergone radiotherapy and ongoing chemotherapy at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Rhyl, Denbighshire. He has been told the cancer is not curable and says there is still a great deal of uncertainty.
“It's terminal... I'm still having chemo and I hope it's going to make that difference, but at the moment there is still a lot of uncertainty.
“Everyone has completely different symptoms and life expectancies, so I understand they can't tell me and I'm not sure I'd want to know.
“I just hope they can keep it stable. I have promised Kelly I'll get the Christmas tree out for her so she doesn't have to deal with the spiders – that's my current goal.
“No one would know that there is anything wrong with me, except I have a dodgy haircut. So far, I've been really lucky.”
Josh says his current goal is to live until Christmas so he can help Kelly decorate the tree.
How has the couple been making memories?
At the start of the year, Josh and Kelly were planning campervan adventures and trying for a baby, but those plans are now on hold. Instead, they say they are determined to make memories every day.
Josh has recently climbed Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, completed a parkrun, gone paddleboarding, spent a day as a zookeeper at Chester Zoo, planted flowers in his garden and gone on many walks with their shih tzu and Maltese cross dogs, Olive and Teddy.
“We are just trying to make every day count,” said Josh.
“I try and wake up early every day and make [Kelly] a coffee. It's very easy to dwell on it, you have to keep busy.”
Taking Olive and Teddy to a dog show was one of many new experiences the couple have shared while making memories together.
Josh’s family joined him for a 5km parkrun so they could spend quality time together.
When they heard Josh’s story, Chester Zoo gifted the couple a zookeeper experience.
Josh was also joined by his brother Zach, who lives in Hong Kong, to climb Yr Wyddfa.
He also went fishing with his dad.
Why is Josh speaking out now?
Josh said he could not thank the NHS staff who looked after him enough, and added that the kindness of people in general had blown him away. He said he had known nothing about brain tumours before his diagnosis, but now sees references to them everywhere.
“I didn't know anything about brain tumours before this,”
“It's amazing how many people it affects and you just don't even hear about it. I see it everywhere now.”
He added that the condition does not discriminate, and learning that children can also be affected has spurred him on to share his story. He is backing calls for more research, even if it helps only one person.
“even if it just helps one person”
Josh and Kelly are supporting a campaign calling on the Welsh government to increase investment in brain tumour research.
Kelly said there are options and emerging treatments that give families hope, but they are not always available in the UK.
“There are options and emerging treatments that give families hope, but they aren't always available here in the UK. That's incredibly frustrating.”
The Welsh government said its Cancer Plan for Wales, due to be published in February 2027, would “outline the approach toward research, innovation and improving access to clinical trials so patients can benefit from new treatments”. It added that it is also planning a Wales Cancer Conference to bring together experts and share best practice in cancer care.
“We are also planning a Wales Cancer Conference to bring together experts and share best practice in cancer care,” it said.
Key Facts
- Josh Smith, 34, from Wrexham, was diagnosed with an incurable glioblastoma after a 4.5cm brain tumour was found in February.
- Doctors removed 95% of the tumour during surgery at The Walton Centre in Liverpool.
- Brain Tumour Research says about 3,200 people in the UK are diagnosed with a glioblastoma each year.
- Josh has since had radiotherapy and ongoing chemotherapy at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Rhyl, Denbighshire.
- Josh and Kelly are supporting calls for more investment in brain tumour research.
