Ex-marine whose dizzy spells were dismissed by GP warns others after being given 12 months to live

-Credit: (Image: Collect/PA Real Life)
-Credit: (Image: Collect/PA Real Life)


A former Royal Marine has spoken out to warn others after being told by doctors his dizzy spells were probably because of dehydration or a migraine - they were actually symptoms of a deadly type of brain tumour.

James Greenwood, 42, based in Mold, North Wales, told PA Real Life that he started to experience dizziness and “constant”, “dull” headaches in May.

He explained that he visited his GP twice over the next two weeks where his symptoms were variously written off to dehydration, migraines or eye issues from looking at screens in his job as a facilities manager for a real estate services company.

READ MORE:Grow hair back by adding £1 ingredient to your shampoo before washing

READ MORE:‘One simple three-minute test transformed my risky drinking habits’

However, things took a serious turn for the worse in the early hours of the morning on June 12, he rushed to A&E and after "persistent" demands for a CT scan, doctors found a walnut-sized mass on his brain's right temporal lobe.

After urgent surgery, James was given the “bombshell” news that it had been identified as a grade four glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, and given a prognosis of just 12 to 18 months.

James had to battle to get his diagnosis. -Credit:Collect/PA Real Life
James had to battle to get his diagnosis. -Credit:Collect/PA Real Life

James says that he noticed something was not quite right with his health on May 24 when he was having a conversation with his brother-in-law and started to feel dizzy.

"My vision was wobbling a little bit and I needed to have a bit of a sit down," he said. "I had always had a clean bill of health so I thought it was a little unusual."

After that, he started to suffer with headaches which began as a "constant" and "dull" pain. He booked an appointment with his GP for June 5 and was told his symptoms were probably linked to dehydration, and also that it could simply be that he was just overdue an eye test, as he wears glasses and his job involves working with computers.

Not long afterwards, he said: "I was walking across town and it was like an out-of-body experience, everything around me slowed down which caused me concern."

James managed to get a same-day appointment with his GP and was told his symptoms were consistent with migraines.

James in hospital -Credit:Collect/PA Real Life
James in hospital -Credit:Collect/PA Real Life

"I've never suffered with migraines in the past so I was sceptical," James said. "As with the first GP appointment, I was pushing for a scan of some kind maybe it was a sixth sense or something but I just knew how I felt and I was trying to get some peace of mind more than anything."

It took that 5am trip to A&E to finally get the confirmation he needed.

Speaking about his tragic brain tumour diagnosis, he adds: "There are some days where you have to kind of pinch yourself and question whether this is actually happening.

"Receiving the news is incredibly tough and you've got that initial period of shock but after that, you're forced to process it and try and take the good from it."

James with his girlfriend Rachel -Credit:Collect/PA Real Life
James with his girlfriend Rachel -Credit:Collect/PA Real Life

He explained to PA Real Life that he's tried to adopt a positive mindset, saying his time in the Royal Marines, which he served in from 2000-2005, has helped him. "It just instils in you that belief that regardless of what situation or scenario you're faced with, you can get through it," he explained.

"When you're thrown into that situation, it does resonate and it does make sense," he added.

On 21 September, James and three of his friends ran across the Edale Skyline, a 20-mile hiking route through the Peak District, with the aim of fundraising for Brain Tumour Research. They've raised more than £14,000 so far.

James says his Royal Marine training is helping him to stay positive. -Credit:Collect/PA Real Life
James says his Royal Marine training is helping him to stay positive. -Credit:Collect/PA Real Life

"It went really well, it was like me revisiting my version of normal, I wanted it to be a complete escape from everything and it served its purpose," James said. "It's always been one of my bucket list items to raise a fixed amount for charity over the course of my lifetime and the fact we've got to the total we have is absolutely incredible.

"In all likelihood it won't benefit myself, but further down the line for other people who might find themselves in this position, if there's a bit more investment, development and knowledge around treatment, other people may reap the benefits of that."

To find out more, visit James's JustGiving page here.

Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.