Fit and healthy dad was given devastating diagnosis

Kate and Andy Coward, 48, who died from a brain tumour in 2020
-Credit: (Image: Brain Tumour Research)


A fit and healthy dad received a devastating diagnosis after struggling to play one of his favourite sports and being unable to recognise his own family. Andy Coward's teenage sons noticed he wasn't his normal self when they were playing golf.

They said the construction worker was playing “like he’d never picked up a club before". A hospital appointment found nothing wrong but his condition rapidly deteriorated and he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma - an incurable brain tumour.

Andy, from Martock, died in December 2020 at the age of 48, just 20 weeks after his diagnosis. His children Jack, Lewis and Georgia were 16, 18 and 21 years old respectively when he passed away.

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His wife Kate said: "Andy came home and went straight to bed, which wasn’t like him. It was during the Covid pandemic, so it was very difficult to get an appointment with the GP. I took Andy to A&E where he had to go in on his own. They found nothing wrong.

"Georgia, who was training to be a nurse, managed to get her dad a GP appointment which resulted in the recommendation for him to have his eyes checked out. Before that happened, however, Andy started vomiting and, scarily, he didn’t know who anyone was, including me."

Kate and Andy Coward with children Jack, Andy, and Georgia. Andy died in December 2020 at the age of 48 after being diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour
Kate and Andy Coward with children Jack, Andy, and Georgia -Credit:Brain Tumour Research

Kate took Andy back to A&E and this time was allowed to go in with him. After two hours of tests and a scan, he was diagnosed with two brain tumours.

Devastatingly, the couple were told that surgery, which carried a significant risk of brain damage, would only remove a percentage of the tumour and that it would grow back even with radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment. They took the decision to do nothing, which meant Andy had a survival prognosis of just three weeks.

Kate added: “Andy survived 20 weeks, albeit some of those he was bed-bound with Georgia and me taking on all his care. He was determined to survive for Georgia’s 21st birthday, which thankfully he did."

Since Andy's death Kate has raised more than £10,000 to help fund research to find a cure for the devastating disease. Along with friend Mandy Cregan, she has completed a virtual London Marathon, 10,000 Steps in February, Cycle 274 Miles in August and the London Landmarks half marathon and the Ham Hill to Lyme Regis 50km run.

Kate and Andy Coward, from Martock, on their wedding day. Andy died in December 2020 at the age of 48 after being diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour
Kate and Andy Coward, from Martock, on their wedding day. Andy died in December 2020 at the age of 48 after being diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour -Credit:Brain Tumour Research

Kate has sponsored three days of research in Andy’s memory and earlier this month the charity Brain Tumour Research invited her, along with Georgia and Mandy, to its Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth. The three women were there to find out how their fundraising is helping support scientists researching brain tumours.

They toured labs, led by centre director Professor Oliver Hanemann, and spoke to scientists about their work to find a cure for the disease. They also placed three tiles dedicated to Andy on the Wall of Hope.

Kate said: “It was very interesting talking to the scientists about their work to find a cure, but quite alarming to discover that the South West of England tops the list of regions with the greatest number of people diagnosed with brain tumours. It was very emotional seeing Andy’s name on the Wall of Hope, although some comfort to think about how his memory is helping to move the dial closer to a cure for brain tumours."

Their visit came on the day news was announced that scientists at Plymouth had discovered a new approach for treating certain types of brain tumours.

(From left) Mandy Cregan, Georgia Coward & Kate Coward at the Wall of Hope at Brain Tumour Research's Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth. Kate sponsored three days of research after fundraising in memory of her husband Andy, who died in 2020 after being diagnosed with a bran tumour
(From left) Mandy Cregan, Georgia Coward & Kate Coward at the Wall of Hope at Brain Tumour Research's Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth. Kate sponsored three days of research after fundraising in memory of her husband Andy, who died in 2020 after being diagnosed with a bran tumour -Credit:Brain Tumour Research

Louise Aubrey, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re really grateful to Kate and Mandy for their incredible support and generosity. We hope that their visit to our Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth offered a useful insight into all we’re doing to improve treatment options for patients and, ultimately, find a cure.

“Just 12% of those diagnosed with a brain tumour survive beyond five years compared with an average of 54% across all cancers, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002. This has to change.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. To find out more about sponsoring a day of research, go to www.braintumourresearch.org/fundraise/sponsor-a-day.