Fit Dad's Persistent Headaches Reveal Rare Brain Cancer Diagnosis
Jeff Curnow initially dismissed the headaches that plagued him for months. The active father from New South Wales, who considered himself fit and healthy, was living a normal life when he noticed his persistent aches weren't responding to pain relief medication.
After enduring throbbing pain for several months, the professional painter decided to consult a doctor, suspecting something might be wrong with his neck. "The GP ordered an MRI to check for anything unusual... I had no idea of what was to come," Jeff revealed to Daily Mail.
Devastating Diagnosis
A week later, Jeff discovered his headaches were actually a symptom of brain cancer. "We were asked to come in for results and we got the news... The doctor said, 'Unfortunately we found a mass in the middle of your brain, you need to pack your bags and go to the hospital right now'," Jeff recalled.
"I walked out to my partner... and dazedly explained that I had a brain tumour. I felt sick, scared and my partner kept saying, 'Is this a joke?'"
Before this soul-crushing diagnosis, Jeff - who enjoyed fishing, surfing and spearfishing - rarely visited doctors because he believed himself to be in good health. But when the headaches persisted, he knew medical attention was necessary.
Rare Brain Tumour Discovery
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Jeff underwent an MRI scan that confirmed he had an extremely rare brain tumour at just 37 years old.
"We received shocking news that I had an extremely rare diagnosis - less than 0.1 percent of all brain tumours - a papillary tumour of the pineal gland," he explained. "There are only 200 to 300 cases worldwide."
Fortunately for the family man, surgical interventions proved successful. "The first was to biopsy the mass and place a shunt as I had developed hydrocephalus due to fluid buildup around the brain that was causing the severe headaches," Jeff detailed. "Then we proceeded to a second surgery to remove the tumour."
Life-Altering Consequences
Living with a rare brain tumour has transformed every aspect of Jeff's existence. "I have had scans every three to six months for five years straight to check it hasn't grown back. As a result of the two brain surgeries, I have developed epilepsy from the surgical scarring," he shared.
The brain condition has resulted in him losing his driver's license for twelve-month periods due to seizures, along with his confidence and income whenever he cannot work.
"I was even placed under general anaesthetic for over 24 hours at one point because my seizures got so bad. I have struggled to stay positive at times throughout this journey," the father explained.
"We never realised how debilitating living with epilepsy is, and we now fully appreciate how challenging it is to live, drive and maintain consistent employment. There is very little government support for epileptics, particularly if you don't fall into the 'severe' or refractory category."
Ongoing Challenges and Setbacks
Despite receiving the all-clear from cancer, Jeff said the greatest difficulty is living with the constant fear that his cancer might return. "I have managed to cope by leaning on family and friends for support, keeping myself active and busy and trying to remember to live each day," he explained.
More than five years have passed since his initial diagnosis. "I can happily say in all my routine scans the cancer has not returned," Jeff shared. "My original neurosurgeon did wonders and my oncologist said he must have done a good job. However, I do now have epilepsy for the rest of my life and will never be able to stop taking medication."
Just as life began to improve, Jeff faced another devastating setback. He had booked a long-planned fishing trip to Vanuatu costing $10,000, but the night before departure, he suffered multiple seizures - his first in two years.
"I recently suffered a grand mal seizure the night before the long-awaited fishing trip in Vanuatu. I was unable to make it as I was in hospital," Jeff explained. "I lost everything for this trip, thousands of dollars due to travel insurance not covering anything."
When attempting to obtain a refund or credit voucher, he discovered his brain cancer was classified as a pre-existing condition, making recovery of funds impossible.
Community Support and Reflection
Friends Ben and Amy established a GoFundMe campaign to assist Jeff financially after he lost $10,000 from the medically cancelled trip. "Jeff has never had any financial assistance for loss of income, medical appointments, or the long-term impact of living with cancer," the friends stated.
Reflecting on his experience, Jeff said if he could change anything, he would have consulted his GP sooner about his persistent headaches. "Don't ignore unusual headaches, see your doctor and get advice," he urged.
"Cancer is terrible, but I hope my story can show people that there is hope to survive this cruel disease, and that I pray for the people suffering from incurable brain cancer that we find a cure. Hang in there, there are often more people who care about you than you realise."
Now 42, Jeff encourages everyone to support the Mark Hughes Foundation by purchasing a beanie, with proceeds funding vital brain cancer research. "We like to call ourselves the 'luckiest unlucky people'," he said. "While I have been diagnosed with an incredibly rare cancer, I am here to tell the tale and hopefully give hope to others."
