A young HGV driver from Cheshire who initially dismissed his symptoms as a seasonal virus tragically lost his life to a fast-growing brain tumour.
From Flu Suspicions to a Devastating Diagnosis
Kieran Shingler, a 23-year-old from Warrington who was training for a triathlon, first felt unwell on Bonfire Night in 2022. Experiencing grogginess and a runny nose, he took a Covid test which was negative, leading him to believe he had the flu.
Over the subsequent weeks, his condition deteriorated sharply. He developed excruciating headaches and struggled to keep food down. After a referral from his GP to Warrington Hospital, where meningitis was initially suspected, a CT scan revealed a mass on his brain. He was rushed by blue-light ambulance to the specialist Walton Centre in Liverpool.
A Gruelling Three-Year Battle with Treatment
An MRI scan showed a tumour was blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. In November 2022, Kieran underwent an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) to drain the fluid. Following this, he had a craniotomy to remove as much of the tumour as possible and to take a biopsy.
Tragically, the ETV failed, and he suffered short-term memory loss. Just before another surgery on December 29, 2022, his family received the crushing news: Kieran had a grade three astrocytoma, a fast-growing cancerous brain tumour, with a life expectancy of just 12 months.
In January 2023, he began 30 sessions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool. While scans initially showed the tumour shrinking by February, it began growing again by July. Further chemotherapy was attempted but had to be stopped due to liver damage.
A Courageous Fight Remembered
Despite the aggressive treatment, Kieran's tumour, which started at 5.5cm, shrank to just 0.35cm at its smallest point. However, a scan in June this year confirmed it was growing again. Kieran Shingler died in a hospice on December 14, just over a week before Christmas.
In a heartfelt statement, his family described him as "the most bravest most inspiring man" who fought with "immense courage and determination." His girlfriend, Abbie Henstock, 26, recounted the difficult journey, noting the initial diagnosis around Christmas was "all a blur."
The family added: "He's in no more pain, cancer free and up there with his gorgeous mum. We don't know how we will carry on without him, but we will as that's what he would have wanted."
This tragic case underscores the critical importance of investigating persistent symptoms like severe headaches and nausea, even in young, fit individuals.
