A dad was given just months to live after doctors told him his cancer was anxiety.
Robin Hendley, 45, from Uxbridge kept waking up in the middle of the night with heart palpitations and feeling as though he was having a heart attack. He was a fit and healthy driving instructor who went to the gym 'six times a week' just two years ago, until he started to notice strange symptoms.
After developing tinnitus, a ringing in his ears, vision problems and a pain in his head that was like "being hit across the head with a cricket back", Robin decided to see his GP, reported MyLondon.
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With the support of his new partner Ollie, he visited his doctor. But for over a year, he was told it was just anxiety.
Robin, from Harefield, told MyLondon : "I was having this 'impending doom' feeling when I was going to bed at night thinking I was gonna die because I was having a heart attack. And my head felt like someone had smashed me on the side of the face, like someone had slapped me.
"Or like being hit across the face with a cricket bat. But I knew it was more anxiety, I knew I had something wrong with my head."
It was only when Robin insisted on an MRI scan for his ongoing tinnitus, a year after his symptoms first started, that he got the news he was dreading. In October 2021, the MRI showed a growth of approximately five centimetres (two inches) on the left temporal lobe. of his brain.
Robin was later diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma, the most aggressive brain tumour. Based on the statistics, life expectancy for this form of cancer is approximately 12 months from diagnosis.
He said: "After a year of not knowing what was going, it was an anxious time. And then I'm told I've got a year. It was difficult not to think what's the point? In all of this? You know, why do I keep keep going?
"I had expected bad news because I knew this was not just anxiety symptoms. But the doctors had been telling me there's no way it was cancer as I was fit and healthy. I was in tears."
Robin underwent surgery at Charing Cross Hospital to try and remove as much of the tumour as possible. But not all of it could be removed and Robin had to have a gruelling six-week course of radiotherapy and strong chemotherapy tables. During this time, and to this day, Robin had go enrol on state benefits due to having to give up his job as a driving instructor of 12 years, a job he loved.
He said: "I loved every minute of my job. There was never a moment I didn't enjoy myself. And there was never a time that I didn't want to go to work and I was never late and I never missed anything. I just loved it. It was where I was the most comfortable, most happy. I loved teaching people to drive.. I was probably one of the best in the business, the examiners used me as the driving instructor of choice for their children!"
Soon the realisation had set in that the NHS had given all of the possible treatments available to Robin and this would not be enough to fight this aggressive tumour. Robin added "I would say that I am one of the lucky ones. No one with cancer is lucky, but I'd say I'm someone who is quite strong. But of course I do have those moments where I wake up in the night and think 'Oh my god, what will my funeral really be like?' and 'Who's going to be coming to the funeral?' I've had to sort my will out to try to make everything good for everyone I'd be leaving behind, which was quite an ordeal."
He added: "My partner Ollie and mum have been so supportive. I'm just keeping myself busy doing these treatments as best I can and now I'm just here hoping this new treatment is going to work, so here we are."
After extensive research, Robin found a treatment that might save him, which is available at the Immune-Oncological Centre in Cologne (IOZK). The treatment involves training the body to control the tumour by using the body's immune system. Robin travels to the clinic a couple of days after finishing each month's chemotherapy. This means he travels while still suffering from the chemotherapy side effects.
The treatment is not available on the NHS and as a result, Robin has spent £40,000 so far on the treatment, via Universal Credit payments and the philanthropy of an old friend. He estimates that he will need at least three more, costing at least £25,000 a month. His partner Ollie has set up a fundraiser with the hope of getting Robin this treatment. It has reached £20,000 of its £200,000 target.
Robin added: "It's really it's quite amazing. It's amazing that people do that. I mean it's keeping me alive. Without it, I won't. The tumour will get me quicker, much quicker than doing all these treatments. So, thanks to anyone for any donations."
You can donate to Robin's fundraiser here.
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