Man's Flu-Like Symptoms Turned Out to Be Deadly Brain Tumour

Kieran Shingler's life was turned upside down when he began experiencing flu-like symptoms, which were initially dismissed as seasonal flu or Covid-19. However, as the weeks passed, his condition worsened, and he was eventually diagnosed with a grade three astrocytoma, an aggressive cancerous growth in his brain. Despite undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the tumour began expanding again in July 2023, forcing Kieran to be re-evaluated and switched to a different treatment plan.

Key Takeaways:

• Kieran Shingler, a 26-year-old HGV driver, initially thought his flu-like symptoms were caused by the flu or Covid-19.
• He eventually underwent a CT scan, which revealed a mass on his brain, and was rushed to the Walton Centre, Liverpool, for emergency surgery.
• The operation to treat hydrocephalus was successful, but Kieran developed a fever and began screaming in excruciating pain, and medical staff revealed that the ETV had failed.
• Kieran was later diagnosed with a grade three astrocytoma, an aggressive cancerous growth, after a biopsy revealed the results on December 29, 2022.
• He underwent 30 sessions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, concluding in February 2023, with MRI and CT scans revealing the tumour was reducing in size.
• However, in July 2023, medics informed him the treatment had ceased to be effective and his tumour was expanding once more.
• Kieran took a break from treatment in November 2023 due to signs of liver damage and each scan he attended revealed the tumour was continuing to reduce in size.
• As of June 2025, Kieran's tumour had started to grow again, but his family remains optimistic that the tumor can be managed through continued advancements in treatment and therapies.
• Kieran's experience has inspired his friends and family to raise over £52k for brain tumour charities, including the Brain Tumour Charity, and to fund different therapies at home.

Statistics:

• Kieran's tumour started at 5.5cm and reduced in size to 0.35cm in 19 months without treatment.
• Kieran's treatment plan included 30 sessions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
• Kieran was forced to halt treatment due to signs of liver damage in November 2023.
• As of June 2025, Kieran's tumour had started to grow again.
• Kieran's fundraising page, Kieran's Krew, has raised over £52k for brain tumour charities.

Sources:

• Byline: By, Howard Lloyd
• The article does not specify a publication date.