> At a Glance
> – Sean Sweeney, 31, thought neck pain came from weight training
> – CT scan after seizure revealed grade 3 astrocytoma
> – Given 10-year prognosis following 9-hour surgery and stroke
> – Why it matters: His story spotlights how easily brain-tumor symptoms mimic everyday aches
A South Yorkshire gym-goer spent months blaming workouts for neck pain and headaches-until a 3 a.m. seizure uncovered an inoperable brain tumor and a decade-long death sentence.
From Pull-Ups to CT Scan
Early 2022, Sean booked physio sessions that went nowhere. “They couldn’t identify the cause,” he told Brain Tumour Research. “I was struggling to concentrate and the symptoms just kept lingering.”
Timeline of events
- March-July 2022: headaches, neck pain, right-side tingling
- July 2022: seizure at home; partner Lucy called 999
- Same night: Doncaster Royal Infirmary CT shows brain lesion
Wedding Before the Blade
Surgeons first thought the tumor might be low-grade, so Sean and Lucy married before his craniotomy. The nine-hour operation in November 2022 delivered grim news: grade 3 astrocytoma. During the procedure he suffered an acute stroke.
> “I could hear the psychologist telling the surgeon that my speech was becoming slurred,” he recalled.
Treatment path
- January 2023: five weeks radiotherapy
- 2023-2024: 12 rounds chemotherapy
- February 2024: final chemo session completed
Life After Prognosis
Rehab restored his mobility and speech. He’s back at work, cycling and fundraising for research. His mother Kathleen at first believed surgery equaled cure; hard conversations followed.
Key Takeaways
- Neck and head pain can signal serious illness-persisting symptoms warrant scans
- Grade 3 astrocytoma carries roughly 10-year survival statistics
- Rehab and mindset can reclaim quality of life post-stroke and chemo
“Stay positive and try not to dwell on what’s out of your control,” Sean advises others facing similar diagnoses.
