‘Low Testosterone’ Turned Out To Be Brain Cancer For 42-Year-Old Dad Who Dismissed Fatigue Symptoms

After experiencing a seizure while driving, Brunt was prompted to have a CT scan. Although initially given only a few months to live, he has since undergone radiotherapy and chemotherapy and continues to face his challenges with determination.

Brunt recalls that his doctor had previously dismissed his concerns, attributing his fatigue to an unhealthy diet and low testosterone, due to his blood tests coming back clear, but his seizure was what led to answers.

Looking back on his symptoms, he recalled, “I just couldn’t stay awake. I would sleep all night, wake up, have a coffee and a cigarette, and then I would be asleep again within about 20 minutes.

“It felt like I had weights clipped to my eyelids. I had never experienced anything like it before. I spoke to my GP during COVID and thought it might be low testosterone.”

RELATED: Fighting Glioblastoma With New Weapons: Emerging Clinical Trials 

Brunt continued, “They did blood tests and told me everything was fine. A dietitian rang me and said it was probably my diet.

“After that, there was no follow-up and it was just forgotten about.”

The devoted father remembers experiencing a seizure just as he thought he was nearly home, while on a long drive, leading to a car crash. He badly bit his tongue, and when the police arrived, they confirmed he hadn’t been drinking and made sure he got home safely, instructing his former partner to bring him to the hospital.

After CT scans showed concerning results, Brunt was referred to another hospital where he was informed he had a mass on his brain and would need surgery.

Following a craniotomy, Brunt completed 30 sessions of radiotherapy in the fall of 2023, followed by six cycles of chemotherapy pills, which concluded in the summer of 2024.

By November 2025 scans showed no detectable cancer.

Brunt, who understand glioblastoma recurrence is possible, told SWNS, “It’s strange hearing good news when you’ve spent so long preparing yourself to die. I still prepare for the worst every time the phone rings but physically, I feel good.

“Emotionally, I have lost a bit of the fizz for life I used to have even though I know how lucky I am. Glioblastoma doesn’t usually give people this much time.”

In an effort to spread awareness for the disease he battled, Brunt is taking part in a walking challenge this month to help raise money for brain tumor research.

“I can’t give back in many ways, but I can walk this challenge. If raising awareness or supporting research helps even one person, then it’s worth it,” he said.

Understanding Gliomas & Glioblastomas

A glioma is a tumor originating in the central nervous system (CNS), specifically in the brain or spinal cord. A glioma originates in glial cells. Glial cells are supportive cells in the brain that protect and maintain the neurons. These types of tumors can either be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

“Glioma is a broad term that refers to a whole range of different types of primary brain tumors,” Dr. Alexandra Miller, Director of the Neuro-Oncologist Division at NYU Langone Health, previously SurvivorNet.

“They’re tumors that originate in the brain and very rarely spread outside the brain to other parts of the body.”

WATCH: Understanding Gliomas

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and lethal form of primary brain tumor. Classified as a Grade 4 glioma by the World Health Organization (WHO), glioblastoma presents significant challenges for treatment due to its highly invasive nature, rapid growth, and resistance to most conventional therapies.

As per the National Cancer Institute, the average survival rate is 15 months with treatment and less than six if left untreated. While there is a five-year survival rate of averaging 6 percent, those individuals will never be cancer-free. They must continue receiving radiation and chemotherapy for the rest of their lives.

Clinical trials help doctors better understand cancer and discover more effective treatment methods. They also allow patients to try a treatment before it’s approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which can potentially be life-changing.

WATCH: Clinical Trials can be Life-Saving

Understanding Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) & The Standard Of Care

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive form of brain cancer. It grows rapidly and infiltrates surrounding brain tissue, making it challenging to treat. A diagnosis of glioblastoma is indeed overwhelming, but understanding your treatment options can empower you to make informed decisions about your care.

After you’ve had a full work-up, experts say getting a consultation at a treatment center that sees a lot of patients with brain cancer can be an extremely valuable step.

A Utah Brain Cancer Expert’s Quick Guide To The ‘Standard of Care’ Treatment Options For Glioblastoma

Dr. Randy Jensen, a neurosurgeon at Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, tells SurvivorNet that the standard of care for glioblastoma is typically to start with surgery.

“The standard of care for glioblastoma is to start off with a maximal safe resection, and that means having your surgeon pull out all the stops of anything they can do to maximize resection [removal],” Dr. Jensen explains.

While surgery is often where treatment starts, the treatment path for glioblastoma requires a comprehensive approach involving multiple medical specialties. Your care team may include neurosurgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, neuro-oncologists, and supportive care specialists.

The treatment approach for glioblastoma may consist of the following steps.

1. Surgery: The first step in treatment is often surgical removal of the tumor, also known as resection. The goal of surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible while preserving neurological function. Complete removal is often difficult due to the tumor’s infiltrative nature, but reducing the tumor size can improve the effectiveness of subsequent treatments. In cases where surgery is not possible due to the tumor’s location, a biopsy may be performed to confirm the diagnosis.
2. Radiation Therapy: Following surgery, most patients undergo radiation therapy to target any remaining cancer cells. Radiation uses high-energy X-rays or protons to damage the DNA of tumor cells, preventing them from growing and dividing. It is typically administered five days a week over a period of six weeks. Radiation therapy is a crucial component in slowing tumor progression and improving survival rates.
3. Chemotherapy: Temozolomide (TMZ) is the standard chemotherapy drug used in glioblastoma treatment. It is taken orally and works by interfering with the tumor cells’ ability to replicate. TMZ is often used in combination with radiation therapy (concurrent chemoradiation) and then continued as maintenance therapy for several months.
4. Tumor Treating Fields (TTFs): TTFs are a newer, non-invasive treatment option that uses alternating electrical fields to disrupt cancer cell division.

Dr. Jensen explains that after surgery for brain cancer, a tumor board meeting often occurs, where doctors with different specialties meet to assess the case together and decide the best way to proceed with treatment.

The purpose of the tumor board is to give brain cancer experts with different specialties the opportunity to discuss and decide on the best possible treatment approach.

Side Effects of Glioblastoma Treatment

Each glioblastoma treatment comes with potential side effects. Your medical team will work with you to manage these effects and improve your quality of life.

Surgery side effects can include:

• Swelling in the brain (edema), which may require steroids to reduce inflammation
• Neurological deficits, such as difficulty speaking, memory problems, or muscle weakness, depending on the tumor’s location
• Infection or bleeding at the surgical site

Radiation side effects can include:

• Fatigue, which can persist for weeks after treatment ends
• Hair loss in the treated area
• Skin irritation or redness
• Cognitive effects, such as difficulty concentrating or memory problems

Chemotherapy side effects can include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Increased risk of infections due to lower white blood cell counts
• Fatigue
• Low blood platelet levels, which can increase the risk of bleeding or bruising

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFs) side effects can include:

• Skin irritation from the transducer arrays
• Mild to moderate headaches
• Scalp sensitivity
• Psychological adjustment to wearing the device for extended periods

When Are Tumor Treating Fields Used?

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFs) represent an exciting advancement in glioblastoma treatment. This therapy is designed to slow tumor growth without affecting healthy brain tissue.

TTFs use low-intensity, alternating electric fields to disrupt cancer cell division. This is achieved through a wearable device that delivers continuous therapy on the scalp. These fields interfere with the tumor cells’ ability to multiply, ultimately slowing or stopping tumor progression.

Two major clinical trials, EF-11 and EF-14, demonstrated that TTFs provide a survival benefit for glioblastoma patients:

• EF-11 Trial: This trial focused on recurrent glioblastoma and found that patients receiving TTF therapy had comparable survival rates to those receiving chemotherapy, but with fewer side effects
• EF-14 Trial: This trial demonstrated that newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients who used TTFs alongside standard chemotherapy had significantly improved survival compared to those who received chemotherapy alone

TTFs may be recommended in the following scenarios:

• Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: After surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, TTFs can be integrated into the treatment plan to enhance survival rates. The device is typically used continuously for at least 18 hours per day to maximize its effectiveness.
• Recurrent Glioblastoma: For patients whose tumors have returned, TTFs may be an option to extend survival and manage disease progression.

Your healthcare team will assess your overall health, tumor characteristics, and previous treatments to determine if TTFs are suitable for you. Factors such as your ability to wear the device consistently and your comfort with its use will also be considered.

The Future of Glioblastoma Treatment

Research into new glioblastoma treatments is ongoing.

Some promising areas of focus include immunotherapy and targeted therapies.

Clinical trials also offer access to experimental therapies that may improve outcomes. Patients interested in participating in clinical trials should discuss options with their oncologists.

Whether you sign the a clinical trial consent form or decline, remember why trials exist: to turn today’s maybe into tomorrow’s standard of care. If you join, you stand on the frontier where possibility becomes proof.

Questions for Your Doctor

If you have been diagnosed with glioblastoma, here are some questions you may consider asking your doctor:

• What stage is my brain cancer?
• What are the treatment options for my brain cancer?
• What are the risks and benefits of the recommended treatment?
• What are the side effects of the recommended treatment?
• How long will it take to recover from treatment, and will I be able to return to work and normal activities?
• What’s the likelihood that insurance will cover the recommended treatment

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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