Man’s constant headaches turn out to be brain tumor

Shane Crommer, 35, from Nottingham, began noticing symptoms in autumn 2025.

At first, he put the tiredness and headaches down to a busy life with his wife Laura and their 20-month-old son, Elijah, and assumed his vision problems were caused by an outdated glasses prescription.

But after becoming forgetful and falling while trying to pick his son up a CT scan revealed a mass on his brain.

A biopsy later confirmed a rare diffuse midline glioma, an aggressive tumor more commonly seen in children.

The dad underwent a surgery to relieve pressure in his brain caused by blocked fluid before completing 30 sessions of radiotherapy.

Today he is supporting the launch of the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Nottingham - along with out patients, politicians, civic dignitaries, charity leaders and scientists.

Shane, a fitness influencer, said: “I was just tired all the time. But I explained it away. I told myself I’d be fine.

"I thought my vision problems were nothing serious, I assumed my prescription needed updating, as I’d worn glasses most of my life.

“I’d lose my keys, feel less sharp, and sometimes just forget what I was doing. Each symptom on its own felt insignificant, but looking back, they were all connected.”

Wife Laura noticed the changes in her husband.

He said: "She says it was weeks, possibly even a couple of months, of me being more tired and less ’on it’ than usual. I’m not someone who complains, so I carried on, took paracetamol, tried to rest, and told myself I’d be fine."

By October 2025, Shane’s balance was beginning to fail and the headaches had become a constant pressure behind his eye and ear.

He initially visited the urgent treatment centre at Queen’s Medical Centre, where he was sent home with migraine medication.

“I was still exhausted, struggling with my vision, and unsteady," Shane said.

He even fell while trying to pick up Elijah and when it happened again he went for an urgent GP appointment.

He said: “When it happened again, Laura knew it couldn’t be ignored."

Shane was taken back to the hospital, where a CT scan revealed a mass on his brain.

Further imaging showed multiple tumors, and a biopsy later confirmed a rare diffuse midline glioma.

Shane said: “The reality hit hard. The hardest part wasn’t thinking about myself. It was thinking about Laura and Elijah, and what it would mean not to be here for them."

Shane underwent an endoscopic third ventriculostomy to relieve pressure in his brain caused by blocked fluid in October 2025.

Following that, he completed 30 sessions of radiotherapy.

He said: “Fatigue has been the hardest thing to deal with. After breakfast with Elijah, I’m shattered and need to lie down.

"I’ve had to learn to listen to my body and rest, so I can still be present later in the day. It’s frustrating because it’s not the life I’m used to."

He is now being assessed for a clinical trial involving ONC201, an experimental drug targeting mutant diffuse gliomas, and has donated tissue from his biopsy for genetic research.

Shane said: “It may not help me directly, but if it helps someone else in the future, it matters."

Shane and Laura are sharing their story to raise awareness about brain tumors and encourage people to trust their instincts.

“If something doesn’t feel right, speak up. Trust the people close to you who notice changes. Ask questions and request further investigation," Shane said.

"Brain tumors don’t discriminate. Families deserve better options, better treatments, and better hope than currently exists."

He is also supporting the launch of the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Nottingham.

A £2.6 million investment from the charity Brain Tumour Research will see researchers embark on a world-first study to understand and treat glioblastoma.

He said: “Knowing there will be a center focused on high-grade brain tumors, that can back the work of researchers and raise awareness, is really meaningful.

"If telling our story helps raise awareness, encourages funding, or helps someone else get answers sooner, it’s worth it."

Shane has learned to focus on the present.

He said: “I used to push forward constantly. Now my focus is on enjoying time with my wife and my son and not letting my mind live too far into the future."

Dan Knowles, chief executive of Brain Tumour Research, said: “Seeing patients, families, researchers, and supporters come together for the launch of the Nottingham Centre of Excellence is incredibly powerful. This Centre represents exactly what our supporters’ fundraising makes possible, world-class research with a clear focus on improving outcomes for patients.

“We are bridging the gap between scientific discovery and real patient benefit. The Nottingham Centre strengthens our national network and brings us closer to our ultimate goal of finding a cure for all brain tumors.”