A Glasgow mother, diagnosed with an aggressive and incurable brain tumour earlier this year, is sharing her story to highlight the urgent need for improved funding and treatment options for brain cancer in the UK. Kim Borthwick, 36, received her diagnosis of glioblastoma on 18 January 2026, just a week after she began experiencing severe symptoms, including an unbearable headache and loss of feeling on one side of her body. The mother of four-year-old twins, Max and Freddie, initially dismissed her symptoms as post-festive exhaustion.
Mrs Borthwick credits NHS staff with swift action that she believes has extended her time with her family. However, she faces the stark reality that she may not live to see her sons start school. If she reaches her 40th birthday, she will be among the longest-surviving 10% of individuals diagnosed with her specific type of cancer. This prognosis has led her to cherish every moment, stating, "You take those little moments for granted until you realise they could be taken away."
Her personal experience has also ignited a passion to advocate for systemic change. Mrs Borthwick has joined the Brain Cancer Justice (BCJ) campaign group, which is lobbying politicians for greater support and funding for rare cancers. The group is also advocating for the appointment of a dedicated minister for rare cancers to ensure consistent focus on research, funding, and policy development. Mrs Borthwick expressed her frustration, noting, "There's been no change to outcomes for people diagnosed with brain cancer in 30 years, and brain tumours remain the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40. To me, that is scandalous."
Mrs Borthwick highlighted significant disparities in treatment and care compared to other G8 countries. She noted that patients in these nations routinely receive a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and treatment using the Optune device, which helps slow cancer cell growth. This comprehensive approach is not routinely available in Scotland, leaving many families to navigate complex treatment options and clinical trials independently. Furthermore, she pointed out that tumour samples in Scotland are not routinely "fresh-frozen" during surgery, a practice that can render patients ineligible for crucial clinical trials and emerging genomic treatments that require preserved tissue samples.
While acknowledging these measures are not a cure, Mrs Borthwick emphasised their importance in providing patients with more precious time with their loved ones. She is sharing her story during Glioblastoma Awareness Week, hoping that future families facing similar diagnoses will be offered more options and experience different outcomes. "It's too late for me," she said, "But I want to make a difference for those who come after me."