Kicking the can down the road – Chris Myers
That is what we were told when Chris was diagnosed with inoperable terminal Glioblastoma grade 4 brain cancer.
Chris was working for Energy Qld as a Senior Analyst Programmer when he started having cognitive issues and migraines type headaches. After CT scans and MRI, the reports said there was something on his brain, but it was unclear what and suggested further investigations.
Chris saw a neurologist who never took any of Chris’s increasing symptoms seriously. Putting it down to things like sleep apnea, depression, frontal lobe dementia, even saying that what was in Chris’s brain was not big enough be affecting him. After many months feeling that this was going nowhere and the feeling that the Dr was not believing Chris, he went to a different neurologist for a second opinion.
The second neurologist was much more empathetic, compassionate, and believing of Chris. He explained things very clearly and tried different medications to help relieve the extreme headaches.
This continued for 18 months. Chris by this time was on medical leave and was on Income Protection Insurance. Chris’s work as a computer programmer evolved high executive functions of the brain. He was the Dux in high school, completed his degree in Information Technology with Distinction. Received the Dean’s Commendation for Outstanding Achievement and the University Medal. One smart cookie.
We now believe it was due to the nature of Chris’s work the high executive functioning of the brain put to work every day showed there was some early development of a brain tumour, early signs that might not have or not picked up in people in other lines of work.
December 2022 Chris had another MRI after his symptoms of worsening headaches, cognitive issues it became clear something was very wrong. He had the MRI done in the morning, by the afternoon his neurologist rang and said he needed to see him first thing the next morning.
The MRI showed a large area of inflammation on Chris’s brain and new growth of the tumour. The neurologist has already contacted a neurosurgeon to see Chris the early following morning. Even before we saw the neurologist he had booked Chris in for a brain biopsy at the Brisbane Royal Hospital within a day. Chris was genuinely concerned about having a brain biopsy expressing this to the neurosurgeon who said Chris did not have a choice.
22nd of December 2022 less than a week after the MRI Chris had a brain biopsy that went terrible wrong. He had a bleed which caused a serve stroke. He was in one hell of a state when I and my son saw him after surgery. Facial distortion, unable to move, or speak, swallowing was difficult, Chris burst into tears when he saw me. Over the week he started to get some movement on his right side, the speaking took a bit longer.
It was on the 31st of December 2022 the results of the biopsy were in. Glioblastoma grade 4, inoperable and terminal. Due to the bleed, they only got a very small sample of brain tissue so could not fully classify the tumour or say how long Chris had. But it was clear they did not expect him to live long, this became even more plain at a follow up with the neurosurgeons, 3 months later, surprised, and pleased that Chris was still alive.
On the same afternoon of the 31st, we were told what the standard treatment was for a GBM 4, that there were no trails he could go on and that all they were doing was kicking the can down the road, how far they did not know.
Chris spent 3 weeks in the Royal Brisbane Hospital and a further 3 weeks in STARS rehabilitation for the stroke, while also starting Chemo and radiation. STARS said he was the hardest working patient in rehab. He also had a big DVT in his leg and several bladder infections as he had a catheter for 5 weeks.
Chris never fully recovered from the stroke. His right hand never regained normal or even useful function, he would drag his right foot when he walked, his ability to talk still not good and his cognitive function was even more impaired.
Chris always helped with anything he could around the house. After the stroke, he struggled to do even the simplest tasks. The stroke more than anything had an enormous impact on his quality of life.
As said, we felt they never excepted Chris to live very long after diagnosis, maybe because of the state he was in after the biopsy and stroke. I remember asking the Dr’s at the hospital was there anything I could do from a nutritional standpoint to help him cope with treatment better, to improve his quality of life. I was told there was nothing I could do.
I soon picked up from the meals they were bringing Chris that he was on a high protein diet. We also overheard many other patients and families being told when they go home to have a high protein diet and suggestions on how they can go about that. I do not know why we were not told that for Chris, apart from the fact they did not expect he would live long enough to have the benefit from it.
When Chris got home, he got a high protein diet from me, many fruit & veggie smoothies, I did lots of research and did anything and everything I could to help him. I also discovered that in the UK they were trialling medical cannabis as a treatment for Glioblastoma and the positive results they were seeing and moving onto further trails. I mentioned it with his medical team who did not see any benefit in medical cannabis, but they said we were free to try it. I also found things that would help him endure the chemotherapy treatment better with less side affects.
Chris was on the chemotherapy drug for 20 months straight. Chris lived 28 months after diagnosis and the stroke. Living longer than anyone expected. I believe a big part of that was Chris’s determination and love of his family that he fought with courage and strength. Also, the exceptional care and love he received from me. At the very least the care and nutrition I gave him helped him deal with the side effects of the cancer treatment and helped his quality of life.
After Chris was discharge from the hospital and we got his full medical reports from his time in hospital, we noted on the MRI that they had showed that Chris had some form of high-grade brain cancer. They knew before they did the invasive brain biopsy that he had brain cancer. Chris and we as a family questioned whether they really needed to do that biopsy. A biopsy that caused a stroke and had devastating affects on his quality of life. From our understanding the treatment in his case would have been the same. Sure, the outcome for Chris might have been the same result, he had a GBM 4 and it was terminal but gee he could have lived the rest of his days with a better quality of life.
Chris was an exceptional man, a gentle kind, loving, compassionate man who fought the cancer with courage and determination. He was a man of integrity and man of faith. He accepted his fate very early on; his only concern was for me. His love for me kept him holding on right the the very end.
Chris’s health declined very quickly in the end, one day talking and walking the next day not. Even palliative care Dr’s were shocked at how quickly he declined. Chris passed away on the 23rd of April 2025.
I would like to see better ways of diagnosing brain cancer that does not require an invasive procedure on the brain.
I would like to see some new and improve testing for early detection of brain cancers.
I would like to see more funding and research going into brain cancer to one day find a cure, so other people and families do not have to deal with this devastating disease, the loss of life and the terrible grief that goes with it.
I would like to see more support for carers and families.
Chris wants to be remembered as a loving wonderful father, GrandDude to 3 beautiful grandchildren and an amazing wonderful loving husband of 40 years.
Chris was aged 63.
