My 10-day headache was terminal brain cancer

Josh Smith and his wife Kelly have been making the most of every day since his diagnosis

A 34-year-old man with incurable brain cancer says he "might not be here" if his wife had not listened to her gut and "dragged" him to see a doctor.

Josh Smith, from Wrexham, began experiencing brain fog and headaches in January, but assumed he was "just tired".

A month later, he had 95% of a 4.5cm brain tumour removed in surgery - and says he remembers waking up craving KFC.

Every year about 3,200 people in the UK are diagnosed with a glioblastoma, according to Brain Tumour Research, but the treatment has not improved in 20 years.

The Welsh government said it was working on a cancer strategy focused on "research, innovation and improving access to clinical trials".

Josh had surgery to remove 95% of the tumour at The Walton Centre in Liverpool

While his illness is terminal, Josh said keeping his sense of humour and making memories remained his top priorities, as well as raising awareness to boost brain tumour research funding.

In January, Josh started having "these weird feelings" but "thought nothing of it".

"February is when it started properly. I had a 10-day headache. I would be walking my dog with my wife or talking to my mum and dad, and I'd feel zoned out. I found out later it was mini seizures and I didn't realise. It's really scary to look back on."

On 9 February, his wife Kelly "dragged" him to see a GP, for the first time in about 12 years.

"There's that societal expectation of 'man up' and get on with it. I was just popping paracetamol and getting early nights."

He said he would always be grateful that Kelly was so insistent.

"I could not have done any of this without her. If I had kept on ignoring it, I might not be here now."

Josh said the GP "found nothing wrong", prescribing more painkillers and referring him to an optician, where again no issue was found.

"I didn't have the greatest experience, it was quite dismissive," he said, adding the surgery had since apologised to him and been "so helpful".

Kelly, 33, added: "I knew something wasn't right. I remember saying there were red flags, but we were told there was nothing to worry about."

Josh says if it wasn't for Kelly's insistence that something wasn't right, he may not be here today

On 13 February, Josh wanted to go to work as normal, but Kelly once again stepped in and insisted he go to A&E at Wrexham Maelor Hospital because he was in so much pain.

"It felt like someone was pushing the back of my eyeballs outwards," he said.

Though they were initially sent home with morphine, t