Fit Electrician's Headache Reveals Brain Tumour: A Family's Nightmare
When Brad Collins first mentioned a slight headache, nobody around him felt any alarm. The 46-year-old Sunshine Coast electrician was known for his robust health, outdoor lifestyle, and infrequent illnesses. He did not even have a regular general practitioner, making it easy to dismiss the minor pain and subtle visual disturbances he experienced.
'He had a slight headache about a year ago, but it was just nothing,' his wife Frances Adcock explained to the Daily Mail. 'He just sort of shrugged it off. I don't think he even took a Panadol. He just kept working.'
A Sudden and Devastating Turn
Brad was the epitome of resilience, running his own business, working long hours, volunteering in his community, and spending quality time outdoors with his two young sons. However, on 14 January 2026, everything changed dramatically.
A couple of weeks before his diagnosis, Brad began experiencing what medical professionals later identified as auras, a type of seizure that can significantly affect vision and perception.
'Brad's vision just got really distorted. It was so unlike him. He doesn't even have a doctor. That's how healthy he is,' Frances recalled. In a moment of fear, she turned to the internet to research his symptoms, suspecting a stroke.
Paramedics were called, and Brad was rushed to the hospital. Initial tests yielded confusing results, with an abnormal heart rate but normal blood pressure and blood tests. Three days later, the family received the life-altering news: a mass had been discovered in Brad's brain, directly impacting his vision.
The Heartbreaking Diagnosis
'We were told in the same room as another patient,' Frances revealed. 'The other patient started crying for us. That's when we knew we were dealing with something really serious.'
Brad was diagnosed with a brain tumour, specifically a glioma measuring approximately 3cm, graded between stage 2 and stage 3. The news plunged the family into shock and despair.
'You Google all the horrible things about brain cancer, and it's not good. We just broke down crying,' Frances said. They were then sent home to endure an agonising wait, living in what she describes as an absolute nightmare, uncertain about tumour growth or prognosis.
Understanding Gliomas
Gliomas are tumours that originate from glial cells, which support and protect nerve cells in the brain. These tumours can grow at varying rates, from slow to aggressive, with symptoms often emerging gradually, including headaches, visual changes, seizures, or personality shifts.
Medical science still lacks a full understanding of what causes gliomas. In Brad's case, doctors could not determine how long the tumour had been present.
'They said it could have been growing for years,' Frances noted. 'They don't know how he got it. Radiation, environmental exposure - he's an electrician, so there's a slight chance, but they just don't know.'
Treatment options depend on the tumour's grade and location, potentially involving surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or a combination thereof. Currently, the family remains in a state of uncertainty regarding the specific treatment plan.
From Provider to Patient
Three weeks after the mass was discovered, Brad underwent brain surgery in Brisbane. For someone who had rarely been in hospital, the experience was profoundly unsettling.
'He said it felt like being at the top of a roller coaster - that feeling in your stomach,' Frances shared. For her, the waiting period was unbearable, marked by sleepless nights and the struggle to maintain normalcy amidst the crisis.
A Pillar of the Community
Brad's diagnosis sent shockwaves through the Sunshine Coast community. As an electrician for over a decade, he was renowned for his selflessness, often performing free repairs for elderly neighbours and volunteering during major floods in Bundaberg and Brisbane.
At home, he is a devoted father to his two children, aged four and six, passionately teaching them about nature and sustainability. Explaining his diagnosis to the children has been particularly heartbreaking, with the family simplifying it as 'Daddy's got a sore in his head.'
The Financial Shock
As Brad focuses on recovery, the family confronts severe financial strain. They discovered that Brad's life insurance through superannuation was invalid due to an unchecked box, leaving them without coverage.
With Brad as the primary breadwinner and work on hold, they have resorted to a GoFundMe campaign to manage mortgage payments. Hidden costs, such as hospital parking, fuel, childcare, and expensive nutritious food, further compound their difficulties.
Urgent Warnings and Community Support
Frances emphasises two critical messages: firstly, to thoroughly check insurance policies, and secondly, to seek medical attention for any symptoms, no matter how minor.
'We insure our cars. We insure our homes. But we forget to insure ourselves - and we're the most important thing in our family's life,' she urged. She also advises being proactive about health, advocating for oneself in medical settings.
Amidst the turmoil, the community Brad once helped has rallied around the family, offering overwhelming support through donations and kindness, restoring faith in humanity during their darkest hours.
For now, the Collins family waits, trusting medical professionals, holding each other close, and taking life one day at a time, hoping for the best possible outcome in their harrowing journey.
