A man who set out to improve his health by adopting better routines and habits has been left struggling to walk after dismissing sudden 'rushes to the head' upon waking. Nico Archdale, a horse expert, had decided to take better care of himself but began experiencing intense headaches that lasted only a few seconds.
Symptoms Escalated
When the symptoms worsened, with headaches triggered by actions such as sneezing or bending over, he sought medical advice. An emergency MRI revealed a mass the size of a ping pong ball pressing on his brain.
Nico, 32, from North Wales, has since undergone surgery and is currently undergoing treatment. He has vowed to complete a Hyrox fitness challenge next year and has raised tens of thousands of pounds for cancer care.
How It Began
Nico explained: 'I was trying to be more consistent with my routine—staying active, eating well and generally taking better care of myself. Nothing extreme, just building good habits and staying in decent shape. But I started getting headaches. I’d wake up and, as soon as I sat up, I’d get this sudden, intense rush of pain through my head that lasted a few seconds. It was sharp but very short-lived, and then I’d feel completely fine afterwards.'
'Because they were so brief and I felt completely normal afterwards, it didn’t seem like anything serious. It was easy to brush off and carry on with the day as usual.'
After three weeks, the headaches became more frequent and easier to trigger. 'Things like coughing, sneezing or even bending over would set them off. There wasn’t one dramatic moment when I realised there was a problem. It was more a growing feeling that I shouldn’t ignore it any longer.'
Diagnosis and Treatment
A neurologist arranged an emergency MRI scan just a couple of hours after examining him. 'I was asked to come into the hospital the next morning with my family, and that’s when I was told it was brain cancer. It was a huge shock. I’d gone from thinking it was something minor to suddenly being told it was a tumour—and not a small one.'
'The tumour had grown to the size of a ping pong ball in my head which was squishing my brain to cause the headaches. It was one of those moments that doesn’t quite feel real. I think I went into a bit of a survival mindset.'
Nico was diagnosed at the start of January, and surgery followed on January 31. He is currently finishing six weeks of radiotherapy, treated five days a week. After a short break, he will begin chemotherapy lasting around six or seven months.
Now, basic tasks are difficult. 'Hopefully after the chemotherapy I’ll be out the other side of it. But physically, it’s been a huge adjustment. After surgery and during treatment, even simple things like walking are all I can really manage at the moment.'
'Emotionally, it’s been challenging in a different way. I have a rare type of brain cancer, and it is not caused by anything. The doctors just said I am just very unlucky to have it. It’s a tough journey. And things are getting a lot harder as the treatment goes on and I get weaker and energy gets drained from me. But I am trying to keep positive and to stay strong.'
Mental Battle and Fundraising
Nico described the mental battle as equally tough. 'It’s very frustrating being less active. It’s actually very mentally draining being able to do very little. I’m determined to try and continue with normal life as much as possible and keep seeing friends and family. But unfortunately it’s pretty limited with the small amount of energy I have.'
'I’m trying to keep positive. At the same time, it’s made me appreciate things more and really value the people around me. The level of support from my family and friends has been incredible and overwhelming at times. I feel very lucky to be surrounded by such amazing, caring people.'
He hopes to return to work as a bloodstock agent as soon as possible. 'I hope to continue working as a bloodstock agent for the rest of my life. And hope to do whatever I can as soon as possible. My colleagues and the racing community as a whole have been extremely supportive.'
Nico is planning to complete a Hyrox fitness challenge by the end of this year and has set up a JustGiving page, with all funds going to Macmillan Cancer Support. At the time of writing, it had raised nearly £31,000. He wants to spread awareness and reach out to others facing similar health issues.
'Having something like that to aim for gives me a reason to keep pushing forward, and hopefully show others they’re not alone in this.'
