When a young man from South Yorkshire began suffering from headaches and strange bodily sensations, he initially blamed his active lifestyle. The shocking truth, however, would lead to a fight for his life and a mission to help others.
From Minor Pains to a Life-Altering Seizure
In January 2022, Sean Ryan Sweeney, a 31-year-old senior accounts director from Doncaster, started experiencing headaches, neck pain, and tingling down his right side. Assuming it was an injury from running or weight training, he visited a physiotherapist. When treatment brought no relief and he was discharged without a clear cause, Sean was left feeling deeply unsettled and frustrated.
The situation escalated dramatically on July 19, 2022. Sean was woken in the early hours by his partner, Lucy, after he suffered a seizure. She immediately called 999, and he was blue-lighted to Doncaster Royal Infirmary. A CT scan revealed a concerning anomaly, prompting a referral to specialists at Sheffield Royal Hallamshire Hospital.
The Shocking Diagnosis and Gruelling Treatment
Further tests uncovered the devastating reality: Sean had a grade 3 astrocytoma, an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. He was told he might have just 10 years left to live. "I felt completely numb," Sean recalled. "My mind went straight to Lucy and my family."
His treatment began with an intensive, nearly 10-hour awake craniotomy in November 2022 to remove as much of the tumour as possible. During this complex surgery, where patients are conscious to monitor brain function, Sean suffered a stroke. "I could hear the psychologist telling the surgeons my speech was becoming slurred," he said. Thankfully, with rehabilitation, he made a full recovery from the stroke.
This was followed by a gruelling regimen of treatment in early 2023: five weeks of radiotherapy and 12 rounds of chemotherapy, which he finished in February 2024. While his condition is now stable, Sean emphasises that finishing treatment is not a return to normality. "You're still living with the impact, and for high-grade tumours like mine there still isn't a cure," he stated.
Raising Awareness and Vital Funds for Research
Now, Sean is channelling his experience into action. He is sharing his story to highlight the symptoms—which include headaches, seizures, and cognitive difficulties—and is fundraising for the charity Brain Tumour Research. It is estimated that over 4,500 people are diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in the UK each year.
Together with his father-in-law, Carl Hathaway, 59, Sean completed Sir Chris Hoy's 60KM Tour de 4 cycling challenge, raising over £2,500. The pair plan to tackle the 100km route next year. "It's shocking how little funding brain tumours receive compared to other cancers," Sean said.
Ashley McWilliams, Community Development Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Sean for sharing his story... to help change the story for brain tumour patients."
