Kim Borthwick, a 36-year-old mother from Glasgow, has died just months after being diagnosed with incurable brain cancer, which began as a post-Christmas headache. Her family announced her passing on social media on Tuesday, September 22.
Borthwick was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in January 2026, a week after symptoms first appeared. She had spent the festive period with her husband, Ross, and four-year-old twin boys, Max and Freddie, before developing a headache. Initially, she thought she had overdone it, but the pain became "unbearable," leading to a tingling hand, loss of feeling down one side, and vomiting. After several GP visits, she was referred to A&E for an urgent CT scan and was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain tumour.
Family's tribute
In their announcement, her family said: "On behalf of Kim’s family it is with a heavy heart that we share of her passing. Kim slipped away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family. She was her brave, fighting self right to the very end. Kim meant so much to so many people and she will be forever missed. We wish to thank you all for the incredible support you’ve shown over the past eight months. It meant the world to Kim, and to us."
Tributes flooded in from those touched by her life. Sir Chris Hoy's wife Sarra said: "I’m so very, very sorry to read this news. Kim made such an impact on social media since her diagnosis and had such a fierce love for her family and of life. Thinking of her loved ones." Laura Boyd wrote: "So, so sorry. She was incredible, honest, beautiful and brave and I am so glad to have met Kim. Sending you all love."
Campaigning legacy
Commonwealth Games swimmer Archie Goodburn, who has spoken about living with brain cancer, added: "Rest peacefully Kim. She was an incredible woman - a true inspiration. Thinking of you all." Sophie Brown commented: "Kim made such an amazing impact on raising awareness. Sending love and strength to her family and friends."
Borthwick previously spoke about how the NHS gave her more time with her sons, saying: "I don’t know if I’ll see them start school. You take those little moments for granted until you realise they could be taken away. My diagnosis has given me the clarity to enjoy every moment I have with my boys. It’s too late for me but I want to make a difference for those who come after me. I know I would have made a really good granny."
She highlighted the lack of attention and resource given to tackling brain cancer, noting that survival rates in the UK have not changed for decades. She described this as an "injustice," given that survival rates for many other cancers have improved "dramatically" over the same period.
Call for change
Before her death, Borthwick joined the Brain Cancer Justice (BCJ) campaign group, which urges politicians to provide greater support and funding for rare cancers. The group is also calling for a dedicated minister for rare cancers to ensure continuity in research, funding and policy.
She explained: "I have a fire in my belly to effect change for people diagnosed with brain cancer in Scotland. It is difficult to accept, but it’s unlikely I will benefit from these changes. I can’t accept this diagnosis knowing we could be doing so much more in Scotland to support people with brain cancer. There’s been no change to outcomes for people diagnosed with brain cancer in 30 years, and brain tumours remain the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40. To me, that is scandalous."
She pointed out that patients in other G8 countries routinely receive surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy as standard treatment, along with treatment using the Optune device, which slows the growth of cancer cells. She said this combination is not routinely available in Scotland, leaving many families to navigate treatment options, clinical trials and additional support on their own. She also noted that tumour samples in Scotland are not routinely "fresh-frozen" during surgery, which means patients become ineligible for clinical trials and emerging genomic treatments that require preserved tissue samples.
"These aren’t cures," she said. "Nobody is pretending they are. But they give people more time with the people they love and, ultimately, that’s what matters."
