Kim Borthwick, a 36-year-old mother from Glasgow, has been diagnosed with an incurable glioblastoma brain tumour and is now treasuring every moment with her four-year-old twin sons, Max and Freddie, uncertain if she will live to see them start school.
Diagnosis and Symptoms
Borthwick began experiencing symptoms in January 2024, just after a busy festive period with her husband Ross and their twins. She developed an unbearable headache, tingling in her hand, and lost sensation down one side of her body, followed by vomiting. Initially attributing it to a migraine from overexertion, she visited her GP multiple times before being referred to A&E for an urgent CT scan.
On January 18, she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain tumour, and told she might need surgery that evening. She credits NHS staff with saving her life by acting swiftly, giving her more time with her sons.
Prognosis and Perspective
Borthwick is realistic about her prospects: if she reaches her 40th birthday, she will be among the longest-surviving 10% of people with her cancer type. She said, “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.” She added, “I know I would have made a bloody good granny.”
Campaigning for Change
Borthwick has joined the Brain Cancer Justice (BCJ) campaign group, which urges politicians to provide greater support and funding for rare cancers. The group calls for a dedicated minister for rare cancers to ensure continuity in research, funding, and policy. She said, “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.”
She highlighted that survival rates for brain cancer in the UK have not changed for decades, while rates for many other cancers have improved dramatically. “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 said.
Treatment Disparities
Borthwick pointed out that patients in other G8 countries routinely receive surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy as standard, along with treatment using the Optune device, which slows cancer cell growth. This combination is not routinely available in Scotland, leaving families to navigate treatment options, clinical trials, and additional support on their own. Additionally, tumour samples in Scotland are not routinely “fresh-frozen” during surgery, making patients ineligible for clinical trials and emerging genomic treatments that require preserved tissue samples. “These aren’t cures. Nobody is pretending they are. But they give people more time with the people they love and, ultimately, that’s what matters,” she said.
Glioblastoma Awareness Week
Borthwick is sharing her story during Glioblastoma Awareness Week, hoping future families might hear a different conversation, be offered more options, and face a different outcome. “It’s too late for me, but I want to make a difference for those who come after me,” she said.
Government Response
Health Secretary Angela Constance said: “I am grateful to Kim and all campaigners for their continued advocacy on brain cancer, and welcome efforts being made to raise awareness. We share their desire to further improve cancer survival and are taking action to improve the awareness and earlier diagnosis of cancers in Scotland. I would encourage anyone with unusual or persistent symptoms to contact their GP practice. We published our Cancer Strategy for Scotland in 2023, with a focus on less survivable cancers, such as brain tumours, and improving their outcomes. We welcome innovation in cancer care and continue to consider emerging evidence on new treatments and technologies to ensure patients can benefit from clinically effective advances.”
