Scientists demand brain tumour funding as patient has third awake surgery
Scientists are pressing the government for more brain tumour research funding as Hugh McCandless, in his thirties, has a third awake surgery and fundraises for treatment in Germany.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Scientists have written to the government demanding more investment in brain tumour research. They warn that the disease remains the biggest cancer killer of children and young adults.
The call comes as a patient in his thirties, Hugh McCandless, undergoes treatment for a terminal brain tumour. He was diagnosed on Boxing Day 2019 after suffering a seizure while driving his family to a reservoir for a walk. He had no idea he had a tumour until then.
Mr McCandless has now had a third round of surgery to remove as much of the growth as possible. The operation was carried out while he was awake at Salford Royal Hospital. Surgeons kept him talking, asking him to count from one to ten and to name objects, so they could map critical areas of his brain and avoid damaging them. A marker was used to make abnormal cells glow, helping the surgeon identify the tumour.
During the procedure, a sample of the tumour was removed and sent to Germany. It will be used to build a personalised immunotherapy treatment that is not available on the NHS. Mr McCandless's family say his only options now are to fundraise for treatment abroad. He wants to build a case for better funding in the UK, if not for himself then for his son's generation. He agreed to let his journey be filmed because he wants people to talk about the issue. He said many tumours around the world are getting cures, but that is not the case here because the money is not going in.
Mr McCandless has a three-year-old son, Jacob. He said his dream is to see his son turn five. He has begun four weeks of daily radiotherapy. His family are also moving home and downsizing to help secure Jacob's future, while continuing to fundraise for treatment in Germany.
He said he will do everything he can to create memories for his son. "The longer I stay, the more memories he'll have of me," he said. The case has been used to highlight what campaigners see as a funding gap in UK brain tumour research and treatment.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| A tumour sample was sent to Germany for personalised immunotherapy treatment not available on the NHS. | |
| Hugh McCandless was diagnosed with a brain tumour on Boxing Day 2019 after a seizure while driving his family. | |
| Scientists wrote to the government calling for more investment in brain tumour research and described it as the biggest cancer killer of children and young adults. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The bulletin led with scientists' letter to the government and used Hugh McCandless's awake surgery as a case study. Its tone was personal and campaigning, with detailed operating theatre scenes and a focus on NHS funding gaps and fundraising for treatment in Germany. It did not give space to opposing views or other patients.
- “The money is not going in.”
- “his only options now are to fundraise for treatment in Germany”
- “The longer I stay, the more memories he'll have of me.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.