Matthew Lawford doesn’t say this with fear. “This brain tumour will kill me – and that’s okay” He says it with a level of self-awareness that only comes from living through the unthinkable—again and again.
Diagnosed with an oligodendroglioma in 2008, Matthew’s story begins with what looked like a fluke: a cycling accident that led to a seizure and, eventually, a brain scan. What followed was an unexpected journey through surgeries, evolving symptoms, miscommunications, and moments of clarity that shaped his outlook forever.
🌿 Listen to the full interview on your favourite podcast app or watch on YouTube:
🎧 Listen on The Aunty M Brain Tumours Talk Show Here
📺 Watch on YouTube: Here
Matthew doesn’t remember much from his first diagnosis and treatment. He knows he had brain surgery and was told to get on with his life with little side effects from the resection. Matthew didn’t stop there; he got on with life. He was running a successful bike shop in Norwich. He found meaning in creating and fixing, in helping people move again.
“Every year after surgery, I had an MRI. Six, seven years later, it said, ‘Hey, I’m still here.’”
But his tumour had other plans. This meant a second resection— this time in Italy, where neurosurgeon Lorenzo Bello operated. It was costly (with partial NHS funding), but successful in removing a large portion of the tumour. Life took Matthew to Cornwall. The bike shop days ended, but new passions emerged: surfing and photography.
A Life Interrupted – With an Oligodendroglioma
His seizures returned—silent ones at first, where speech slipped away, followed by full-blown episodes. Living alone during these episodes added another layer of fear and vulnerability. He admits it’s scary—not knowing if you’ll come out of a seizure, not being able to call for help, your body taking hours to recover. But Matthew isn’t one to sugarcoat.
“I was awake. Frozen. I tried to talk to the dog. The words just disappeared.”
Surgery, Secrecy, and Speaking Again
Matthew’s third surgery took place in London at the Harley Street Clinic. After this, his tumour was reclassified from grade 2 to grade 3—more aggressive. Recovery was complicated, not just physically, but emotionally. There were new seizures. Days when he couldn’t speak. And tinnitus that continues to ring through his daily life.
“Living alone, it’s odd. But I get more done. You just have to do it.”
The Fight Ahead: Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy
Now, in 2025, Matthew faces the next challenge: six weeks of radiotherapy, followed by six months of chemotherapy. It’s daunting—but he approaches it with a strange kind of calm. Not denial, but a grounded acceptance.
“Radiotherapy’s like a microwave. Chemo’s like mustard gas. I’m not reading the leaflets—I’m just doing it.”
He’s prepared himself mentally. He knows what’s coming might rob him of more speech, energy, or hair. But he also knows that the sun will rise the next day—and that’s reason enough to keep going. One of the most powerful threads in Matthew’s story is his reflection on friendships. Who stays. Who disappears. And why it’s okay to let people go.
“You’ll know who your real friends are. Some switch off the fear and say, ‘What shall we do today?’ Those are the ones who matter.”
Matthew’s not big on clichés, but he does have a stack of positivity cards he flips through each day. They remind him of the small good things. That even when the tinnitus rings and the seizures come, life is still happening. He’s still here.
“If you’re going to live until 60, then live until 60. Every time you see the sun come up, that’s a good day.”
Matthew’s story is a reminder that brain tumours are not just medical conditions. They are human experiences—complicated, scary, sometimes beautiful. And as he steps into this next stage of treatment, he does so with honesty, a touch of defiance, and a camera ready to capture it all.
🌿 Listen to the full interview on your favourite podcast app or watch on YouTube:
🎧 Listen on The Aunty M Brain Tumours Talk Show Here
📺 Watch on YouTube: Here
Other Oligodendroglioma Stories:
My Car Crash Led to My Oligodendroglioma Diagnosis
