A man from the UK has shared an unusual symptom he experienced before being diagnosed with a highly aggressive and incurable form of cancer.
Steve Turnbull, aged 63, discovered he had a glioblastoma following months filled with peculiar smells, vomiting, and issues with his vision and balance.
The father of two began feeling unwell shortly after New Year’s Day 2024 when he unexpectedly vomited after tasting some gravy.
In the days that followed, he was overwhelmed by odd smells, including one reminiscent of cotton candy, which left him puzzled.
“A few days after the gravy incident, I blew out a candle and was hit by a strange smell of candy floss,” he explained. “Then I was sick again. That became the pattern. I also had vision problems. Around that time, I was referred to gastroenterology, but they dismissed it. We just didn’t know what was going on.”
Steve noticed additional symptoms such as balance loss, headaches, and trouble walking. An MRI scan eventually revealed a brain tumor the size of a tennis ball.
Steve described the diagnosis as a “terrifying truth,” adding, “If my story helps someone push for a scan when something feels wrong, it is worth telling. Even those early symptoms, like strange smells and sudden sickness, might make sense to someone else now.”
Initially, cancer was not suspected, but Steve’s ongoing symptoms escalated, culminating in a suspected stroke at his daughter’s wedding.
“I gave a speech and walked her down the aisle,” Steve recounted. “By the evening, I was losing my balance, my speech was slurred, and one side of my mouth had drooped. I don’t drink, so everyone knew something was seriously wrong.”
Though doctors first considered the possibility of a mini-stroke, tests weren’t conclusive, and he was sent home on multiple occasions despite increasing headaches and difficulty walking. It was not until an MRI scan in June the previous year that the true cause was identified.
Steve underwent surgery and had 30 sessions of radiotherapy, combined with chemotherapy using temozolomide. Unfortunately, the cancer advanced, leading him to begin a second-line chemotherapy (PCV), which he completed in July 2025.
Currently, Steve awaits the results of a follow-up MRI to determine the next steps.
A fundraiser has been organized for ‘Brain Tumor Research,’ while Steve’s niece and nephew, Erin and Rhys, plan to participate in the Edinburgh Marathon next year to support crucial research into glioblastoma.
Reflecting on the support, Steve said, “It means everything to know others want to help. Research into brain tumours is so underfunded even though it’s the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40. That needs to change. If my story helps someone push for a scan when something feels wrong, it is worth telling.”