A carpenter who found out he had brain cancer after suffering from headaches died just seven months after his diagnosis. Paul Zmak from Portslade had been suffering with headaches and anxiety for a year, which he attributed to stress at work and the loss of a family pet. But last October he had a sudden loss of movement from the waist down.
Following tests and a biopsy, the grandfather-of-five was given the devastating news he had a glioblastoma, a type of brain tumour. The cancer quickly took hold and seven months later, on May 18, 2024, Paul died at his home aged 58. Now, his son-in-law Jamie Williams, who turned to hiking and fitness to support his mental health after Paul’s death, is helping to raise funds to find a cure for the disease.
Jamie Williams, left, with Paul Zmak, front and two of Paul's grandchildren Theo and Freddie (Image: Brain Tumour Research) READ MORE: Ground-breaking cancer research centre opens in county Dad-of-three Jamie said: “It was a scary time for Paul and all the family. Seeing what he went through physically was horrendous. To see how quickly the cancer took hold of Paul’s body was upsetting.
He had radiotherapy and a couple of rounds of chemotherapy, but we were told the cancer was too far gone and there was no treatment that would be effective. “Getting outdoors and walking helped with my mental health as well as physically giving me the space to process what was happening.” Paul died at home leaving behind a loving wife, and blende.