A "MIRACLE" Glasgow man given just months to live has puzzled doctors by surviving an incredible three-and-a-half years after his devastating brain tumour diagnosis.

Derek Tomnay's world was turned upside down on February 27, 2015, when it was revealed a drop on the left side of his face coupled with months of headaches, drooling and a deterioration in his eyesight were the result of stage four glioblastoma.

The dad-of-four, who now lives in Dundee, was rushed to surgery at Ninewells Hospital where doctors discovered a giant cyst covering almost half the size of his brain on top of the tumour, which they were unable to fully remove.

Shortly after, Derek received the words no one wants to hear.

 

Derek and wife Kirsten

"At first, they thought it might be bell's palsy or a I'd had a stroke," Derek said, "But, when we found out it was a tumour my surgeon said 'go up the road and organise your will'.

"He said he had never seen anything like the cyst and this was the most aggressive form of tumour."

Derek was given eight to 14 months to live and he quickly sprung into action in a bid to ensure he achieved his goals: marrying his beloved wife Kirsten, attending eldest daughter Paige's 18th birthday last year, watching his youngest daughter Skye, four, attend school with older sisters Freya, seven, and six-year-old Eva, as well as taking his girls to Disneyland.

He completed every last one.

The 46-year-old said: "I couldn't bear telling my kids I had terminal cancer but when I went back to have my scan, they told me it wasn't growing and they were confused, they said I should be on palliative care by now.

"I kept telling them 'I will be okay, I will be okay' and they kept saying 'no, you won't be'.

"But, I asked if anyone had ever survived it and they said a few so I thought 'why can't I?'"

 

Derek and his family

Miraculously, Derek's last scan just last week showed the same result - the tumour has not grown.

Now, doctors have told the double glazing salesman the likelihood of it returning is extremely low.

"For me it's about making memories," Derek added.

"I could be here for another 15 years or I could be away in six months, that's the nature of it but the doctors just keep shrugging their shoulders and saying I should be dead.

"I think the key is fighting and not lying down to it."

Now, Derek is backing a plea from charity Funding Neuro to bring a new US treatment to Scotland which could give other glioblastoma patients the priceless time with their families he has been blessed with.

 

Derek Tomnay

The trial will involve ten patients, whose own immune system will be used to target the deadly brain tumour with a new vaccine Cytomegalovirus (CMV) for Glioblastoma.

Derek's surgeon, Dr Kismet Hossain-Ibrahim, is leading the campaign. He said: "There is a real drive to change the currently bleak outcome for patients diagnosed with brain tumours.

"Immunotherapy offers the best chance of long-term survival for these patients, whose current life expectancy is 12 to 14 months."

A crowd funding page has been launched to raise the funds.