One of Scotland’s best-known political journalists has broken down in tears as he describes facing the prospect of his death.
BBC Scotland’s Political Editor Glenn Campbell was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour in 2023.
At first it was feared he had just months left to live until he learned his type of tumour was easier to treat and he could survive for many more years.
But he has battled seizures and the side effects of chemotherapy, turning his world as he knew it upside down.
Mr Campbell, 48, has made a documentary about his experience with cancer during what has been a difficult year of gruelling treatment and endless uncertainty for himself, wife Claire and their two children.
BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell and his wife, Claire
Political journalist: Glenn Campbell presenting BBC Scotland’s election coverage
He said: ‘It’s a golden rule as a journalist not to become the story, but in this case, I just felt that it was worth sharing my personal experience as a way of putting a bit of a spotlight on this most difficult of cancers.’
His tumour is an oligodendroglioma, a rare, slow-growing tumour which has a higher survival rate than some other types of growths.
However, he lives with the uncertainty of not knowing what the future holds and dealing with the prospect of a shortened lifespan.
Brain cancer is the biggest cancer killer of people under 40. Every day 33 people in the UK are diagnosed with the illness.
He announced his diagnosis in August last year after falling off his bike near his home in East Lothian and breaking 10 ribs. A scan revealed he had a brain tumour.
At first, Mr Campbell had to prepare for the worst when he went into surgery.
He said: ‘I was organising my affairs on the basis that I was going to die quite soon, doing all the things you have to do to try and make sure that the burden of your death would not be so great on your family, trying to make things as easy as possible for them.’
Visibly upset he added: ‘I’ve got an amazing wife, two fantastic kids and a lot of love.’
The operation was successful and surgeons managed to remove a large part of the tumour. A biopsy of the growth showed it was a less aggressive cancer.
He decided to extend his ‘bucket list’ of adventures by climbing every munro in Scotland to raise money and awareness for brain tumour research.
But after the surgery he suffered a seizure and ended up in intensive care for 24 hours.
In a clip recorded from his hospital bed he broke down in tears and said: ‘I feel very emotional. It’s not something I can say when Claire’s here because I don’t want to lose it in front of her.’
He added: ‘It seems to me the only certainty about having brain cancer is continued uncertainty. It’s just something to live with and over time the number have reduced.
‘I’m not going to worry about dying unless it’s staring me in the face.’
Mr Campbell took time off work last year to deal with his illness but has since returned to the small screen.
He joined BBC Scotland in 2001 as a political correspondent and regularly reports and presents programmes.
The broadcaster added: ‘You realise what really matters, and maybe what doesn’t quite so much. What really matters is family, and friends and good times and making memories, and what maybe doesn’t matter is the hubbub of everyday life, work, and chores and I think being told you’ve got a life limiting condition really puts that into perspective.’
My Brain Tumour and Me is on tonight (Wed) on BBC One Scotland at 7pm.
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