Conor Harding was first diagnosed aged just five10:50, 14 Jul 2026A young man who has already endured leukaemia on four separate occasions has been dealt another cruel blow after being diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour.‌Conor Harding, 21, from Chingford, was first told he had leukaemia when he was just five and has spent much of his childhood and teenage years in and out of treatment. After enjoying more than four years cancer-free, Conor began suffering persistent headaches and, in September 2025, doctors confirmed he had glioblastoma — an aggressive brain cancer — and warned him the condition is life-limiting.‌Conor said: "I'm 21 and I've spent half my life battling cancer. I'd never got to a point where I thought cancer was a thing of the past, but I had got to a point where I actually felt healthy for once. I had a four-year period of feeling good. I was just living life like a normal teenager should be - playing rugby, going out with my mates and building close friendships - but then I went downhill.‌"After being diagnosed with glioblastoma, the consultant said it will probably be the reason I pass. That was really hard to hear, but I think it was harder on mum and dad."I've just got to be strong for my family and those around me. I struggled a bit when I was first diagnosed with leukaemia, but by the third and fourth time, it was different, because there was hope that I could get better. But there is no cure for glioblastoma."Conor and his family are now supporting Brain Tumour Research during Glioblastoma Awareness Week, which runs from July 13 to 19, as they call for more funding and faster progress in treatment options.‌The charity says around 3,200 people are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year in the UK. Only about one in three will survive beyond a year, while just 4% live for five years or more. Average survival is estimated at 12 to 18 months and, despite major advances in other cancers, treatments for glioblastoma have not significantly improved in more than 20 years.The family’s campaign also draws attention to the stark contrast in survival outcomes between brain tumours and other cancers. In the 1970s, 10-year survival rates for brain tumours and leukaemia were both extremely low, at seven and nine per cent respectively. Since then, leukaemia survival rates have climbed to nearly 50%, largely due to sustained research investment, while brain tumour survival rates remain below 20%.‌Conor’s dad Trevor, a client executive for an investment bank, described the diagnosis as heartbreaking after years of hoping their family’s cancer battles were behind them.Trevor said: "Being told that Conor's condition was life-limiting was devastating. I can't comprehend it. We've been on this journey so often, but now it feels final. We know there isn't going to be a positive outcome here, that Conor unfortunately is going to lose his life to this, and I think that's really hard to bear."After Conor’s fourth leukaemia diagnosis, he underwent a bone marrow transplant. He then enjoyed a four-and-a-half-year stretch without cancer and started an apprenticeship as a bricklayer.‌But following the glioblastoma diagnosis in September 2025, Conor underwent surgery that required 65 staples, before facing rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. An MRI scan in February showed three tumours had returned.Determined to help other families facing the same devastating news, Trevor ran the London Marathon in April, raising more than £17,000 for Brain Tumour Research. Two more marathons are planned for 2026.‌Trevor said: "I think it's shocking, that with the medical advances that have been made for other diseases, we haven't made more progress with brain tumours. What astounded me when I started looking into this is that brain tumours continue to kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002."That, for me, was eye-opening. That's why I'll do whatever I can to help fund the vital research taking place at the Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence. People facing this diagnosis deserve so much better."Brain Tumour Research says the studies it backs are working to unlock new understanding of glioblastoma, develop more effective treatments and ultimately move closer to a cure. At its Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London, scientists have developed a platform comparing glioblastoma stem cells with healthy brain stem cells from the same patient, with the aim of identifying what triggers an individual tumour and whether it can be targeted — a key step towards personalised treatment.‌Dr Karen Noble, director of research and policy at Brain Tumour Research, said: "Comparing the survival rates of people with leukaemia and those with brain tumours is a stark illustration of the need for more research into brain tumours. Conor's story reflects the devastating reality faced by so many families across the UK."We are calling on the Government to increase the national investment in research into brain tumours, including glioblastoma. We need to also see an increase in the number of clinical trials, and access to them, in the UK, and we want to end inequalities in access to whole genome sequencing that could inform access to trials and emerging treatments."Article continues belowThe charity funds research at specialist centres across the UK and campaigns for the Government and major cancer charities to increase support. It is calling for national annual funding of £35 million to improve outcomes and bring survival rates closer to those seen in cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia. More information and donations are available via the charity’s Glioblastoma Awareness Week Appeal page.