Sunshine Coast truck driver Brendan Black’s devastating brain cancer diagnosis

A Queensland father-of-three has vowed to stay positive and focus on ‘quality over quantity’ of life after receiving a tragic brain cancer diagnosis.

Sunshine Coast father Brendan Black’s devastating brain cancer diagnosis. Picture: contributed.

From laying in his wife’s arms in excruciating pain saying he wanted to die on New Year’s Day, to undergoing emergency brain surgery a week later – a Queensland truck driver says his deadly diagnosis has changed everything.

Sunshine Coast truck driver Brendan Black, 46, was diagnosed with a devastating brain cancer about six weeks ago.

His wife, Jenna Black, 35, said it completely turned their lives upside down.

Her husband has gone from working away for 12 to 16 hours a day to insisting on spending as much time at their Mooloolah Valley home with her and their three children as possible.

“He worked NYE as a truck driver and got home and went straight to bed. Didn’t get up until later into the afternoon. He looked so unwell,” Mrs Black said.

“I’ll never forget he came over and put his head in my lap, closed his eyes and said to me ‘I just want to die, I think I need to go to hospital’.

“He’d been getting bad headaches since November last year but nothing like this.

“I took him to Sunshine Coast University Hospital straight away. I knew he wasn’t right.”

Brendan with his family in hospital. Picture: Supplied

The couple arrived at hospital about 2.30pm on New Year’s Day. He had a bed by 4pm and they had his scan results by 6pm.

“They took it very seriously. He was in a lot of pain and was sensitive to light. It was hurting his eyes and head,” Mrs Black said.

“They found a fairly large mass on his brain, about 7cm, but at first weren’t sure if it was a tumour or a viral infection.”

The medical team sent his results to the neurologist team at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

The next morning staff had booked an ambulance to take him there.

Mrs Black had her parents take care of their three children (13, 10, and 5), two german shepherds and cat.

With no time to sort accommodation she took some camp gear and stayed at a friend’s house.

Just a week later, Mr Black was rushed into a risky, emergency brain surgery at the Brisbane hospital. Surgeons successfully removed 90 to 95 per cent of the tumour.

The tumour was sent away to be tested and within a week the family finally had answers.

“They said it had certain markers on the tumour of an aggressive cancer but they couldn’t be sure,” Mrs Black said.

“Eventually they told us it was stage four glioblastoma brain cancer. They said with treatment he had 12 to 18 months.

“It was devastating to hear but I told him we didn’t have to take on that belief.”

Sunshine Coast father Brendan Black in hospital. Picture: contributed.

Glioblastoma is a type of cancer that starts in brain or spinal cord cells. It grows quickly and aggressively invades and destroys healthy tissue.

Despite the tragic diagnosis and having their lives turned upside down, Mrs Black said they were feeling hopeful.

“We’re actually feeling very positive now,” she said.

“We’re doing alternative treatments along with what the doctors suggest. From the research we’ve done there can be very good outcomes.

“What’s important to us is that he has the highest quality of life. Regardless of if the treatments work he’s not giving that up.

“It’s quality of life over quantity for him.

“Yes he has terminal cancer. But he could still die from anything else just like anyone could.

“It’s really put things into perspective. He loves his family and his friends and that’s what matters now.”

Mr Black wants to refocus his attention to enjoying every day with his family and loved ones.

“Always working away or doing night shift, we hardly had family time. This has shifted that for him,” Mrs Black said.

“We’re taking it day by day though. It’s challenging to plan ahead.

“I’ve been through a cancer journey with my mum so I know what we’re in for. She died three years ago.

“I’m still working a couple of days here and there (as a hairdresser and beauty therapist) but it’s mostly about our family and making him comfortable.”

Jenna and Brendan Black in hospital. Picture: contributed.

Taking on the role of his full-time carer, Mrs Black said life has returned to a new normal as they found their groove.

“Day to day is fairly normal. He’s home and helps get the kids up and ready for school,” she said.

“Then I’ll take him to appointments and we’ll enjoy the mundane everyday stuff together.

“He needs a lot of rest though and gets tired very quickly.

“He’s up and down. Sometimes he’s really positive and happy and then other days he feels the heaviness of it all.

“Of course it’s hard when he wants to see his kids grow up, get married, and to one day be a poppy.”

Mrs Black said she was trying not to imagine life without her husband of 12 years, and remains focused on the time they have together now.

“It’s about staying positive and doing our research to try and help him,” she said.

“He’s the best. He’s really funny, would give the shirt off his back for anyone, very generous and thoughtful. He’s a great dad and the kids love him.

“The kids know everything and are doing well and staying positive.

“They know he might not survive but as a family we’re focusing on him surviving and thriving in life.”

You can support Mr Black here.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast truck driver Brendan Black’s devastating brain cancer diagnosis