Doctors have given me 15 months to live after my headaches turned out to be terminal cancer: Heartbreaking diagnosis of father, 39, who thought his symptoms were down to working too much

A father of three whose headaches turned out to be brain cancer has been given 15 months to live.

Ricky Smith, from the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, started suffering headaches in February but initially put it down to working too much.

After two weeks of unrelenting pain, the site manager’s partner, Katrina Binfield, 39, urged him to see his doctor, who reportedly told him to just drink more water and rest.

Mr Smith’s agony continued, however, prompting Ms Binfield, 41, to give him an eye test which led to him being diagnosed with inoperable glioblastoma.

Mr Smith is now anxiously playing a “waiting game” to see what treatment can be offered to prolong his life.

Makeup artist Ms Binfield said: “Life is very hectic for us at the moment.

“There are days when Ricky can be confused and forgetful and there are days when I can see changes in him.

“It’s really hard, watching my partner change before my eyes.”

Speaking about his early symptoms, she added: “He started having constant headaches for a few weeks.

“At first we thought maybe it was a virus. I was sick just before but his lasted longer than mine.

“He’s a hard-working man who never takes time off, but he was starting to call in sick and sit at home.

‘I told him ‘Rick, it’s not you’ and ‘we need to get you checked out’.’

But when Mr Smith went to the doctor he was told to drink more water and to relax, but his headaches persisted.

The couple went to Maidstone Hospital hoping to be seen, but after several hours of waiting, the father-of-three became impatient and wanted to go home.

Mr Smith had an eye exam in early March, during which the optometrist saw blood behind behind his two eyes.

He was referred to Maidstone Hospital, where a scan revealed a brain mass.

Mr Smith was reportedly told he may have suffered a stroke before an MRI diagnosed him with glioblastoma, a type of fast-growing brain tumour.

Recalling the moment, Ms Binfield said: “A consultant came to us and said he had found something in his results.

“He was very vague, so Ricky said ‘man to man, tell me if I have a tumor.’ The doctor confirmed he had a tumor and I broke down.

“It was horrible, I just broke down but Ricky was trying to be strong.

“A woman in front of us burst into tears, you look at us, we are a young family, you don’t expect that.”

Around 2,500 Britons and 12,000 Americans are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year.

Headaches, seizures, nausea, drowsiness, vision problems and personality changes are key symptoms.

These are caused by the increasing pressure of the tumor inside the skull as it grows.

Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are essential treatments.

There may be a life expectancy of only 12 to 18 months after glioblastoma is diagnosed, and in many cases it comes back, even after being treated, according to The Brain Tumor Charity.

Mr Smith was diagnosed with butterfly glioblastoma, which means the tumor runs through both sides of the brain.

Last week, Mrs Binfield broke the terrible news to their children, Louie, eight, Karson, five, and Arlo, two.

She said: “Arlo is too little to understand, but I sat Louie and Karson down last week.

“Louie is such a sensitive soul so I was really worried about him.

“He stood up, gave me a hug and said ‘don’t worry mum, we’re going to fight’.

“Karson and I were crying and he brought us tissues and wiped our eyes.

“He’s been amazing, but I still don’t feel like it’s happening to us.”

The couple’s friends installed a GoFundMe page hoping to raise £75,000 to pay for private treatment, Ricky’s 40th birthday and a wedding.

It has already raised £71,000 from 2,300 donations.