I thought I had altitude sickness after climbing volcano- it turns out I have same condition as Davina McCall

Mike Wild, 38, was told he had a mass on his brain after getting checked out when he experienced a migraine while climbing a volcano on holiday in Ecuador. He initially put it down to altitude sickness but the pain intensified and Mike was rushed to a local hospital where he had an MRI and CT scan.

He was diagnosed with a colloid cyst - a low-grade benign tumour usually found in the centre of the brain - and flew back to the UK where his GP referred him to Salford Royal Hospital. Due to the location of the tumour, surgery was not possible and Mike has been having scans every 18 months to monitor its growth.

Mike has been determined not to let his diagnosis control his life but said it is like "living with a constant shadow".

Mike, a learning and development specialist, from Manchester, said: "You know you are always walking around with a shadow. While it is rattling around my head, there is no denying that there will always be a shadow there.

"I live my life trying to be as good and kind to people as I can. I think today could be my last day and think about how I would want to be remembered - I try not to get bogged down with my own condition.

"It is a shadow that is looming over me but I try to block it out to the best of my ability.

Mike has now been living with a brain tumour for 12 years. He first experienced symptoms whilst he was climbing the Cotopaxi Volcano, Ecuador.

Mike said: "We were halfway into the ascent and I got a really painful migraine. I thought it was altitude sickness but the pain carried on. "The next morning, I woke up with a painful migraine and it got progressively worse."

Mike was rushed to a local hospital where he had an MRI and CT scan. He was later diagnosed with a colloid cyst - the same tumour that Davina McCall was diagnosed with in November 2024.

Mike said: "My world was smashed by a physical avalanche that I could never have planned for. I am on the 'watch and wait' list for treatment which is a scary place to be but I have not and I am not going to let it stop me."

Over the last 12 years, Mike has been having regular scans to monitor the tumour and check on its growth. So far, his tumour has been stable and Mike has been living his life to the fullest.

He said: "From an early age I was exposed to death. As I have gotten older, I have accepted that we are only here for a certain amount of time. I am determined to make the most out of my life."

On November 15, TV presenter Davina McCall announced she had been diagnosed with a benign colloid cyst on her brain, which was spotted during a routine body scan.

Mike says that he hopes Davina's diagnosis will raise more awareness and lead to more funding for the type of tumour they share.

He said: "Hopefully Davina can shed some light on what it is like being diagnosed with the brain tumour. Like Davina, my tumour was identified by mistake.

"Hopefully the fact she has had a tumour will fuel funding and research that if allocated to it."

A Brain Tumour Charity spokesperson said: "A huge thank you to Mike for sharing his story to raise awareness of colloid cysts. All of us at The Brain Tumour Charity wish Davina the very best for her continued recovery.

“As an inspiration to so many, we're grateful that Davina has chosen to raise awareness of this uniquely devastating disease. We are committed to funding pioneering research, campaigning for systemic change and offering support to all those whose lives are turned upside down by a brain tumour diagnosis.”