A man who rebuilt his life after being diagnosed with a brain tumour has spoken out about this journey.

Richard Joseph, of Hayling Road, Watford, has lost his job, marriage and home to his cancer - but he has not it beat him down.

An IT project manager from South Africa, Richard first discovered his cancer in November 2014 after collapsing at home.

Taken to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen’s Square, London, he was diagnosed with a category three tumour on his brain - one level below a category four which is usually lethal.

Richard, 51, said: “I was in a six and a half hour brain surgery and left with ten percent of the tumour still in my head.

“The doctors said that I would have too much damage done if I was to have the rest of it out.

“So they sent me to radiotherapy and I had 35 sessions and six chemotherapy treatments.”

Meanwhile his marriage of 15 years broke down dramatically over his treatment.

According to Richard, his wife could no longer cope with the strain of his treatment.

It was around this time that he also lost his job after being plagued by seizures that seemed to start at random.

This caused him to lose five stone, his home in Carpenders Park and his ability to drive.

He added: “I ended up losing my house over it and along with me not being able to work or drive I was left with nowhere to go.

“I spent a long time on people’s couches.”

This was why he went to the Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre, which gave him help financially, helped finding a home.

He said: “This is why the Macmillan centre was brilliant they helped me by talking to all the relevant departments, they showed me all the booklets on how I can get help.

“They seemed to have booklets on everything.

“I now live in a house which the council was kind enough to give me.

“I really want to give something back to them for what they did for me.”

“It felt like a family.

“They have provided me with so much support and love over the past three years.”

Richard now tends to now make fun of his predicament saying that he had to keep his head up during his illness and make light of the situation.

Richard said: “When I swim I now tell the lifeguard to watch me like a hawk and if it looks like I’m breakdancing then chances are I’m not.

“When people ask me about my weight I say that I’ve been on the chemo diet and that they should give it a try.”