A fit and healthy chip shop owner in Wales received a devastating diagnosis after experiencing a peculiar symptom: smelling caramel. Costa Vassilou, 47, initially dismissed the unusual scent as a fleeting oddity, but it persisted and led to a shocking discovery of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Doctors confirmed the diagnosis after further investigation. The strange smell, a phenomenon called parosmia, can sometimes precede neurological issues.
Vassilou and his partner are now urgently appealing for donations to fund potentially life-extending treatment unavailable on the NHS. They hope to access specialist care abroad, fighting for every possible moment. Glioblastoma has a very low survival rate, making their plea all the more urgent.
