Jewish author with aggressive brain tumour publishes ‘most unlikely sequel’

A Jewish man from north London has written and published “the most unlikely sequel” more than four years after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.

Adam Blain’s new book is his second since he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in 2014. His first, called ‘Pear Shaped,’ was published in March 2015.

The title refers to the size and shape of the tumour, which results in a median life expectancy of 18 months from diagnosis. In the past year it was claimed the life of British Labour politician Dame Tessa Jowell and US Senator John McCain.

Blain, 44, is a retired lawyer and father-of-three living in Muswell Hill, and wrote his first book in the months after being diagnosed in May 2014. His second, ‘Grin and Pear It: A Most Unlikely Sequel,’ has just been released, again for Amazon Kindle.

Using humour to tackle the subject, he describes the initial diagnosis of “brain cancer” as “a bit like being told you’ve got testicle rupture – it’s never going to be good news,” and says he first had a bad feeling when the doctors bought him coffee, albeit “not cheap canteen coffee, expensive coffee shop latte”.

McCain’s widow Cindy tweeted Blain, saying: “My husband read from your book every day. It made him laugh – best medicine ever.”

Comedian Sean Lock also paid tribute to Blain’s approach, saying: “Most of us when threatened with great danger resort to fight or flight but Adam has chosen to laugh.”