What began as a simple observation from her husband spiralled into a life-or-death medical emergency for one UK mother, highlighting the terrifyingly subtle signs of a hidden brain tumour.
Sarah, a seemingly healthy and active mother, was told by her GP that she was simply suffering from 'women's problems' and anxiety. But her husband, Ian, noticed something far more sinister—a slight change in her personality, a loss of spark that he couldn't ignore.
A Partner's intuition proves right
"I just thought I was fine, just a bit run down," Sarah recounted. "But Ian saw it. He saw that I wasn't myself. He pushed and pushed because he knew." His persistence led to a private MRI scan, a decision that ultimately saved her life.
The scan revealed a devastating truth: a massive 5.5cm glioblastoma tumour, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer, was growing silently in her frontal lobe.
The devastating diagnosis and urgent treatment
"We were utterly blindsided," Ian said. "To go from being told it's anxiety to being told your wife has a giant brain tumour... there are no words." Sarah was immediately rushed into a gruelling seven-hour surgery at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham to remove the mass.
Her battle is far from over. She faces an arduous road of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, a standard but challenging protocol for glioblastoma patients.
An urgent NHS warning on hidden symptoms
Now, the couple is on a mission to raise awareness, urging both the public and medical professionals to look beyond the obvious. They emphasise that symptoms like:
- Subtle personality changes or apathy
- Unexplained anxiety or depression
- Persistent headaches
- Loss of balance or coordination
can be red flags for a brain tumour, often mistaken for less serious conditions. Their story is a powerful testament to the importance of listening to loved ones and advocating for your health within the NHS system.
