A mother of three who was repeatedly dismissed and offered a series of possible causes for her 'unbearable' headaches was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour not usually suffered by adults.
Libby Wollaston, 32, visited her GP multiple times after she developed intense headaches in the summer of 2024, but was repeatedly brushed off by doctors before her condition took a dramatic turn for the worse. It wasn't until the headaches became so severe that she lost sight in one of her eyes that she was given a battery of tests to determine the cause.
The stay-at-home mum from Wolverhampton was diagnosed with a pituitary tumour, identified as an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour (AT/RT) – a form of cancer typically found in children under three years of age.
Dismissed Symptoms
Libby said: 'I felt completely ignored for months, no one was listening to me. I knew something wasn't right, but I kept being told it was hormones, stress or depression. One doctor even asked me if I had children and said, ''Do you not think it's just your children giving you a headache?''
'The pain became unbearable and I was taking painkiller after painkiller just to try and function day-to-day. I couldn't be the mum I wanted to be, and my quality of life was awful.'
Treatment and Recovery
The tumour was removed via Libby's nose during a four-hour operation. She subsequently underwent a lumbar puncture, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She was given the all-clear in February this year.
Libby said: 'Now I see life very differently. I appreciate every single day I get to spend with my family. I don't want anyone else to go through what I did, so I would urge people not to ignore their symptoms. Trust your instincts and don't be afraid to push for answers, you deserve to be taken seriously.'
Fundraising for Research
Libby has chosen to raise funds for the charity Brain Tumour Research by taking part in the 200k in May Your Way challenge. Money raised will support research being carried out at six Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence across the UK, where scientists are committed to developing more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for all types of brain tumours.
Keen to inspire others to get involved, she said: 'Whether you walk, run, cycle or swim, every kilometre completed and every pound raised will support vital research into brain tumours and bring hope to families like mine affected by this devastating disease.'
Anyone wishing to back Libby's fundraising efforts and to support the mum's continued journey to recovery can sign up via Brain Tumour Research.
