Natalie Faulkner, 36, from Manchester, collapsed without warning in July 2017 while staying at her family's holiday home in Islantilla, Spain. She had walked to a shop to buy fresh bread when she suffered a seizure lasting around five minutes. Waking up, she found her husband, Danny, and locals gathered around her.
Scans at a Spanish hospital revealed a mass on her brain, later confirmed by MRI as a low-grade oligodendroglioma, a rare type of glioma. In September 2017, she underwent emergency surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible.
Lost Chance at Motherhood
Before chemotherapy began, Natalie and Danny were referred for fertility treatment to collect her eggs. However, there was not enough time to create embryos before cancer treatment had to start. Natalie said: “Danny and I desperately hoped we’d still have the chance to start a family one day, but there wasn’t enough time to create embryos before treatment had to begin. Losing that opportunity was one of the most heartbreaking parts of my diagnosis. While everyone focused on saving my life, I was also grieving the future we’d always imagined together.”
After returning home to Manchester three-and-a-half weeks post-surgery, Natalie continued treatment at Salford Royal and The Christie, undergoing six weeks of radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy.
Seizure Recurrence in 2025
After years of stability, Natalie suffered a seizure at home in late 2025 while preparing to travel to London for a work conference. She was taken by ambulance to Salford Royal and referred back to The Christie. Over the following months, she underwent further tests, regular MRI scans, and medication changes, experiencing 34 additional seizures as doctors worked to identify the cause.
Natalie said: “Thankfully, the scans showed my tumour hadn't started growing again, but it took months of tests and medication changes before things started to improve. There were days I was so weak I couldn't even make my friends a cup of tea. I'm slowly getting my strength back, but recovery doesn't end when treatment does. Brain tumours leave behind hidden effects that aren’t always visible.”
Funding Disparity and Awareness Campaign
Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002, according to Brain Tumour Research. This month, Natalie is taking on the 88 Squats a Day in July challenge to support the charity.
Ashley McWilliams, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Natalie for sharing her story and taking on this challenge to support our work. Her experience is a stark reminder that brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age and leave people facing lifelong consequences. Stories like Natalie's highlight why greater investment in research is urgently needed so we can develop kinder, more effective treatments and, ultimately, find a cure.”
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK, including the Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth, where scientists are investigating low-grade glioma to pave the way for more effective treatments. The charity campaigns for a national annual spend of £35 million to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia.
