A woman from Wolverhampton has spoken out after doctors dismissed her severe headaches as stress caused by her children, only for her to be diagnosed with a rare brain tumour. Libby Woolaston, 32, began experiencing persistent headaches in summer 2024 and visited her GP multiple times, but claims three different doctors attributed her symptoms to hormones or stress.
One GP allegedly suggested her three children—Miller, 10, Dax, 7, and Forest, 4—were causing her headaches. Her health deteriorated to the point she lost vision in one eye while waiting for a hospital appointment. She was eventually diagnosed with an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour (AT/RT), a cancer typically found in children under three.
Libby underwent a four-hour surgery to remove the pituitary tumour through her nose, followed by a lumbar puncture, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. She was declared cancer-free in February 2025, and her eyesight has since returned. She now has scans every three months.
Libby said: 'I felt completely ignored for months. The pain became unbearable. I couldn't be the mum I wanted to be.' She urged others to trust their instincts and push for answers. She is not pursuing legal action but plans to walk 200km to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research.
Letty Greenfield, community fundraising manager for the charity, said: 'Libby's story highlights the devastating impact brain tumours can have and the urgent need for greater awareness and investment in research.'
