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Topics: Cancer, Health, Mental Health, UK News, Community
Gerrard Kaonga
A British woman was in for the shock of her life when she learned that she had a serious brain tumor.
In 2023, 45-year-old Gemma Hillier, was told the life-changing news. This would have proven to be a particularly difficult blow as she had lost her father, 75, in July 2018 after he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma - an aggressive type of brain tumor.
What was most peculiar about Hillier finding out that she had a brain tumor was that the Northampton, UK, woman only went in for a routine eye-test at the opticians.
Concerns were raised when she struggled to read any of the letters in front of her, however.
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Her optician then referred her to an eye clinic after further testing, and in November 2023, Gemma had an MRI scan.
The results showed that she had a brain tumor, and in February 2024, Gemma had surgery at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, to remove what they could.
The surgery was a success after surgeons removed 90% of the tumor.
Hillier is thankful the operation was a success but still can’t believe her good fortune, all things considered.
She said: “It is hard to believe that I am living with a brain tumor. They said that I could have been living with it for years.
"I could have had it when my dad had his.
"I am lucky in some aspects - I do have a brain tumor but I can live with it.”
She is now issuing warnings as she didn’t experience any symptoms until she went in for a check-up at her local optician.
After that, she began to get headaches and while experts attempted to figure out what was wrong with her, they got progressively worse.
Hillier was told her tumor was a grade 2 meningioma and she and her doctors regularly monitor it. She has since issued warning to people to take any symptoms they experience seriously.
She said: “My tumor is grade 2 and so I’m currently having regular scans to check its growth.
"I’ve been told by my surgeon that if it does grow, I’ll need radiotherapy. The past year has been tough both physically and mentally.
"But I know I’m one of the lucky ones. It could have been so much worse- just like it was for my dad."
According to The Brain Tumor Charity, meningiomas are relatively common, accounting for 27% of all brain tumors diagnosed.
Symptoms can include headaches, vision changes, hearing loss, and more. Treatment often depends on the grade and behavior of the tumor, but can range from active monitoring to surgery and radiotherapy.