Shanie had suffered with migraines for a long time but in March 2019, he found them to be increasing in severity and accompanied by other symptoms such as tinnitus. After many visits to his GP, resulting in him being prescribed several different medications to try, he saw no improvement to his symptoms. His GP finally referred Shanie to a Neurology and an Ear, Nose and Throat clinic at the end of April. Unfortunately this referral only resulted in a letter a week later to say that there were no current appointments with neurology and that he would be contacted when an appointment became available.

In August, Shanie experienced an episode at work of a much more severe migraine and a temporary loss of his memory. This clarified to us what we already knew which was that this was more than migraines, we both knew something just wasn’t right. We contacted the Neurology department ourselves, explaining our serious concerns about the increasing severity of his symptoms. He finally received an appointment date for a week later where he discussed his symptoms in more detail and he tried to get across the fact that he felt that this was not as straight forward as the diagnosis that the doctors kept giving.

Disappointingly, the diagnosis from the Neurologist remained along the same lines of that of the GP, only with a more specific name, hemiplegia migraines. We were not trying to be difficult but by this time, having waited so long to get to this point we requested that he be referred for an MRI scan, which the doctor reluctantly agreed too to ‘put Shanies mind at ease’. On the 15th October Shanie had his MRI scan. On the 17th October he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Despite feeling for a long time that that there was something seriously wrong, the eventual diagnosis was devastating.

Shanie was given three options, watch and wait, a biopsy or surgery to remove the tumour. Having had all of the risks explained to us we felt that surgery was the only option. This went ahead on 30th January 2020. During surgery, he suffered a stroke causing paralysis to his left side. He was left unable to walk and it led to the loss of peripheral vision in both eyes. But they had removed the tumour - a Grade 2 Diffuse Astro Cytoma - and he would not need further treatment.

Thankfully shanie learned how to walk again and regain the use of his left arm. Unfortunately shanie will never gain his peripheral vision.

Shanie has regular scans to monitor any reoccurrence in his brain. Unfortunately after suffering a seizure the day after shanies 30th birthday, a MRI scan shown that there is 2 small sections of residual tumour showing signs of slight regrowth.

Shanie has an oncology appointment to discuss further treatment.

The need to raise awareness is so important.
Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

Let's make a difference.

Shanie’s wife Jamie-Lee