'I thought fuzzy spells were menopause - then I found out I had a brain tumour'

A woman in her 40s has shared the warning signs of abrain tumour after she wrongly believed her symptoms were linked to the menopause.

Jennifer Rademeyer, from Leatherhead, Surrey, was forced to quit her full-time job after she was diagnosed with the terrifying condition. But it took a long time before she got to the point ofdiagnosis. The 42-year-old endured up to six seizures a day before she visited her GP in January 2023.

Until then, she had assumed that her frequent "fuzzy" spells were caused by hormone changes from pre-menopause. However, after visiting her doctor again, she was finally sent for neurological tests and was delivered a devastating diagnosis in March the following year. The commercial data executive was told that she had an inch long rare ganglioglioma brain tumour. It comes as NHS warns mouth symptom could be life-shortening disease.

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After being left in the unknown for so long, she is calling for further research to be conducted. Jennifer said: “The seizures were like I’d been warped into a different dimension. An anxious and nauseous feeling rose from my stomach and all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball, I thought it could be perimenopause or a sign I hadn’t eaten enough.

“These episodes lasted around 10 seconds and over nine months went from happening monthly to up to six times in a day. There was a six-week wait for biopsy results because I was told my tumour is complex. No one should have to face an agonising wait for answers. That’s one of the reasons I’m supporting Brain Tumour Research, to help fund the research that could speed up this process."

Jennifer said she first noticed having symptoms just over two years ago, aged 40. They started on a "monthly" basis until they became a daily occurrence. She revealed the "fuzzy" spells were spontaneous saying: "They came on when I was doing anything, watching TV, running or working".

She added: "They were unpleasant and I got on with things, I thought it was nothing and thought it was something I needed to deal with [and live with]. Though I still kept up with a full-time job and my active lifestyle, running half marathons."

Jennifer decided to visit the GP to provide some clarity. "I went to the GP and explained my symptoms, which I thought could be perimenopause," she said. "The GP then referred me to a cardiologist but nothing was found."

But Jennifer's seizures only got worse and it was only when she went back in July 2023 and explained the symptoms that the GP referred her to a neurologist. She had her first CT scan in October 2023 which was when then found a small tumour but Jenifer said "at that point they weren't sure if it was ganglioglioma".

A ganglioglioma is a rare, slow-growing brain tumor which affects the body's central nervous system. They make up to 2 per cent of all brain tumors, according to Brain Tumour Research. She said she had more "monitoring scans" until March 2024 where doctors determined it was a ganglioglioma that "needed operating".

Following this diagnosis Jennifer was forced to give up work. Just a month after her diagnosis on April 18, 2024, she underwent a successful five-hour debulking surgery at St George’s Hospital in London. Following the surgery, Jennifer has revealed she is now being monitored with regular scans and her seizures are less frequent.

She also went through a period of double vision following the surgery which has since improved. Jennifer is now working with the charity Brain Tumour Research to raise money and awareness for the disease. She is hoping her '88 squats a day' challenge - which she has been completing throughout July - will help fund the research that could speed up this process.

Jennifer said: "Faster results could mean quicker access to treatment and better outcomes.” Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Jennifer’s strength in the face of such a life-changing diagnosis is truly inspiring. Her determination to turn her experience into something positive shows incredible resilience.

"Stories like hers highlight why we must invest more in research to improve outcomes. We’re so grateful to have her support and together we will find a cure for all types of brain tumours.”

To donate to the fundraiser visit here.