“It took four seizures, misdiagnosed epilepsy and the final seizure happening in the A&E department of my hospital before I was finally referred for an immediate scan where my brain tumour was discovered,” explains Sophie.
“The surgeons managed to take most of it out but I’ll never be able to say I’m completely free of it. I just don’t know how much time I have with my little girls.
“My experience made me realise how important it is that brain tumours are diagnosed as early as possible. The Brain Tumour Charity is funding research into delays affecting adult brain tumour diagnosis, to help everyone involved tackle the problem.”
Dr Paul Brennan, researcher and senior lecturer in neurosurgery at the University of Edinburgh, leads a team investigating late diagnosis.
“There is an urgent need to reduce this delay, so that treatment can begin sooner and can be more effective; this is why our research is so vitally important,” he says. “The team will propose simple guidelines that will help GPs better identify which patients have a brain tumour and hopefully lead to rapid referral to a specialist. This research could transform the lives of brain tumour patients.”