When optometrist Cathy Davis started to experience continual headaches in September 2022 she thought something was wrong. This was accompanied by nausea and hair loss, prompting her to seek advice from a doctor.
Cathy’s GP suggested she keep a diary of her headaches to track how often they were occurring. However, after telling her Specsavers colleagues about her symptoms, the 33-year-old was convinced to undergo an eye test.
This displayed a problem with her optic nerve, and her colleague Mairead referred her to Altnagelvin Hospital where she received an MRI scan, which revealed the shocking truth.
Cathy, from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma – a type of brain tumour.
Luckily for Cathy the tumour was non-cancerous, however, she still required surgery to remove the mass that was pressing on her brain.
Speaking to Belfast Live, she recalled: “In November 2022, I was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, which is a type of brain tumour, and thankfully, non-cancerous.
“The tumour was on the nerve behind my ear that is used for hearing and balance, which explained my sickness – I was experiencing headaches and nausea from the pressure of the tumour, which was also growing.”
Cathy underwent a gruelling 10-hour surgery where two surgeons worked to remove 95 percent of the tumour in January 2023.
She then spent six days in ICU following her brain surgery, whilst being cared for “by the most amazing nurses and consultants”.
She said: “They were just absolutely incredible and I owe them all my life, as well as Mairead.”
“Had I not spoken to Mairead about my health, and with both of our knowledge combined, the tumour would’ve continued to grow, I would’ve continued to be unwell and would’ve been left with life-changing disabilities, which was confirmed by my neurosurgeons at The Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.”
Following the surgery Cathy took a year to learn to walk properly again and she is still dealing with hearing loss in one ear.
Now she is determined not to let anything stop her living a healthy, active life again.
She said: “It will take me years to process this. However, I am determined not to let it define my life.
“I am so incredibly lucky to have the care, surgery and support needed to get me through this, from my doctors, my colleagues, my gym friends, my group of best friends and my incredible family.”
She has now signed up to take part in the Manchester Marathon with her friend, Cathy McAleer.
Cathy added: “Fatigue has been a huge side effect of my surgery last year.
“After 10 hours under general anaesthetic, it can take the body years to adjust.
“I was fit and healthy before my surgery which has put me in a good position to get my strength and fitness back.
“A few months after my surgery I was cheering on my running mates at a race in Bundoran and said to myself, ‘I’m going to be here next year, running this race’, and I did – I used it as a training run on March 2.”
Cathy will run on April 14 to raise money for BANA, the British Acoustic Neuroma Association.
Speaking about her diagnosis, she advised: “If I could give one piece of advice to anyone reading this, it would be to listen to your body.
“Nobody knows your own health and wellbeing like yourself. You know if something isn’t right and that’s what happened to me.”
According to the NHS, symptoms of symptoms of an acoustic neuroma are:
- Hearing loss that usually only affects one ear
- Hearing sounds that come from inside the body (tinnitus)
- The sensation that you’re moving or spinning (vertigo)
- Persistent headaches
- Temporary blurred or double vision
- Numbness, pain or weakness on one side of the face
- Problems with limb coordination (ataxia) on one side of the body
- Voice changes or difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).
If you experience any symptoms you should speak to your GP.