Doctors told me I had anxiety but it was a brain tumour – don’t ignore the signs

A WOMAN who thought she had anxiety was diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of a satsuma.

Michelle Richards, 55, started experiencing burnout and fatigue but put it down to her work.

After returning from a three-week holiday around Australia she was in a “total panic” and felt “really awful” and anxious.

Her GP prescribed her with anti-anxiety medication but she refused and opted for therapy.

However, after suffering three focal seizures – that affect only one side of the brain and body – she was sent straight to Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Cheshire.

A CT scan revealed a mass on her brain and she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour called meningioma.

She had surgery in January 2024 which successfully removed the 2in by 2in (5cm by 5cm) tumour.

Michelle, a former senior service manager and therapist, said: “I am naturally a very healthy person; I did a lot of walking, exercising, all of that.

“I eat reasonably well – I don’t drink or smoke – so when they told me I had a brain tumour, I was in complete shock.

“I just couldn’t believe it, I was joking with my friend that the hospital would only send me back to the doctors.”

In January 2023, Michelle started finding work tough but said it “wasn’t unusual” due to the nature of her work.

After a month away in March 2023, Michelle returned but said she felt anxious and couldn’t face going back to the office.

“We were having a rough time at work so I was struggling with that and just the usual stress – over working, over tired and managing all of that,” she said.

“I arrived back from Australia and had work on the following Monday.

“I woke up that morning and everything I had been feeling before my trip hit me.”

After a few weeks, Michelle’s symptoms persisted so she went to her GP.

She was told her symptoms were common with anxiety and offered her medication. She refused in favour of therapy.

Michelle said: “It didn’t make sense to me.

“I know when I am not coping. I have coping strategies for that and when they’re not working I will tweak them.

“It didn’t make sense but I accepted the diagnosis.”

I was filled me dread and extreme anxiety

Michelle Richards

Michelle went back to her GP in May 2023 and accepted the anxiety medication she had previously declined.

She quit her job in September 2023.

“The feelings of returning filled me with dread and extreme anxiety,” Michelle said.

“I could not make sense of anything. A job I had once coped well with and had resilience was no longer possible.

“I felt I was letting the organisation down by being off sick with no return insight.”

During October and November, Michelle experienced three focal seizures and contacted her GP, who recommended she go straight to hospital.

Michelle said: “I was totally baffled by this as the episode was relatively mild, lasting about two to three minutes.

“It was on a Friday. It was Monday before I contacted my GP.

“When I got to A&E, they started blood testing me but it came back normal. I then had a CT scan.

“It was as always a very busy A&E department with people looking so poorly, in pain, elderly frail in uncomfortable chairs – a real sad sight to see.

“I joked with my son that I was wasting NHS time, saying ‘Look at all these sick people who need help’.”

‘I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT’

Michelle was told she had a brain tumour in November 2023.

She said she was “shocked” by the diagnosis as she had expected to be sent home.

“A medical professional told me and my son that they had identified a large mass on my brain that was life-threatening,” the mum said.

“They told me I would need an MRI and surgery. None of us were expecting this shock diagnosis.

“I couldn’t believe it.”

Michelle then went for an MRI, which confirmed she had a large benign meningioma – which presses on important nerves and structures of the brain and can be life-threatening.

She was put on a course of steroids before a six-hour operation to remove the tumour, which was successful.

Michelle said: “I was told this had been growing over a very long period of time, potentially years, due to its size.

“Surgery was the only option at this stage as it was putting so much pressure on my brain it was now life-threatening.

“The surgery was successful and they managed to remove it all.

“I am four months post operation and doing really well.

“I still have fatigue which I think I will have for a long time.”

Cameron Miller, director of external affairs and strategy at The Brain Tumour Charity, said: “It’s so important that we see greater awareness of the signs and symptoms of brain tumours, to ensure anyone affected can get the diagnosis, treatment and support they need at the earliest opportunity.

“The warning signs vary by age group, tumour type and where it’s located in the brain.

“We’d encourage anyone who is worried about a symptom that’s unusual for them, and particularly if it is persistent or they experience a combination of symptoms, to speak to their doctor or get in touch with us.”