A mum was told she had just a year to live after mistaking her symptoms for hay fever.
Medics discovered a golf ball sized tumour on Suzanne Davies' brain, but she has defied the odds to survive for eight years. Suzanne, 44, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumour in 2014 after feeling tired, having headaches and noticing problems with her speech.
The mum-of-two, from Aberdeen, initially thought it was hay fever, and when a GP gave her a full check-up, they agreed her condition was likely being caused by the allergies or stress.
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But when her symptoms didn't improve, she sought a second opinion and was sent for an urgent brain CT scan at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Medics found the mass on Suzanne’s brain and on April 30, 2014, she underwent an awake craniotomy surgery which removed 95 per cent of the tumour.
Treasury assistant Suzanne said: “I went to see my GP because I was having really strange moments and bad headaches, and he thought it might be to do with my hay fever, or that I was just stressed. But things just got worse and worse, and I would wake up in the middle of the night losing my breath.
"That weekend, I had a permanent headache, and I couldn’t even move. After the surgery, most of the problems had gone.
“My speech was better, and I felt almost back to normal, it was crazy. I didn’t want to know how long I had to live, but the consultant didn’t give me a chance to speak and just came out with the fact that I only had a year to live.
“It was horrible and I was in total shock. The whole family and I were broken.”
Suzanne vowed to not stop fighting for the sake of her husband Owen, 49, and children Lauren, 12, and Max, 15. She said: “Even though I’m a very positive person, I got upset when I thought about my children, but then I thought ‘no, I’m going nowhere’.
“I get frustrated that there isn’t currently a cure for brain tumours, so more money is needed so more research can be done. I’m really well and I feel very fortunate that I’m still here.
“I’ve lost three friends to brain tumours, but I’m staying positive, and I’m determined to beat this.”
Suzanne underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which resulted in her losing patches of her hair, so she decided to shave it all off. She now has an MRI scan every six months, and the most recent scan in June was stable.
Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research said: “It’s fantastic to hear Suzanne is doing so well. Sadly, this is not the case for many brain tumour patients, especially those with GBM.
“On average, just 12 per cent of brain tumour patients survive for five years or more post-diagnosis. We hope to have more success stories like Suzanne’s but, in order for that to happen, the national investment for research into brain tumours needs to increase to £35 million a year by 2025.”
Suzanne is fundraising to raise awareness of the devastating disease. To find out more or to make a donation, click here
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