A woman who was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of 20 has opened up on how she had to learn to do basic things again.
Charlotte Render, now 22, has been living with the slow growing tumour of the brain called Pilocytic astrocytoma since August 2020.
The Scunthorpe woman required immediate surgery to remove a tumour which was making her dizzy and unable to walk.
She told GrimsbyLive : "When I received my diagnosis, it didn't sink in. I don't think I understood the severity of what was happening.
"I had surgery fairly quickly on August 17 2020 at Hull Royal Infirmary. I think it only hit me after the surgery about how serious it was.
"Had I experienced that, I think I would have struggled to have had the surgery.
"Everyone around me in the hospital was in there 50s and 60s or above. I just thought to myself, why am I here being so young?
"But it can happen to anyone."
Before being diagnosed Charlotte was suffering bad headaches for a long time, originally thinking she was struggling with vertigo, without realise it was a tumour growing on her brain.
She had to sign a document that she was happy to go ahead with surgery in case things "did not go to plan".
Charlotte admitted the diagnosis was a shock not only for her, but her family, adding: "I could see how upset my mum was. My dad was even crying.
"They did struggle a lot. But I just didn't feel anything and I didn't feel any emotion for a couple of months.
"I got lots of messages from friends saying how brave I was. I didn't feel brave though.
"I was told there was a chance I might not be able to use any facial muscles, I might not be able to speak or use my legs. That was really scary.
"But after I had the surgery, I realised I could still walk, I could still move and use facial expressions.
"I did lose the use of my right hand during surgery and my left thigh has been affected. I've had to learn basic things again like how to use a fork.
"It's been really hard but I count myself very lucky to still be here today. I've had supportive family around me to keep going.
"I suffered for a long time with what I thought was veritgo when you get really sick and dizzy at 16 years of age. The dizzy spells were on and off but they became more severe."
Charlotte is speaking out about her experience of suffering a brain tumour at a young age as March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month.
