A woman who dismissed "constant headaches" for five years was diagnosed with a rare incurable brain tumour - after having a seizure in a petrol station.
Jade McMaster, 32, suffered with the headaches before she collapsed and had a seizure and was rushed to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, in an ambulance.
After two days of scans, doctors told her she had a brain abnormality and was diagnosed with secondary epilepsy - a form of epilepsy caused by an underlying brain condition.
Further testing revealed she had a grade 2 oligodendroglioma brain tumour on her left temporal lobe and medics rushed her to surgery to remove the mass.
After 10 hours of surgery, only 85 per cent of the mass could be removed due to its precarious location on the brain so Jade had to attend regular check-ups.
Her worst fears were confirmed in 2021 when she was told her tumour had returned and she had to undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Now the tumour is at a manageable level, and she treats her epilepsy with anti-seizure medication.
Jade is determined to live life to the fullest and not let it stand in her way.
Jade, a personal assistant at the Royal Bank of Scotland, Glasgow, said: "The headaches would just totally come out of the blue and I didn't think anything of it.
"You just take a couple of paracetamols and think you'll be alright.
"I was out cold and didn't remember anything.
"I woke up battered, bruised and confused in hospital surrounded by my loved ones.
"Somehow they used my phone to call my emergency contacts, which were my parents, Jackie and and Robert, who then dropped everything to come to the hospital."
The scan results in October 2017 showed the four-centimetre-long tumour was in the temporal lobe, the part of the brain affects speech and memory.
This meant only part of the tumour could be removed.
She said: " I really didn't expect to be told I had a mass on my brain. It was confusing."
While the doctors were unsure on the prognosis of the tumour, they knew they had to act fast.
Jade said: "Not knowing the why was the hardest. There was no reasoning behind the tumour.
"I was living a happy, healthy-ish lifestyle for anyone my age.
"I also have no family members with brain tumours, so it was a complete shock to everyone."
At 8am on December 7 2017, Jade was admitted for a 10- hour surgery to remove 85 per cent of the mass.
She said: "I was awake during the surgery, so they could track where my speech became impaired if they were too remove too much.
"I'm grateful to have my speech, but I'm sure people would be happier if I didn't speak so much."
Fortunately, Jade has been well supported by her partner Thomas Owens, 32, a floor layer, as well as her employer, the Royal Bank of Scotland.
She said: "I don't think it affected my career, I was off for six months but came back to work straight away in 2018 and never had any issues and have been well supported since.
"It made my friendships stronger and made me realise who my true friends were through the hardest times."
Following her diagnosis, Jade consistently attended regular scans, to ensure the tumour had not grown.
After "making the most of her life" following her diagnosis, Jade thought she had been through the worst.
However, as 15 per cent of the tumour was unable to be removed, she knew it was not the end.
Following routine scans she was told her tumour had grown back back in June 2021.
She said: "It's like a never-ending cycle, I knew it would happen, despite it being so slow growing, but it is still frustrating."
After 33 sessions of radiotherapy and 12 sessions of chemotherapy, she finished her last course of treatment in November 2022.
Jade said: "I was exhausted, and losing my hair - but it was expected.
"Work was supportive and understanding, they only gave me what was manageable.
"I didn't just want to stay at home and in bed all day moaning. I didn't want it to stop me living my life- I just couldn't."
New scans from February 2023, showed the tumour was at a manageable level.
She now has regular check-ups and scans to ensure the tumour does not progress again and Jade refuses to let it define her.
She said: "I'd rather fight it and get as much joy and love in my life than lying down and feeling sorry for myself.
"If you're positive, everything works well. There's always light at the end of tunnel."
Jade now urges anyone with even the slightest symptoms and out-of-the-blue headaches to reach out for professional help.
She said: "It shouldn't have gotten to this point, if the seizure had happened five minutes earlier whilst I was driving, I wouldn't be here telling you this story.
"If you're having headaches too often, go to your doctor and ask for a scan.
"Be persistent, and fight for your life."
