Doctors missed a Blairgowrie woman’s golf-ball-sized brain tumour at least five times before she eventually collapsed and had to be rushed to Ninewells Hospital for emergency surgery.
Now, Kirsty Lockett, 42, is putting the “brutal” experience behind her and is campaigning to raise awareness of the disease and funds for the Brain Tumour Charity that has supported her.
The general manager of stationers Danscot Print in Perth said her symptoms began last summer and included “head and neck pain like nothing I’d ever experienced”.
A progression of consultations with NHS 24, five GPs – four of them in Tayside – and one trip to the Ninewells A&E led only to a diagnoses of stress, anxiety and later, migraine.
“I could be angry, but I am not an angry person. I am grateful to the NHS staff who have worked so hard to save my life and will continue to work with me. Life is for living,” she said.
She collapsed in December and was rushed to Ninewells Hospital where a CT scan revealed a brain tumour that required emergency surgery.
“When I woke up, despite the fog of the drugs and the trauma to my brain, I knew that I had my head back and that ‘I’ was back.
“Despite the brutality of the surgery and extensive bruising there were absolutely no headaches, no anxiety. It was euphoric and like seeing the world for the first time again.”
Surgeons were only able to remove 80% of the cancerous tumour, leading to a further six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Her treatment ended last month and she is now determined to stay positive and plans to return to work next month, she added.
“There is no cure for brain tumours and no-one can tell me how much time I have.
“It has therefore become hugely important to me and those around me to support The Brain Tumour Charity who champion the cause.
“I have a lot to be thankful and positive about to come out the other side of something like this with no cognitive impairments is amazing.”
She has raised £900 and, together with husband Lee, will take part in the charity’s Twilight Walk next month. Mr Lockett, who works for BT, is also taking part in a charity football match this weekend.
He said: “Kirsty has been through so much it has been surreal. Having the support of my colleagues and employers has really helped. It has also taken the pressure off. We could not have got through without it.”
