A MUM who couldn’t sleep due to a “funny” whirring sound in her ear realised she had been hearing symptoms of her cancer after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Denise Wingfield, 55, was initially told dull noise in her right ear keeping her up at night was tinnitus, having been referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist.
But following an MRI, doctors found an anomaly on her brain.
A month later Denise underwent a nine hour craniotomy while awake – and was diagnosed with grade 2 oligodendroglioma, a rare brain tumour.
She had a further surgery following complications from the craniotomy.
The mum-of-three underwent six weeks of radiotherapy, followed by four rounds of chemotherapy and is still being monitored.
But a scan in January 2024 showed the tumour had grown.
Denise, previously a kitchen assistant at a care home, from Bristol, said: “I had no symptoms other than a funny noise in my ear.
“When I tried to sleep at night it seemed louder although it was there all the time – I never for a moment imagined it was caused by a brain tumour.
“Due to my tumour being slow growing, my medical team want to wait for further growth before they place me on another treatment plan – including a less brutal version of chemotherapy.
“Although it’s scary to know that it is still growing, I am being scanned regularly which offers some comfort.”
Denise was referred to a specialist in October 2019 and was diagnosed with grade 2 oligodendroglioma in November of the same year.
Oligodendrogliomas are a rare type of brain tumour that develops from the brain’s glial cells, whose symptoms depend on where in the brain the cancer is growing.
They’re diagnosed with two grades:
- Grade 2, which grow slowly
- Grade 3, which grow faster and are more likely to spread within the brain.
Denise struggles with fatigue and minor balance issues but is passionate about raising money for Brain Tumour Research.
Last month she hosted a coffee morning for Wear a Hat Day and in May Denise will be doing a ‘200k in May’ challenge.
She can run, jog, run, cycle and swim the distance over the month for Brain Tumour Research.
Symptoms of oligodendroglioma
OLIGODENDROGLIOMA is a type of brain tumour that develops from the brain’s glial cells
It’s a primary brain tumour, which means it starts in the brain as opposed to spreading there.
Oligodendrogliomas are rare – about 3 out of every 100 primary brain tumours diagnosed in England between 1995 and 2017 were oligodendrogliomas, according to Cancer Research UK (CRUK).
They’re more common in adults, particularly in people aged 30-50, and are slightly more common in men than in women.
Oligodendrogliomas may cause any of the symptoms common among brain tumours, particularly:
- Seizures
- Altered sensations, like strange smells or hallucinations relating to sense of smell
- Muscular weakness, particularly down one side of the body, and loss of control of bodily movements
If the tumour is located in the frontal lobe, it can cause gradual changes in mood and personality, and weakness or numbness in the muscles of one side of the body.
If it is located in the temporal lobe, this may cause problems with speech, coordination and memory.
Source: The Brain Tumour Charity, CRUK
Denise said: “Walking has become quite therapeutic for me. I’m able to put on my headphones with some music and get on with putting one foot in front of the other, being mindful in the moment.
“I’ve found myself wanting to live my life to the full.
“In the years since surgery, I have travelled and taken part in adrenaline fuelled activities including a zip wire with my son from the end of Bournemouth pier to the beach.”
Louise Aubrey, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Sadly Denise’s story is not unique.
“In the UK, 16,000 people each year are diagnoses with a brain tumour, yet just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2022.”
You can donate to Brain Tumour Research via Denise’s challenge here.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
