Woman’s brain tumour went undiagnosed for nearly 30 years after first symptom

A woman was diagnosed with a brain tumour nearly three decades after spotting the first symptom.

Clare Rapley, 48, was told that hearing loss in her right ear was caused by her brain tumour. She first noticed this hearing loss aged nine.

When Rapley was taken to the doctors as a child, she was told there was nothing wrong.

“My parents took me to the GP who told them there was nothing wrong with my hearing despite struggling through my studies,” the mother-of-three says.

“Even into my adult life, a GP suggested getting my ears syringed but when I turned up to have it done, they said my ears were as clear as could be.

“It got to a point where I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it. Eventually, a colleague at the time encouraged me to go for a hearing test after he thought I was ignoring him on the shop floor.”

Rapley, from South Devon, failed a hearing test in 2011 and was sent for an MRI scan that uncovered a 5.5cm tumour, and two cysts growing on her brain. She was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, which is a non-cancerous tumour.

“The neurosurgeon told me without treatment, I had a maximum of two years to live,” Rapley, who was 35 at the time of her diagnosis, said.

“I struggled to digest the news. The following day, I had a stroke and spent a month in hospital where I had an operation to remove the tumour.”

Following her 17-hour operation, Rapley was left with life-changing injuries including impaired vision, epilepsy, and facial paralysis.

“I had to have the corners of my right eye sewn together to allow me to blink,” she explains. “This changed my appearance, but I’m now used to the way I look.

“I struggle with depth perception, coordination and balance so I use a walking aid to help me move safely.”

Despite her injuries, Clare is partway through an Open University master’s degree in forensic psychology after graduating with a 2:1 in the subject in 2021.

“My brain tumour has changed the course of my life,” she explains. “I left school at 15 having had a difficult time growing up due to my hearing loss, but it has made me more determined to succeed in everything I try.”

Story continues

Now, Rapley is participating in the 200k in May Your Way in aid of the charity Brain Tumour Research, and to raise awareness of her condition.

“It means a lot to be able to share my story. I don’t want other people to suffer,” she says. “We must invest in research into brain tumours if we are to find less invasive treatments and ultimately a cure to save future generations.”

Louise Aubrey, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, adds: “Sadly, Clare’s story is not unique. One in three of us knows someone affected by a brain tumour, yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours since records began in 2002.

“We’re determined to change this, but we can’t do it alone. We’re really grateful to Clare for her support and wish her the best of luck with her challenge.”

To donate to Brain Tumour Research via Clare’s challenge, please visit this link.

Additional reporting by SWNS.

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