By Ben Barry

A woman was diagnosed with a brain tumour after a doctor dismissed her three-day headache as a migraine.

Natalie McKenna-Mounty, 47, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma - a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumour - in 2020 after experiencing what she thought was a stroke at her family home.

Natalie had surgery at King’s College Hospital in London where 70% of her tumour was removed.

Six weeks later, she started a six-week programme of radiotherapy followed by a six-month course of chemotherapy.

The tumour was stable for three years but in June 2023 there were signs of growth.

In August, Natalie had surgery to remove her tumour but they were unable to remove it all due to its location.

Natalie is currently exploring different clinical trials to help with her treatment.

Natalie, from Ramsgate, Kent, said "I had a severe headache for about three days, and then it felt as if I’d had a stroke.

"I couldn’t talk, and my mouth drooped. I was taken to hospital, scanned, and diagnosed with a glioblastoma.

"Because this all happened during lockdown, I was on my own when I heard the news.”

A glioblastoma diagnosis affects more than 3000 people a year in the UK and has an average prognosis of 12 to 18 months and these tumours almost always recur.

Natalie’s diagnosis and recent recurrence has had a major impact on her life.

Due to the location of her tumour being in her cognitive area, she loses concentration and gets tired easily.

She says she needs constant support so is unable to travel.

Natalie said: “My life has changed dramatically, as I can no longer drive, work, or travel abroad. I’m not able to work, due to the tumour being in the cognitive area.

"I lose concentration easily and get very tired.

“Since my diagnosis, I find it hard to do all the things I used to do – like going to places that were normal before my illness, like the cinema, the pub or the gym.

“I had to learn to slow down, to put the past in the past and seize the day”

"I find some social situations hard. I’ve lost my independence, and now have to accept help from other people.”

Since her surgery, Natalie said she has learned to "slow down".

She said: “I’ve had to teach myself to be mindful of my body, how to cope with stress - to accept the changes in my life and make them positive not negative.

"I had to learn to slow down, to put the past in the past and seize the day - Carpe Diem.

"My mum and I have this tattooed on our wrists. The motto is important to me. I live in the moment.

“There have been lots of ups and downs, but I've always tried to keep positive and strong. It’s important that I feel strong – you can still be strong, even with cancer.

"I am mindful of my diet, I do yoga, meditation and appreciate family and friends’ support.

"I’ve learned to love myself and my body, and I find peace in that. My diagnosis has made me stronger; I look at things differently now.”

“Before my diagnosis, I came out as gay and recently got married.

"I’m thankful every day for meeting my wife, who accepted me with my illness; and for all the support, laughter, and love my family and friends show me."

Natalie is supporting The Brain Tumour Charity's recent investment of a further £1.2 million into glioblastoma research.

Natalie said: “Research into brain tumours is not as well funded as other cancers. It needs a higher profile.

"There needs to be more treatment options for people like me because right now there is no cure, so I am making the most of every day.”

Dr Spencer Watson, lead researcher for The Brain Tumour Charity’s Junior Fellows grant said: “A glioblastoma diagnosis is the most devastating diagnosis and brain tumours are arguably the most difficult group of tumours to study and treat.

“This research gives us a new avenue to explore in the search for new and better treatments – and that is very exciting.

"Knowing that scarring caused by glioblastoma treatment can help tumour cells survive gives us a new direction to develop novel treatments.

"Understanding the mechanisms and how to exploit them will take time so we are also looking at ways to improve current treatments as this will benefit the people that need it most more quickly.

“We’re learning how to take the negative side effects from a lot of effective cancer treatment and exploit them to improve the benefits people can receive from their brain tumour treatment."