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Leighton GP missed eight chances to spot mums brain tumour
Nicole is lucky to be alive
A young mum whose GP failed to diagnose a brain tumour despite EIGHT surgery visits with the symptoms, is hoping her story can inspire better education for doctors.
Nicole Witts's dreadful experience has led her husband Gary to take on a gruelling challenge to raise cash for Brain Tumour Action.
Gary, 38, from Lovent Drive, Leighton, and four friends will be taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge on July 5 to raise much-needed money for the charity which specialises in teaching the medical profession about detecting a brain tumour.
Nicole, also 38, visited her GP eight times with symptoms of what was finally diagnosed as a life-threatening brain tumour back in January 2008.
She went to the doctors complaining of an intense headache, earache and loss of hearing, twitching arms and hearing music and voices in her head.
She also instinctively knew there was something wrong with the left-hand side of her brain. However, her condition was dismissed by the GP as stress related, due to alcohol or drug abuse or sinusitis – all of which Nicole knew weren't possible. It was even suggested that she could be suffering from post-natal depression.
The mum of Megan, six, and Ellen, two, thought she was going mad as her symptoms worsened. Then in February last year, Nicole was about to change Ellen's nappy when suddenly she somersaulted backwards, had a convulsion and turned blue.
Megan and Gary had just returned from the school run and came to Nicole's aid quickly. She was rushed to the Luton & Dunstable Hospital where CT and MRI scans revealed a tumour the size of an orange.
Nicole said: "It was classed as a Grade 1 benign tumour called a meningioma and they said I would be dead by August if I didn't have it removed straight away."
She was transferred to the Royal Free Hospital in London. The tumour had grown in the lining between the brain and skull and hadn't become tangled with any other part, so a relieved Nicole was given a 99 per cent chance of survival.
One thing that did concern her was that she stood a small chance of losing her speech.
Nicole said: "The surgery took eight hours to complete and they removed every single bit of it – I was lucky, lucky, lucky!
"Both the Luton & Dunstable Hospital and the Royal Free were absolutely fantastic.
"Since my operation, I am a changed person and have a totally different outlook on life. Not only am I more outspoken and do not suffer fools gladly, I do more childish things, joke around and be silly! Before, I would think a glass was half empty, but now I think it is half full.
"I have compiled a list of things to do and one thing is to raise money for research into why people get brain tumours.
"We have a theory about why I developed mine. A few years ago I used to spend an awful lot of time on an old mobile phone and my head used to get really hot – we'd certainly like more research into that."
Nicole and Gary decided against pursuing action against the GP, instead opting to start fundraising straight away.
The first charity to benefit will be Brain Tumour Action, which specialises in brain tumour training for GPs, publishing books in the UK, and has a close link with a brain injury trust. It also campaigns for better media coverage.
Currently, one in 30,000 people have this type of tumour every year in the UK.
Meanwhile, Nicole cannot praise her family, friends and neighbours enough for the way they rallied when she was sick, even providing meals for the family.
Megan particularly was "a little star" says Nicole, although she was deeply affected at first by seeing her mum's convulsion.
Nicole said: "She'll come looking for me and calls out if I go missing for just two minutes. She also reminds me to take my tablets as I have been left with epilepsy. She constantly keeps and eye on me – she is my little guardian angel."
Nicole's fits are being controlled by medication, but she still cannot drive or bath Ellen. She also needs supervision when cooking so Gary tackles that most of the time.
The op also left her with short -term memory loss. Tests revealed she has impaired cognitive function. She has retrained herself to use visual pictures to remember things and work her brain hard with lots of puzzles.
Driving instructor Gary took four months off work to care for Nicole. The kick-boxing fan is now training hard for the Three Peaks Challenge which will take in the highest points in the UK, Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis.
Gary is joined by brother-in-law Steve Rock and friends Matthew Pearcy, Keren Millia and driver Creighton Varney.
Gary said: "I'm really looking forward to it. I'm training hard, set up a gym in the study, and have cut down on the beer!"
Nicole wanted to do the challenge but has been told her immune system is still too weak to cope.
They have already raised 2,500 but much more is needed for the charity to start making a difference.
Nicole is doing her bit by controlling the fundraising, which is exercising her brain.
The mum is very philosophical about life after her trauma.
She said: "Life throws hurdles at you. Don't fall over, get up and keep going.
"I'm lucky to be here – we are now looking forward to a family camping holiday in Cornwall."
But first, this month Nicole must have her post-operative scan – the first of yearly checks for five years to make sure there is no regrowth.
>> If you would like to help Nicole and Gary raise money for Brain Tumour Action, visit charity website www.justgiving.com/nicolewitts
Cuddling her daughters, Nicole beams: "I'm determined to do things I have never done before and I really appreciate what I've got."
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Saturday 04 February 2012
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