Doctors said I had water in my ear — it was a brain tumour

Story from Jam Press (Pregnant Hearing Cancer) Pictured: Stephanie with family. Brit pregnant mum?s hearing loss ?dismissed? as tinnitus but it was actually BRAIN TUMOUR A pregnant British woman has revealed that her hearing loss was ?dismissed? as tinnitus ? but it was actually a brain tumour. Stephanie Hilliard had also experienced balance issues as well as facial numbness. As her condition only worsened, she sought out a second opinion; especially as she was seven months along at the time. She went for an MRI scan which revealed a slow-growing benign meningioma, which medics believed had been there since her late teens. — Stephanie was 37 when she was told she had a brain tumour (Picture: Jam Press/Brain Tumour Research)

When 37-year-old Stephanie Hillard fell pregnant with her fourth child in 2013, she had no idea that as she prepared for the arrival of her newborn, she’d get the worst news of her life.

She’d begun to struggle with her hearing back in 2012, and as it got increasingly worse she went to the doctor, only to be told she had water in her ear.

But soon enough, Stephanie developed a ringing in her ears, which this time doctors put down to tinnitus.

Then, when she then reached seven months pregnant, she began experiencing balance issues, too, and even pins and needles in her face, while also suffering with ‘a strange water-like sensation’ in her head.

So, convinced it was more than tinnitus, she sought a second opinion, which saw her referred to Musgrove Hospital for an MRI. More than six weeks later, just as Stephanie, now 50, had convinced herself no news was good news, she got the call she’d been dreading.

She had a brain tumour, a slow-growing benign meningioma, which medics believed had been there since she was 18.

‘When I was told I had a brain tumour, I was in complete shock,’ Stephanie, from Axbridge, Somerset, recalls.

Story from Jam Press (Pregnant Hearing Cancer) Pictured: Stephanie in her younger years with Lily. Brit pregnant mum?s hearing loss ?dismissed? as tinnitus but it was actually BRAIN TUMOUR A pregnant British woman has revealed that her hearing loss was ?dismissed? as tinnitus ??but it was actually a brain tumour. Stephanie Hilliard had also experienced balance issues as well as facial numbness. As her condition only worsened, she sought out a second opinion; especially as she was seven months along at the time. She went for an MRI scan which revealed a slow-growing benign meningioma, which medics believed had been there since her late teens. Even though it wasn?t cancer, the diagnosis still posed a series of risks. ?When I was told I had a brain tumour, I was in complete shock,? the mum-of-four, from Axbridge, Somerset, told NeedToKnow. ?I was heavily pregnant [at the time] and had three children at home who needed me. ?My first thought wasn?t about myself, it was about them. ?I was terrified of what the diagnosis meant for my baby and whether I would be there for my children as they grew up. ?It was the most frightening time of my life.? Stephanie was ?forced? to undergo brain surgery, which came with a series of caveats. Although it would potentially clear the tumour, it could cause permanent loss of hearing, sight, mobility and even death. She gave birth to her daughter, Lily, and went ahead with the procedure. Due to the location of the tumour, surgeons were only able to remove 60% of it to avoid life-altering damage. And her recovery wasn?t an easy task, either. She had to relearn to eat, drink and dress all while caring for her family and newborn. Around four years after the ordeal in 2013, it was found that the tumour had started to grow again. Despite further radiotherapy, Stephanie still lives with the brain tumour and its associated impacts. Each day, she battles with balance issues, fatigue and other ?hidden disabilities?. It?s also meant that she?s had to give up work for good and is now a full-time carer for her daughter. The 50-year-old said: ?Living with a brain tumour means living with constant uncertainty. ?You never know what?s around the corner, and that fear never really goes away.? To help raise funds for vital research, she?s taking on the challenge to walk 10,000 steps each day throughout February for Brain Tumour Research. She added: ?I?m taking on the 10,000 Steps A Day challenge because fundraising is absolutely vital. ?Without it, research simply can?t continue. ?Walking helps me stay positive, focused, and reminds me that I?m doing something meaningful, not just for myself, but for my children and for everyone affected by brain tumours.? Letty Greenfield, Community Fundraising Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: ?Stephanie?s story highlights just how devastating a brain tumour diagnosis can be, not only for the individual, but for their entire family. ?Supporters like Stephanie are crucial in helping us fund research to find kinder treatments and better outcomes for all those affected by this disease, and getting us closer to the day when a cure is found.? ENDS EDITOR?S NOTE: All press are kindly requested to mention Brain Tumour Research somewhere in the copy and digital press are requested to include a link: https://braintumourresearch.org/pages/10-000-steps-a-day?utm_source=Banner_10k_Steps_Tracked_Link&utm_medium=Banner_10k_Steps_Tracked_Link&utm_campaign=Banner_10k_Steps_Tracked_Link&utm_id=Banner_10k_Steps_Tracked_Link&utm_term=Banner_10k_Steps_Tracked_Link&utm_content=Banner_10k_Steps_Tracked_Link — Stephanie with her daughter Lilly after she’d given birth (Picture: Jam Press/Brain Tumour Research)

‘I was heavily pregnant [at the time] and had three children at home who needed me. My first thought wasn’t about myself, it was about them.’

But she was forced to put aside her worries for her children, Reece, Travis, and Troy, as doctors said she needed to undergo surgery.

What is a benign meningioma?

Meningiomas are a type of brain tumour that start in the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord. Most meningiomas are not cancerous (benign)

Meningiomas account for 27% of brain tumour cases in England, with symptoms being seizures, weakness in your arms or legs, loss of eyesight, and loss of hearing.

It’s the most common type of benign brain tumour diagnosed in the UK, and is more common in women, than in men.

Your treatment depends on whether the meningioma is low grade (slow growing) or high grade (fast growing). It also depends on where the tumour is. But you will be monitored and could also undergo surgery or radio therapy.

Source: Cancer Research

‘I was terrified of what the diagnosis meant for my baby and whether I would be there for my children as they grew up,’ Stephanie says.

‘It was the most frightening time of my life.’

Stephanie gave birth to her daughter Lilly in July 2013, and returned to Musgrove Hospital for surgery in March 2014. She tells Brain Tumour Research that surgeons drilled a hole in her skull, and then had to wait 24 hours to do the main operation.

It wasn’t without risks, with doctors saying although it would potentially clear the tumour, it could cause permanent loss of hearing, sight, mobility, and could ultimately be fatal.

Due to the location of the tumour, surgeons were only able to remove 60% of it to avoid life-altering damage. And her recovery wasn’t easy, either.

She had to relearn to eat, drink and dress all while caring for her family and newborn.

Then, in 2017, Stephanie received the ‘devastating’ news that her tumour had started to grow again. This time though, instead of surgery, doctors recommended radiotherapy.

It worked for a time, but then Stephanie began experiencing ‘episodes’ which initially happened once a month, before escalating to once a week.

‘I would lose my balance and start vomiting,’ she says to Brain Tumour Research. ‘I was filled with dread, constantly waiting for it to happen. There was no pattern. I never knew when it would strike.’

Medication has now stopped this problem, but she still struggles with her balance and fatigue, meaning she hasn’t been able to return to work.

She’s now a full-time carer for her daughter, who also lives with a disability, but she pushes through her own symptoms to make sure she’s there for her children.

‘Living with a brain tumour means living with constant uncertainty,’ Stephanie adds.

Story from Jam Press (Pregnant Hearing Cancer) Pictured: Stephanie. Brit pregnant mum?s hearing loss ?dismissed? as tinnitus but it was actually BRAIN TUMOUR A pregnant British woman has revealed that her hearing loss was ?dismissed? as tinnitus ??but it was actually a brain tumour. Stephanie Hilliard had also experienced balance issues as well as facial numbness. As her condition only worsened, she sought out a second opinion; especially as she was seven months along at the time. She went for an MRI scan which revealed a slow-growing benign meningioma, which medics believed had been there since her late teens. Even though it wasn?t cancer, the diagnosis still posed a series of risks. ?When I was told I had a brain tumour, I was in complete shock,? the mum-of-four, from Axbridge, Somerset, told NeedToKnow. ?I was heavily pregnant [at the time] and had three children at home who needed me. ?My first thought wasn?t about myself, it was about them. ?I was terrified of what the diagnosis meant for my baby and whether I would be there for my children as they grew up. ?It was the most frightening time of my life.? Stephanie was ?forced? to undergo brain surgery, which came with a series of caveats. Although it would potentially clear the tumour, it could cause permanent loss of hearing, sight, mobility and even death. She gave birth to her daughter, Lily, and went ahead with the procedure. Due to the location of the tumour, surgeons were only able to remove 60% of it to avoid life-altering damage. And her recovery wasn?t an easy task, either. She had to relearn to eat, drink and dress all while caring for her family and newborn. Around four years after the ordeal in 2013, it was found that the tumour had started to grow again. Despite further radiotherapy, Stephanie still lives with the brain tumour and its associated impacts. Each day, she battles with balance issues, fatigue and other ?hidden disabilities?. It?s also meant that she?s had to give up work for good and is now a full-time carer for her daughter. The 50-year-old said: ?Living with a brain tumour means living with constant uncertainty. ?You never know what?s around the corner, and that fear never really goes away.? To help raise funds for vital research, she?s taking on the challenge to walk 10,000 steps each day throughout February for Brain Tumour Research. She added: ?I?m taking on the 10,000 Steps A Day challenge because fundraising is absolutely vital. ?Without it, research simply can?t continue. ?Walking helps me stay positive, focused, and reminds me that I?m doing something meaningful, not just for myself, but for my children and for everyone affected by brain tumours.? Letty Greenfield, Community Fundraising Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: ?Stephanie?s story highlights just how devastating a brain tumour diagnosis can be, not only for the individual, but for their entire family. ?Supporters like Stephanie are crucial in helping us fund research to find kinder treatments and better outcomes for all those affected by this disease, and getting us closer to the day when a cure is found.? ENDS EDITOR?S NOTE: All press are kindly requested to mention Brain Tumour Research somewhere in the copy and digital press are requested to include a link: https://braintumourresearch.org/pages/10-000-steps-a-day?utm_source=Banner_10k_Steps_Tracked_Link&utm_medium=Banner_10k_Steps_Tracked_Link&utm_campaign=Banner_10k_Steps_Tracked_Link&utm_id=Banner_10k_Steps_Tracked_Link&utm_term=Banner_10k_Steps_Tracked_Link&utm_content=Banner_10k_Steps_Tracked_Link — Stephanie at her 50th birthday party (Picture: Jam Press/Brain Tumour Research)

‘You never know what’s around the corner, and that fear never really goes away.’

To help raise funds for vital research, she’s taking on the challenge to walk 10,000 steps each day throughout February for Brain Tumour Research.

‘Walking helps me stay positive, focused, and reminds me that I’m doing something meaningful, not just for myself, but for my children and for everyone affected by brain tumours.’

‘Stephanie’s story highlights just how devastating a brain tumour diagnosis can be, not only for the individual, but for their entire family,’ Letty Greenfield, community fundraising manager at Brain Tumour Research, says.

‘Supporters like Stephanie are crucial in helping us fund research to find kinder treatments and better outcomes for all those affected by this disease, and getting us closer to the day when a cure is found.’

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