Mom’s hot flashes and ‘burning smells’ lead to deadly brain tumor diagnosis

By George Jones

A mom was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor and given a year to live after suffering from "strange" symptoms - including hot flushes and "burning smells."

Fiona Charles, 61, led an active lifestyle and loved playing golf and going on long walks.

But in mid-2024, she began suffering from a string of "strange" symptoms, including hot flashes, heart palpitations - which were thought to be "mini strokes" - and "odd smells" in her nose that she described as "burning food."

She went to her local GP, who told her "the area of change at the front fit does not look like a brain tumor."

However, "unsatisfied" with the result, she followed up privately and arranged to have an MRI scan in October 2024.

Fiona was diagnosed with glioblastoma - a cancerous brain tumor - that same month, following a biopsy and was told she had 12 to 18 months to live at Albyn Hospital in Aberdeen.

Since her diagnosis, she has completed radiotherapy and is currently on round five of six chemotherapy sessions.

Although the treatment is going well, the retired teacher has experienced fatigue, weight loss and reduced appetite.

Determined to help find a cure, her son, Jonny, 29, is taking on the Edinburgh Half Marathon this Sunday (May 25) - and will be running 13.1 miles - to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research.

Jonny, a graphic designer from Aberdeen, Scotland, said: "My mom would do anything for anyone.

"Before her diagnosis, I had never even heard of glioblastoma.

"But it shocked me to read about how little funding it receives.

"I want to help make sure more people understand how overlooked brain tumors still are.”

Fiona enjoyed life as a retired primary school teacher, playing golf and going on long walks, when she started experiencing a string of "strange episodes" and symptoms in the Summer of 2024, often at random.

"She'd suddenly feel hot and flustered, with her heart racing," Jonny recalled.

"She also mentioned strange smells in her nose, like burning food, but couldn't describe it properly.

"At first, we were worried her heart palpitations might be mini strokes that would lead to a major one.

"But we just weren't sure."

This sparked a visit to a local GP, who had told the family that Fiona did not have a brain tumor.

But left "unsatisfied", the family pushed for further investigations and arranged for a private MRI scan in October 2024.

Fiona was diagnosed with glioblastoma at Albyn Hospital and was told she had 12 to 18 months left to live.

“I’ll never forget when she called us to come over so she could give the news to us in person,” Jonny said.

"We sat down in the living room, and she told us she had cancer.

"We were all trying to come to terms with it, thinking about what the future might look like.

“But it hit me that there were things she might never get to see.

"Weddings, grandchildren, all the moments you take for granted.”

Since her diagnosis, Fiona has completed radiotherapy and is currently on round five of six chemotherapy sessions.

The treatment is going as well as could be hoped, but has come with some severe side effects - with the mom-of-three often suffering from fatigue, weight loss and reduced appetite - and has made diet changes as a result.

She is now on a mostly liquid diet, after researching how sugar might fuel tumor growth.

But has slowly returned to baking and cooking – activities she loves and that help lift her spirits.

"Before mom’s diagnosis, I had never even heard of glioblastoma," Jonny said.

"When I started reading about it, what shocked me most was how little funding it receives."

To help raise funds for Brain Tumour Research, Jonny will be taking on the Edinburgh Half Marathon this Sunday.

He will run 13.1 miles and is determined to make sure more people understand how overlooked brain tumors still are.

"This isn’t about finishing with a fast time. I’m doing it to raise money, to raise awareness," he said.

"Just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research goes to brain tumors, even though they are one of the most aggressive and devastating forms of cancer.

"That feels completely out of step with the impact they have on families like mine."

Ashley McWilliams, Community Development Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Jonny’s story is incredibly powerful. His love for his mpm and his commitment to doing something practical and positive are truly inspiring.

"We are proud to have him supporting our work and wish him every success with the Edinburgh Half Marathon.”