Woman gets brain tumor diagnosis after months of seizures

By Charlie Fenton

A "fit and healthy" woman who thought her "daily" seizure episodes were due to the menopause was shocked to find out she had a rare brain tumor.

Jennifer Rademeyer, 42, was suffering from up to "six seizures a day" before she visited the doctors to find a diagnosis.

The commercial data executive said she believed the repeating 10-second “fuzzy” sensations - which began in January 2023 - were down to hormone changes due to peri menopause.

During this time she kept up with her busy lifestyle of working full-time and rigorous exercise including running half marathons.

But nine months later in March 2024 after visiting the GP for neurological tests discovered an inch-long, rare ganglioglioma brain tumor which explained Jennifer's symptoms.

Now, just over a year on from her diagnosis Jennifer, from Leatherhead, Surrey, is calling for more investment in research into the disease.

She said: “The seizures were like I’d been warped into a different dimension.

"An anxious and nauseous feeling rose from my stomach and all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball, I thought it could be peri menopause or a sign I hadn’t eaten enough."

“These episodes lasted around 10 seconds and over nine months went from happening monthly to up to six times in a day."

“There was a six-week wait for biopsy results because I was told my tumor is complex.

"No one should have to face an agonizing wait for answers.

"That’s one of the reasons I’m supporting Brain Tumor Research, to help fund the research that could speed up this process."

Jennifer said she first noticed having symptoms just over two years ago, aged 40.

They started on a "monthly" basis until they became a daily occurrence.

She revealed the "fuzzy" spells were spontaneous saying "they came on when I was doing anything, watching TV, running or working".

She said: "They were unpleasant and I got on with things, I thought it was nothing and thought it was something I needed to deal with [and live with]."

"Though I still kept up with a full-time job and my active lifestyle, running half marathons."

Jennifer thought they my be linked to hormone changes and peri menopause so she visited the GP where she explained her symptoms.

She said: "I went to the GP and explained my symptoms, which I thought could be peri menopause.

"The GP then referred me to a cardiologist but nothing was found."

But Jennifer's seizures only got worse and it was only when she went back in July 2023 and explained the symptoms that the GP referred her to a neurologist.

She had her first CT scan in October 2023 which was when then found a small tumor but Jennifer said "at that point they weren't sure if it was ganglioglioma."

A ganglioglioma is a rare, slow-growing brain tumor that affects the body's central nervous system.

They make up to 2 per cent of all brain tumors, according to Brain Tumor Research.

She said she had more "monitoring scans" until March 2024 where doctors determined it was a ganglioglioma that "needed operating".

Following this diagnosis Jennifer was forced to give up work.

Just a month after her diagnosis on April 18 2024 she underwent a successful five-hour debulking surgery at St George’s Hospital in London.

Following the surgery Jennifer has revealed she is now being monitored with regular scans and her seizures are less frequent.

She also went through a period of double vision following the surgery which has since improved.

Jennifer is now working with the charity Brain Tumor Research to raise money and awareness for the disease.

She is hoping her '88 squats a day' challenge - which she has been completing throughout July - will help fund the research that could speed up this process.

Jennifer said: "Faster results could mean quicker access to treatment and better outcomes.”

There are more than 100 different types of brain tumor, making them notoriously difficult to find effective treatments for.

Yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumors since records began in 2002.

Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at Brain Tumor Research, said: “Jennifer’s strength in the face of such a life-changing diagnosis is truly inspiring. Her determination to turn her experience into something positive shows incredible resilience.

"Stories like hers highlight why we must invest more in research to improve outcomes.

"We’re so grateful to have her support and together we will find a cure for all types of brain tumors.”