Rachel’s run back to a full life

Rachel is in training for the Great North Run in September and won’t let the small matter of a European cruise get in the way.

“In June this year I will marry Adi, my partner of 12 years. And he won’t mind when I take my trainers on my July honeymoon on a European cruise, because in September I will be running 13.1 miles to raise money for Brain Tumour UK. My target is to raise more than £750 for the charity.”

Rachel, 30, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2003.

“When you are told you have a brain tumour it feels as though the whole world has come crashing down around you,” say Rachel. “The brain is a precious and complex part of your body that we all know needs carefully looking after. Your immediate reaction is that if there is something wrong with the brain, then it can’t be fixed. But then you meet a team of neurosurgeons who assure you they will do everything they can for you, and suddenly it seems like the mountain might not be too big to climb after all.”

Rachel, who lives in Scunthorpe, and is regional media and communities manager for Tata Steel, had two successful operations and physiotherapy at Hull Royal Infirmary.

“I wouldn’t say my journey from diagnosis to recovery was easy, but I realised how incredibly lucky I was when my follow-up scans showed up clear year after year. Not everyone has such a happy ending to their story. I was relieved and happy to be on the road to recovery but it was difficult to forget how much I had suffered in my struggle to get the help I needed.

“I was in my final year studying for a BA Honours degree in media and print journalism at the University of Huddersfield, when I started suffering agonising headaches and my personality began to change. My stress levels were at boiling point as I struggled to complete my studies while feeling constantly on-edge that something wasn’t right.

“Following endless trips to the GP, it was after I completed my course and started work as a reporter on my local paper that I quickly deteriorated.

“By this point I had most of the symptoms described on many of the brain tumour websites I had become obsessed with, and when I woke up one morning with double vision, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I made a private appointment with Mr Ali, an ophthalmologist at Scunthorpe General Hospital, who confirmed my worst fears and arranged for me to be transferred to Hull Royal Infirmary for specialist treatment. Mr Ali was undoubtedly one of the unsung heroes of my story.”

Rachel has had annual MRI scans to check the grade one tumour has not returned, and if her final scan next year is clear, then she will be given the all-clear.

“I was angry at first for not being properly listened to when I was complaining about my symptoms. But with just a year to go until I get the all-clear, I know I have nothing to complain about and no longer feel like I need to put my life on hold in case it comes back.”

The number of brain tumours diagnosed in the UK each year could be as high as 16,000 for primary tumours, and 32,000 for secondary tumours. Early detection and treatment are critical and experts say more must be done to ensure patients showing the symptoms of a brain tumour are given the help they need for an early diagnosis.

Charities like Brain Tumour UK carry out research, support patients and raise awareness of the illness.

“I hope that over time, keeping the issue in the public eye will speed up diagnosis and treatment, lead to further investment in medical research into the illness and ensure more people have a story with a happy ending like me,” says Rachel. “When I cross the finishing line on September 16 I will definitely be thinking about Mr Ali and the doctors and nurses at Hull Royal Infirmary, and all the other unsung heroes working tirelessly to give brain tumour patients the very best chance of a happy ending.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor Rachel for the Great North Run can visit www.justgiving.com/Rachel-Cox3 to make a secure donation.

Get involved with campaign

On Friday charity Sophie’s Wish is asking people to make a donation in aid of the annual Brain Tumour Research ‘Wear a Hat Day’. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the prevalence of brain tumours and the need for vital research. One business taking part is The Hot Food Company in Crookes. Owners Lara Joyce and Mark Whiston got involved after their daughter Amber was diagnosed with a brain tumour at just eight months old. Following major surgery, Amber underwent 20 months of chemotherapy. Having completed treatment for now, Amber is an active, thriving toddler, although doctors at Sheffield Children’s Hospital continue to keep a close eye on her.

For more information on Sophie’s Wish, visit www.sophieswish.org.uk

Brain Tumour Research, visit www.braintumourresearch.org