Pushing For Answers When Mysterious Symptoms Occur
- When a 33-year-old Anneka Johnstone started feeling dizzy, the new mother just thought she was dealing with “baby brain.” After being rushed to hospital for falling while holding her infant daughter, doctors diagnosed her with herpes simplex virus and sent her home with antibiotics.
- An MRI and a biopsy of Anneka's brain a week later revealed the true cause: glioblastoma. Anneka bravely fought the disease for almost a half a year before passing in palliative care. Now, her husband is raising money for charity and running the London Marathon in her memory.
- Signs and symptoms of brain tumors can include: headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, balance problems, personality or behavior changes, seizures, drowsiness or even coma and changes in the ability to smell.
- Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of brain cancer. And though it technically has no cure, one of our experts says a diagnosis does NOT mean there is no room for hope. He told us that he's looking into a new therapy along with his Duke colleagues that combines the modified poliovirus and immunotherapy.
Anneka Johnstone started feeling dizzy months after giving birth. But the 33-year-old dietician thought it was a side effect of “baby brain.”
Read More"After being told the news, we drove back to tell the family. The first person Anneka saw when she walked through the door was Sienna (her daughter) she collapsed," Anneka’s widow Alan Johnstone, a 38-year-old medical technician, said.
Less than six months after her correct diagnosis, Anneka passed away leaving her young daughter and husband behind. In her final months, the beloved mother received continuous care in a palliative care unit.
"It was sickening knowing the person she was and that there was nothing I could do,” Alan said. “I could see the fear in her eyes, she was terrified, like anyone would be at 33 years old."
Since losing his “childhood sweetheart,” Alan says his daughter became the reason he got up in the morning. But now the single father is turning his grief into motivation for making a difference. He’s currently raising money for the Brain Tumour Charity as he trains to run the London Marathon in Anneka’s memory.
"I am doing this for the next person who is diagnosed," Alan said. "What would help is a change in government funding and a change in how they invest in the brain tumor charities. Not enough money is being invested into it.
"Hopefully I will get to the end without many tears, raise as much money as possible and share Anneka's story… I will never forget the stamp she put on the world and hope there is loads of Annie in Sienna as she grows."
Understanding Brain Tumors
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), brain tumors account for 85 to 90 percent of all primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord and acts as the main "processing center" for the entirety of the nervous system, according to the American Cancer Society. Normal function of the brain and spinal cord can become difficult if there's a tumor present that puts pressure on or spreads into nearby normal tissue.
Some types of brain and spinal cord tumors are more likely to spread into nearby parts of the brain or spinal cord than others. Slow-growing tumors may be considered benign, but even these tumors can cause serious problems.
Can Cell Phones & 5G Cause Cancer? A Leading Brain Cancer Doctor Says "No"
Symptoms of brain tumors are often caused by increased pressure in the skull. This pressure can be caused by tumor growth, swelling in the brain or blockage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), according to the American Cancer Society.
It is important to note that brain tumor symptoms are not exclusive to brain tumors, but you should still contact your doctor if anything seems off. General symptoms may include the following:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Balance problems
- Personality or behavior changes
- Seizures
- Drowsiness or even coma
Additionally, MD Anderson Cancer Center notes that changes in the ability to smell can be a sign of brain tumors, and, more specifically, "strange smells" can be a symptom of seizures which can result from brain tumors.
Still, it is important to note that these symptoms are not exclusive to brain tumors. You should always consult with your doctor if any health problems arise.
Learning About Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma, also known as glioblastoma multiforme, is an aggressive form of brain cancer. It's considered the most aggressive primary brain tumor, and it doesn't technically have a cure. The standard of care treatment for someone with GBM usually consists of a surgical resection followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Nevertheless, brain cancer treatment options are expanding thanks to research. Dr. Henry Friedman, a neuro-oncologist at Duke University Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet that progress is being made.
"You are not dead just because you've been diagnosed with a glioblastoma," he said.
Along with his Duke colleagues, he's looking into a new therapy that combines the modified poliovirus and immunotherapy.
"The modified poliovirus is used to treat this tumor, by injecting it directly into the tumor, through a catheter. It is designed to lyse the tumor and cause the tumor cells to basically break up" he said. "I think that the modified poliovirus is going to be a game-changer in glioblastoma… but I should also say that its reach is now extending into melanoma soon to bladder cancer."
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.