Young Woman Crashes Two Cars While Having Seizures, Is Told She Had ‘Anxiety:’ It Turned Out To Be Cancer

Jennifer, now 28, began experiencing severe headaches, noise sensitivity, sickness, and seizures in mid-2020.

She thought her symptoms were due to panic attacks she wouldn't be able to speak or move during the seizures so she spoke with her primary care doctor, who said her symptoms were most likely due to anxiety and migraines. Jennifer was given medication and sent on her way.

However, the seizures still continued to get worse. And within a couple months, she crashed and totaled two different cars due to having a seizure while behind the wheel. No one was injured in the first crash when she drove into a railing. However, she collided with another car the second time she crashed.

After the crash, Jennifer experienced pain in her shoulders and back, so she again visited the doctor, but was sent home the next day with painkillers and no answers.

"I started to get strange feelings where for just a few seconds I couldn't respond or be able to move at all," she said. "I wasn't even able to reply when someone was talking to me. This happened another time when I was behind the wheel of the car and my partner, Matty, had to grab the wheel and steer us onto a smaller road.

"It was really terrifying but I kept being told nothing was really that wrong with me."

And while doctors kept telling Jennifer there was nothing wrong with her, her symptoms only proceeded to get worse. Due to her debilitating symptoms, she again found herself at the doctor. But this time, she was sent for a CT scan after the doctor heard about what she had been experiencing.

The scan revealed a large mass growing on her brain, so Jennifer was sent for an MRI. And just a few days later, she underwent a roughly 13-hour surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Surgeons were able to remove about 70% of the mass, but they also diagnosed Jennifer with grade 2 astrocytoma, a type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord.

"I was in utter shock that I now had cancer," she said. "I couldn't understand how this had happened to me."

About eight months after her first operation, she underwent a second surgery to remove more of the tumor. After the second surgery, it was confirmed that the tumor was in fact cancerous, and it had also become a grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma, which is a rare cancerous brain tumor.

Jennifer then went through six weeks of radiation, which left her tired and caused her to lose her hair.

"Losing my hair was a major deal," she said. "It was long enough to almost touch my belly. One day as I arrived at work, a large chunk of it just fell out which was really shocking and upsetting."

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Now, "everything has changed" for Jennifer.

"No more cars or driving, my memory is terrible and I lose my temper so easily when I never used to," she said. "But the people who have supported me have got me to where I am today, they help me to enjoy each day and to fight my way through it all. I will be forever thankful for all that my family and friends do for me."

It's not clear whether Jennifer is in remission, but we wish her the best on her treatment journey.

Understanding Brain Tumors

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), brain tumors account for 85% to 90% 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 nervous system.

Normal function of the brain and spinal cord can become difficult if there's a tumor present that applies unnecessary pressure or spreads into nearby normal tissue.

There are many different types of brain and spinal cord tumors. Some 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.

Related: Fighting Brain Cancer With Electric Fields

Brain Tumor Symptoms

Brain tumor symptoms, as a whole, 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 (ACS).

General symptoms may include the following:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Blurred vision
• Balance problems
• Personality or behavior changes
• Seizures
• Drowsiness or even coma

But it's important to note that these symptoms are not exclusive to every kind of brain tumor. Still, you should always consult with your doctor if any health problems arise, just like Jennifer did. Advocating for yourself in the medical space is vitally important, because no one knows your body like you.

Advocating for Yourself While Navigating the Medical World

Contributing: Abigail Seaberg

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